| Performer - Deanna Durbin Lyrics - Frederick Weatherly The famous ballad "Danny Boy", ironically, was written by a man who never set foot in Ireland. Weatherly, an English barrister who was also a prolific poet, had originally set "Danny Boy" to music he had composed. The song was not successful. When he heard the "Londonderry Air", he realized that "Danny Boy" would fit nicely to that tune. Over 100 songs have been set to "Londonderry Air", but "Danny Boy" is the most famous. Band and orchestral musicians will also recognize the tune as Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry". 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; I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow; Danny boy, Oh Danny boy, I love you so. But if ye come and all the flowers 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 will know, 'though soft ye tread around me, And then my grave shall richer sweeter be, Then you'll bend down and tell me that you love me, And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me. |
