"Danny Boy" is a ballad written by Frederic Weatherly
and usually set to the Irish tune of the "Londonderry Air".
It is most closely associated with Irish communities.
You'll find the original English lyrics on here - after some other original versions of songs from this side of the cut. The one your interested in starts at around 2:15
It is more appropriate, I guess, to call it the Derry Air. Although, if you say that too fast, around someone who speaks French, they may get the wrong idea...
As my name is Danny, as maybe one or two of you might know, I'm quite aware of the etymology surrounding this song. The Derriere indeed. What used to be a nice song become the @rs€h0£€ of Irish music. IMV.
An aside: many many years ago I holidayed in donegal with a bunch of mates, and mates of mates. One was from Rostrevor. In a conversation about pronunciation I asked him to pronounce the milk retailers in the city of Londonderry. This is what came out:
The Dirry dirry.
Its really ' Doire ' if you want to spell it right in Irish,,
I know I am in for flack for that here on thesession..
But I just copied and pasted it from the site that way - lol..
Its just I like Classical music too, an I am studying up about
English composer's and how there music is !
Was new to me when I found that out.
jim,,,
Another aside: 'Derry' or 'Doire' in Irish means 'oak wood' - quite a common element in Irish place names - and cognate with Welsh 'derw' (oak wood) and derwen (oak tree), also connected with 'derwydd' (druid).
This is also echoed in a few English placenames, such as Darwen, Lancashire and the widespread English river name, Derwent - both having their origins in Old Cumbric, a Brythonic language (arguably a dialect nof Welsh) formerly spoken from present day Lancashire up to NE Scotland, the old kingdom of Rheged.
Percy Grainger in his settings of this song solves the name issue by calling it "Irish Tune from County Derry." I've always preferred that.
I understand everyone's "concerns" about this piece, but sometimes... One night (about 2 AM) we were playing stuff outside and there was a heavy fog. I don't remember what tune we were playing, but suddenly from out of the fog came a nice tenor voice singing the song for that tune . Eventually he found us by listening to the music and when he got there asked if he could sing "Danny Boy." There was a sort of hesitation and intake of breath and someone said "OK." He mentioned a key and off we went. It was wonderful. Having finished the song to much favorable comment he thanked us and disappeared into the fog. I've no idea who he was...
Here's a some what different version, one of my all time favorites, Ted Greene. The notes to the recording issue a disclaimer stating that there is no overdubbing and only one instrument played. Also I seem to recall reading that Fred Weatherly's other claim to fame was that he was the first coxswain ever used in an Oxford-Cambridge boat race.
Derry is the anglicised version of the Irish word Doire which means an Oak Grove.
I wonder, when the prefixed Derry with London, did they mean the place to be called the London Oak Grove ?
Was not the collected tune originally called the Londonderry Air?
Was not that lovely old song Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle not written as Londonderry on the Banks of the Foyle?
Is the song 'You Raise Me Up' not a revamped version of Danny Boy?
Why did they use the lovely Scottish tune of Dark Lochnagar for the words of 'When they murdered James Connolly the Irish Rebel' thus making the playing of the tune in certain areas a no no.
These are questions only a greater power than I can answer Master,,,,,,!!!!,
They called LondonDerry *London* Derry because it was bought by the Guilds of London when yon James I & VI had the idea of selling off Ulster, piecemeal. He was short of cash. I wonder do they still own any of it?
Here's a variation on the words, for those interested.
O Danny Boy, don't think that I am calling:
I've heard this song, at Folk Nights far and wide;
It does not gain from endless repetition;
Some time ago, all pleasure in it died.
If this is sung, I will not rise and thank you.
I'll comb the room for somewhere else to go;
I cannot bear another time to hear this.
O Danny Boy, what's the attraction? I don't know.
But one fine night, when all the beer is flowing
And I am drunk, as drunk I may well be;
There comes a lull, a lull in the proceedings
Someone will sing this wretchéd song to me.
And I will hear, though I am barely conscious
And I will twitch in painful agony;
Until it ends, I will not lift a finger
Although I'm sorely tempted, there, believe you me.
Yeah ... The Orange Song.. ' My Father he was Orange '
and , The Rebel Song.. ' The Rising of the Moon '
Are exactly the same tune, the Original song likely had nothing to do with any of the two above,,, Which prove's is all a lot of auld
Bo *l * x .
: )
jim,,,
The Londonderry Air was supposedly collected by a woman of high station from a blind fiddler. Frank McCourt's brother wrote a whole book about the song. Fascinating read. There are also whole albums/Cds dedicated to different artist singing it where every cut is "Danny Boy". I remember a while back listening to Bill Monroe sing a high lonesome version of it on one of these albums.
Strange.
As no-one has mentioned this yet, I'll ask the question. It may be my imagination, and I can't now find anything about it by Googling, but I thought I'd read that Fred Weatherley in fact wrote the words to conjure up a picture of a Scottish couple, not Irish at all.
Well, it might have been a Scottish couple, but one of them had an Irish father and the other a Welsh mother, and they did go to Enniskillen once, to visit an auntie.
Weatherley apparently says in his autobiography (Piano and Gown, 1926) that he hoped "Sinn Feiners and Ulstermen alike would sing my song."
It sort of places the emphasis on Ireland. Also, the line - "and kneel and say an "Ave" there for me"- wouldn't likely happen in Dreghorn!
I think it's the Irish Americans who have made connections between these melodies and what it means to be Irish. I'm not Irish, so I can't say for sure. My grandfather was born in Sligo, so I guess that makes me 1/4 Irish, but still not enough to know anything
Oh ! Danny Boy
Oh ! Danny Boy
Did you know the Heartbreaking words to Danny Boy
where wrote by an English Man : )
Set the tune the Londonderry Air.
Frederic Edward Weatherly (4 October 1848 – 7 September 1929)
was an English lawyer, author, lyricist and broadcaster.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Weatherly
"Danny Boy" is a ballad written by Frederic Weatherly
and usually set to the Irish tune of the "Londonderry Air".
It is most closely associated with Irish communities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy
jim,,,
# Posted on December 11th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
OH
# Posted on December 11th 2011 by Joseph Tailyour
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Yes, I thought this was common knowledge. I believe there was a competition to find the best lyrics for the tune, and he won.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Tassiebodhran
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
It is common knowledge. So why bring it up now?
Also, do you really have to call it the "Londonderry Air", Jim? Mind, maybe that's appropriate given the English origin of the words.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by ethical blend
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Jim,
You'll find the original English lyrics on here - after some other original versions of songs from this side of the cut. The one your interested in starts at around 2:15
http://youtu.be/L04kEUiMOMQ
Hope that helps
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by ormepipes
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
It is more appropriate, I guess, to call it the Derry Air. Although, if you say that too fast, around someone who speaks French, they may get the wrong idea...
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
As my name is Danny, as maybe one or two of you might know, I'm quite aware of the etymology surrounding this song. The Derriere indeed. What used to be a nice song become the @rs€h0£€ of Irish music. IMV.
An aside: many many years ago I holidayed in donegal with a bunch of mates, and mates of mates. One was from Rostrevor. In a conversation about pronunciation I asked him to pronounce the milk retailers in the city of Londonderry. This is what came out:
The Dirry dirry.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Rudall the time
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Rudall,
English again - hence the chorus to the old English song......
"Hey down, hoe down dirry diiry down
Amongst the leaves so green Oh"
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by ormepipes
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Its really ' Doire ' if you want to spell it right in Irish,,
I know I am in for flack for that here on thesession..
But I just copied and pasted it from the site that way - lol..
Its just I like Classical music too, an I am studying up about
English composer's and how there music is !
Was new to me when I found that out.
jim,,,
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Another aside: 'Derry' or 'Doire' in Irish means 'oak wood' - quite a common element in Irish place names - and cognate with Welsh 'derw' (oak wood) and derwen (oak tree), also connected with 'derwydd' (druid).
This is also echoed in a few English placenames, such as Darwen, Lancashire and the widespread English river name, Derwent - both having their origins in Old Cumbric, a Brythonic language (arguably a dialect nof Welsh) formerly spoken from present day Lancashire up to NE Scotland, the old kingdom of Rheged.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Percy Grainger in his settings of this song solves the name issue by calling it "Irish Tune from County Derry." I've always preferred that.
I understand everyone's "concerns" about this piece, but sometimes... One night (about 2 AM) we were playing stuff outside and there was a heavy fog. I don't remember what tune we were playing, but suddenly from out of the fog came a nice tenor voice singing the song for that tune . Eventually he found us by listening to the music and when he got there asked if he could sing "Danny Boy." There was a sort of hesitation and intake of breath and someone said "OK." He mentioned a key and off we went. It was wonderful. Having finished the song to much favorable comment he thanked us and disappeared into the fog. I've no idea who he was...
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by cboody
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Was it Clint Eastwood?
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by ethical blend
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Did he provide lead sheets? If so, maybe it was the Lone Arranger.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Here's a some what different version, one of my all time favorites, Ted Greene. The notes to the recording issue a disclaimer stating that there is no overdubbing and only one instrument played. Also I seem to recall reading that Fred Weatherly's other claim to fame was that he was the first coxswain ever used in an Oxford-Cambridge boat race.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ujO7qpoK40
That's a bad habit of mine!
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Was it ' John Of The Fog ' cboody.. : )
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/177
jim,,,
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Derry is the anglicised version of the Irish word Doire which means an Oak Grove.
I wonder, when the prefixed Derry with London, did they mean the place to be called the London Oak Grove ?
Was not the collected tune originally called the Londonderry Air?
Was not that lovely old song Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle not written as Londonderry on the Banks of the Foyle?
Is the song 'You Raise Me Up' not a revamped version of Danny Boy?
Why did they use the lovely Scottish tune of Dark Lochnagar for the words of 'When they murdered James Connolly the Irish Rebel' thus making the playing of the tune in certain areas a no no.
These are questions only a greater power than I can answer Master,,,,,,!!!!,
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Free Reed
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
"Was not the collected tune originally called the Londonderry Air?"
It was called "Name Unknown".
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/book/ancient-music-of-ireland-petrie-vol-1-pp1-113
P57.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Or you could join the "Young Man's Dream" camp:
http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/plain/A3826136
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
They called LondonDerry *London* Derry because it was bought by the Guilds of London when yon James I & VI had the idea of selling off Ulster, piecemeal. He was short of cash. I wonder do they still own any of it?
Here's a variation on the words, for those interested.
O Danny Boy, don't think that I am calling:
I've heard this song, at Folk Nights far and wide;
It does not gain from endless repetition;
Some time ago, all pleasure in it died.
If this is sung, I will not rise and thank you.
I'll comb the room for somewhere else to go;
I cannot bear another time to hear this.
O Danny Boy, what's the attraction? I don't know.
But one fine night, when all the beer is flowing
And I am drunk, as drunk I may well be;
There comes a lull, a lull in the proceedings
Someone will sing this wretchéd song to me.
And I will hear, though I am barely conscious
And I will twitch in painful agony;
Until it ends, I will not lift a finger
Although I'm sorely tempted, there, believe you me.
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Free Reed ....
Yeah ... The Orange Song.. ' My Father he was Orange '
and , The Rebel Song.. ' The Rising of the Moon '
Are exactly the same tune, the Original song likely had nothing to do with any of the two above,,, Which prove's is all a lot of auld
Bo *l * x .
: )
jim,,,
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Best version -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
The Londonderry Air was supposedly collected by a woman of high station from a blind fiddler. Frank McCourt's brother wrote a whole book about the song. Fascinating read. There are also whole albums/Cds dedicated to different artist singing it where every cut is "Danny Boy". I remember a while back listening to Bill Monroe sing a high lonesome version of it on one of these albums.
Strange.
Salrt
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by saltcast
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Jusa Nutter Eejit - Love the Video - lol.
But I know a guy in our session can do it just like Animal there
in the Clip,, Any Saturday Night : )
jim,,,
# Posted on December 12th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Danny Boy? I once heard of him.
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Maybe it was John of the Fog...but come to think of it he left a small piece of silver manuscript paper...
InnocentBystander the version of the words you mention should be learned by everyone.
Still, the Grainger setting is magnificant.
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by cboody
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Mr Weatherley also wrote The Coast of Malabar...lovely version of it on Sean Tyrell's first CD.
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by Greenwiggle
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
As no-one has mentioned this yet, I'll ask the question. It may be my imagination, and I can't now find anything about it by Googling, but I thought I'd read that Fred Weatherley in fact wrote the words to conjure up a picture of a Scottish couple, not Irish at all.
Am I anywhere near, or am I imagining it?
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by ethical blend
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Well, it might have been a Scottish couple, but one of them had an Irish father and the other a Welsh mother, and they did go to Enniskillen once, to visit an auntie.
Or am I imagining that too?
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Well I Goggled it , Google UK version.
* Danny Boy
One of many... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy
* Derry Air
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_Air
The rest was mostly Derry Airport...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_Air
* Londonderry Air...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IkNaoPYyXY
I have to admit, the tune sound's more a classical composition in melody, that anything Irish or Sean-Nós.
jim,,,
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
Weatherley apparently says in his autobiography (Piano and Gown, 1926) that he hoped "Sinn Feiners and Ulstermen alike would sing my song."
It sort of places the emphasis on Ireland. Also, the line - "and kneel and say an "Ave" there for me"- wouldn't likely happen in Dreghorn!
# Posted on December 13th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Oh ! Danny Boy
I think it's the Irish Americans who have made connections between these melodies and what it means to be Irish. I'm not Irish, so I can't say for sure. My grandfather was born in Sligo, so I guess that makes me 1/4 Irish, but still not enough to know anything
# Posted on December 15th 2011 by celticagent