March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. Because my daughter is
attending university in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, my husband and I have traveled
to Ireland several times.
Here is a photo taken at Inch Island in Northern Ireland:
As a musician, one of my favorite “Irish” pieces is
Londonderry Air, otherwise known as “Danny Boy.” Yes, it’s a coincidence that
my daughter is in Londonderry. (Commonly known as Derry depending on your
religion...but that’s another blog!)
The words to “Danny Boy” were written in 1910 by Frederic
Weatherly, an English lawyer and lyricist. No one is certain about the actual
meaning of the lyrics, but some say it’s about a wife or lover, or parent to a
child. The tune “Danny Boy” was originally known as “Londonderry Air” or the
“Air from County Derry.” Many attribute the tune to a blind Irish harpist, Rory
Dall O’Cahan, who’s believed to have lived in Northern Ireland in the early
seventeenth century.
Danny Boy
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 roses falling
It's you, it's 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
And I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
But when ye come, and all the flow'rs are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
It's you, it's 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
And I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
But when ye come, and all the flow'rs are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.
Please post a comment below sharing what you think the
lyrics mean to be entered to win a digital copy of my sweet romance
novella ebook, I Love You More.
And,
exciting news! Here is a sneak peek at the cover for my latest sweet romance novella,
Oh Danny Boy. Stay tuned!
#AmazonGiveaway It's back and even better! Enter to win a free copy of I Love You More!
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/64b7ab3e80971ebf
No purchase necessary.
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a love has to go away and he is very sad and may be thinking about leaving this earth
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Patricia!
DeleteBeen singing that song since a child. Was highland dancer too.
ReplyDeleteBeen singing that song since a child. Was highland dancer too.
ReplyDeleteA highland dancer? Tell us more, Lynn.
DeleteUsed to do sword dance in my prime. Also country dancer done in couples, origins of American square dancing but done in white gowns and kilts at slower pace.
DeleteUsed to do sword dance in my prime. Also country dancer done in couples, origins of American square dancing but done in white gowns and kilts at slower pace.
DeleteWow! White gowns and kilts? I've never heard of it, but sounds wonderfully fun!
DeleteI've always thought this was a song an aging, perhaps ailing, mother sang about sending her boy off to war.
ReplyDeleteCarlene, That seems like
Deleteone of the more "popular" answers.