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"'''Danny Boy'''" is a [[ballad]] written by [[Frederick Weatherly]] and usually set to the tune of the [[Londonderry Air]]; it is most closely associated with [[Irish people|Irish communities]].
"'''Danny Boy'''" is a [[ballad]] written by [[Frederick Weatherly]] and usually set to the tune of the [[Londonderry Air]]; it is most closely associated with [[Irish people|Irish communities]].According to some legends,Rory Dall O'cahan possibly composed the tune in the 1600's, Frederick Edward Weatherly wrote these words in 1913. According to The Fireside Book of American Folk Songs the first words set to the music were those of Londonderry Air. Thomas Moore (1770-1852) also wrote a set of lyrics to the tune (My Gentle Harp).{{listen
{{listen
| filename = Londonderry_Air.ogg
| filename = Londonderry_Air.ogg
| title = Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
| title = Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)

Revision as of 08:34, 14 September 2010

This article is about the folk song. For other uses, see Danny Boy (disambiguation).
"Danny Boy"
Song

"Danny Boy" is a ballad written by Frederick Weatherly and usually set to the tune of the Londonderry Air; it is most closely associated with Irish communities.According to some legends,Rory Dall O'cahan possibly composed the tune in the 1600's, Frederick Edward Weatherly wrote these words in 1913. According to The Fireside Book of American Folk Songs the first words set to the music were those of Londonderry Air. Thomas Moore (1770-1852) also wrote a set of lyrics to the tune (My Gentle Harp).

Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
A piano arrangement of the tune Londonderry Air.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Background

The lyrics to "Danny Boy" were written by the English lawyer and lyricist Frederick Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit "Londonderry Air" in 1913 when his sister-in-law in America sent him a copy.[1] Ernestine Schumann-Heink made the first recording in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to the vocalist Elsie Griffin, who in turn made it one of the most popular songs in the new century. In 1928, Weatherly suggested that the second verse would provide a fitting requiem for the actress Ellen Terry.

There are several theories as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy" [2]. The song has been interpreted by some listeners as a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora. The 1918 version of the Sheet Music included alternative lyrics ("Eily Dear"), with the instructions that "when sung by a man the words in italic should be used, the song then becomes "Eily Dear", so that "Danny Boy" is only to be sung by a lady". However, it is unclear whether this was Weatherly's intent, or simply a publisher's note. Weatherly acknowledged that "Danny Boy" was sung "all over the world by Sinn Feiners and Ulstermen alike". Weatherly also noted that the song had "nothing of the rebel song in it, and no note of bloodshed".

The song is widely considered an Irish anthem, although Weatherly was an Englishman. Nonetheless, "Danny Boy" is considered by many Irish Canadians to be their unofficial signature song[citation needed].

Lyrics

(There is a number of variations on these lyrics.)

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the leaves are falling
T'is you, T'is you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
t'is I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And when ye come, and all the flow'rs are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
ye'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And oh, my grave shall warmer, sweeter be
For ye will bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

Recordings

"Danny Boy" has been recorded many times by a variety of artists. Many versions are listed below by notable artists in descending chronological order.

Film

  • On The Beatles' 1970 final album Let It Be, at the end of the track "One After 909", John Lennon sings the (uncredited) opening of the song with altered, and unclear, lyrics.
  • In his faustian 1994 song "The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy", Joe Jackson implies that the author of "Danny Boy" created an immortal "perfect refrain".
  • Danny Boy is a rapper in the American hip hop group House of Pain. Track 9 of their debut album, Fine Malt Lyrics, is titled "Danny Boy" which ends with the lyrics and tune of the traditional song. [citation needed]

Television

  • Is sung by Carmine Ragusa (Eddie Mekka) on a 1978 episode of Laverne & Shirley. It occurs at the end of Season 3's Episode #15 ("The Slow Child"), during a St. Patrick's Day party.
  • Ray Carling sings this with Shaz Granger in episode 5 of the third series of Ashes to Ashes at a police fundraising gala. According to DI Bevan, he also used to regularly sing this in pubs.
  • Danny Boy was the theme song for the long running television show The Danny Thomas Show, also known as Make Room For Daddy, from 1953 to 1964.[4]
  • Sung by Jack Rudolph (Steven Weber) many times in the show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in the beginning of several of the scenes when he encounters Danny Tripp throughout the series. Rudolph also once sings the lead line as "Matty Boy" when he encounters Danny's partner, Matt Albie.
  • A recurring theme throughout The Adventures of Lano and Woodley, appearing as a jazz song and a campfire song, among others.
  • Sung by James on Spin City in front of the Mayor and Janelle
  • In the Torchwood episode Random Shoes, Eugene's father sings the song at Eugene's funeral.
  • The song is a favorite of the character Bernard O'Toole, from Tekkaman Blade. The old soldier often sung it to himself, and D-Boy's support mecha, Pegas, ended up recording the song in his memory banks during his first appearance.
  • In the first series of Round the Twist, characters could hear unseen ghosts on clarinet, saxophone and violin perform part of the song in each episode. Eventually, a choral rendition by the entire cast in the series' climax brought forth the ghosts to save the show's lighthouse from being destroyed.
  • In the Futurama episode "A Pharaoh to Remember", Zoidberg sings this song at Bender's fake funeral, in order to "express his sorrow".
  • Sung by a moat monster in an episode of Courage the Cowardly Dog, where Courage must defend a medicinal tree from getting cut down by Eustace.
  • In the OP for Armored Trooper Votoms: Pailsen Files, 'Danny Boy' is referenced in the lyrics.
  • Sung on the Frasier episode where Duke's bar was being closed.
  • The Simpsons Barney sings 'Danny Boy' during the episode Mommie Beerest where Moe's tavern is closed down.
  • Pig sings 'Danny Boy' many times during an episode of Barnyard in which he is to take part in a live Televised talent show
  • On The Muppet Show Beaker, Animal and The Swedish Chef (try) to sing it. The Chef sings in his usual mock-Swedish gibberish; Animal can only remember the first three words; Beaker performs the melody well, but in his usual "mee-mee-mee" speech.
  • In the fifth season of Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (1970) Patrick's friends sing Danny Boy to him at his farewell do before his return to Ireland.
  • In the fourth season of "30 Rock" (2009) Danny Baker (played by Cheyenne Jackson) sings several lines of 'Danny Boy' to Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), but is interrupted when she gets a nose bleed. It is also briefly sung in season two's episode "Sandwich Day" by Jenna, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), Frank Rossitano (Judah Friedlander), Lutz (John Lutz) and a group of teamsters whom are all drunk.
  • In Episode 49 of MacGyver, titled "Fire and Ice" a man is singing "Danny Boy" in the men's shower room.
  • In an episode of Johnny Bravo, Johnny plays part of the song on a bagpipe to make a dragon cry.
  • In an episode of "Touched by an Angel" the angel Monica, played by actress Roma Downey becomes envious of a child prodigy singer, embittered that God had not actually given her the gift of "the voice of an Angel" drinks half a beer, becomes unruly drunk, and (tries to) sing the song in Karaoke. So poorly that it causes a fight and her supervising Angel has to bail her out of jail.

Other

  • Sung by boxer Barry McGuigan's father, Pat, before many of Barry's bouts.
  • In the video game Bioshock, the song starts playing when entering Frank Fontaine's apartment in Mercury Suites. The recording was sung by Mario Lanza.
  • In the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, Packie, an Irish American character, sings "Oh Danny Boy" while drunk.
  • The 27th Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps from Revere, MA used "Danny Boy" as their closing number for many years, and many consider it their signature number.
  • In DC Comics series 52, it was sung by The Question as he is dying from his cancer on his hospital bed.

Books

  • McCourt, Malachy (30 Mar 2005 (Reprint)). Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad. New American Library. p. 128. ISBN 0-451-20806-4. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Catholic funeral controversy

"Danny Boy" enjoys some popularity as a funeral song. However, because it is not liturgical, its suitability for funerals is sometimes contested.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Fred Weatherly's own description of writing Danny Boy". Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  2. ^ "The true meaning of Danny Boy". Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sj8DskmVJo
  4. ^ Classic TV, ISBN 0-7935-4762-8, 1996, published by Hal Leonard Corporation
  5. ^ No blyine (2001-08-10), "'Danny Boy' cannot be played during Mass". National Catholic Reporter. 37 (36):11
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