"Danny Boy" is a song to an Irish tune called "Londonderry Air" and the lyrics are by a man named Frederick Weatherly. I listened to this a few nights ago on John's blog from England that I like to visit and it made me look this song up since it occurred to me that other than being associated with the Irish, I knew nothing about it. And if you would like to hear the song that I heard, it is here. Please go and listen to it, I think you will like it as much as I do.
Do you remember the children's choirs singing during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics this summer in London? The choir from Ireland sang the song "Danny Boy". Now, as much as "Danny Boy" is associated with the Irish, I was surprised to learn that the man who wrote the words to this song was from England. Frederick Weatherly was a songwriter and he wrote thousands of songs but he only did this in his spare time, as he was a very busy lawyer! His autobiography is entitled "Piano And The Gown" (I would assume the "gown" refers to what he would wear as a lawyer.) There is some very detailed information about this song and also about Frederick Weatherly and if you would like to read more, you can find it here. Besides having a lot of background about this song, I loved reading excerpts from Frederick Weatherly's autobiography and I have some quotes for you...
It is no idle boast when I say that my songs have been sung by millions all
over the English-speaking world; it is not myself that I am praising but my
friends the musicians and the singers who have carried my words to the heart of
the people. I do not claim to be a "poet"; I don't pretend that my songs are
"literary," but they are "songs of the people" and that is enough for me.
"Why is it that songs appeal? Is there not a story in each? A melody which
remains—deep down in our hearts? We may listen to the noblest sermons. We may
study the deepest philosophy. We may be elevated by the loftiest speeches. We
may read the brightest pages of history. And yet none appeal to us with quite
the same appeal as song and story. Is it not perhaps that all the rest appeal to
the intellect and need mental powers which only the few possess? But song and
story appeal to the heart. From the heart they come and to the heart they go.
They express the joys and sorrows of the poet himself; and just because he is a
poet they express the joys and sorrows of the world.
When I listened to John just quietly playing his guitar and singing along to this song, it made me wonder at the power of a song. "The songs of the people ... to the heart of the people". What song can you think of that makes you stop what you are doing, one that causes such a strong emotion in you that tears might come to your eyes?
oh kay, what a touching post this is. i went to john's blog and was most impressed. i love that he sang danny boy.
it's a song that's made me cry from my earliest memory. too, wind beneath my wings by bette midler. i am lucky to have friends who are musicians and song writers. i write stories and they write songs and then we share.
Dear kj, Thank you so much for this comment. I know that you are such a good writer that this means a lot to me! I love "Wind Beneath My Wings" too, what a great song. Thanks again for your thoughtful words! x
Oh, I just looked that song up, and Pavarotti singing it, yes, I can understand you crying! I have Pavarotti on my blog singing "Come Back To Sorrento" which is one of my favorites!
While the song doesn't "speak" to me as much as it obviously does to you and many, many other people, having followed your link to John's blog was certainly worth it - I've had a look (and listen) around and left some comments. Thank you :-)
Oh, and two songs that manage to bring tears to my eyes (not always, but almost always) are incidentally two that were sung by Harry Belafonte, someone I love and admire from afar: "Island in the Sun" and "September". Plus many Beatles songs, but that's another story and has more to do with Steve and his early death than with the actual song.
I never knew this song really until 9/11/01 and then it was so sad to hear it at the Memorials. Also, my son sang it when he was in Chorus at school and believe me, when my own son sang this song, I was certainly moved! Harry Belafonte also sings Day-O, which reminds me of an Atlanta Braves game! (They play the first few bars of it.)
Danny Boy seems such a sad song to me, but then a lot of sad songs are very beautiful. Some of Verdi's arias are sad but so beautiful too. Thanks for visiting my blog. Photos of Lake Powell coming up soon.
What a lovely post to start my day. I like Danny Boy and will pop over and visit the blogger you mention. I shall also try and post a song that moves me emotionally - there are so many. What would life be without music or poetry? I prefer 'The Fields of Athenry' to Danny Boy - that is one Irish song that has just come to mind, do you know that one?
We were discussing Elvis Presley at work the other day. We all agreed that two Elvis songs which make us cry are 'In The Ghetto' and 'Old Shep'. (We are all dog lovers, you see!)
Dear Joanne, I LOVE Elvis, truly I do. He was such a wonderful singer and well, he was Elvis, there has been no one else quite like him. Such an incredible voice and so wonderfully Southern! I think "Old Shep" is one of the first songs that Elvis sang in public.
I've always loved Danny Boy - the melody especially. You know, I am very selective as to the music I listen to - mostly preferring silence - as I find music incredibly powerful at affecting how I feel and what I think about. And I am sure that the timeless classics are those songs and melodies that go straight to our heart! Auld lang syne is another one of those songs for me. xoxo Silke
Dear Silke, I know just what you mean about being selective about music. And MELODY is so important to me! Sometimes, if a song has too much drumming (rhythm) I can't even listen to it, I am ALL about the melody! And I also love Auld Lang Syne, what a great song!
The ones that tear me up most of the time are Louisiana 1927, about the terrible flooding that washed so much of our heritage away, and Over By Your Mama 'n Them, about what we lost to Hurricane Katrina.
Dear Mimi, The Louisiana 1927 song is so sad, about a real tragedy. I couldn't find that second song you mentioned, but my goodness, Hurricane Katrina was so terrible. I think they should stop naming hurricanes by name, I feel so sorry for any woman named Katrina.
Dear Kay, what a lovely thoughtful post. I love Danny Boy - when it was used in the wonderful film 'Memphis Belle' I cried buckets. Those young men, flying off to save us all. So many songs make me cry, it's just ridiculous: Meryl Streep singing 'The Winner Takes it All' in Mamma Mia...so poignant & real. Elton John's 'Your Song'. So many Mozart arias that I can't mention them all...perhaps I will just say the Letter Aria( featured in the Shawshank Redemption & at our wedding) and the Countess's 2nd aria from 'the Marriage of Figaro'...also 'Batti, batti O Bel Masetto' from 'Don Giovanni...filled with so much real love & spirit...Puccini's 'Your tiny hand is frozen' from La Boheme...O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi...Vera Lynn singing 'the White Cliffs of Dover'...Frank Sinatra singing 'My Funny Valentine' & Nat King Cole singing most everything, but especially 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'...I could go on (& on) but I would fill up your comments completely! Thanks for making me think about it! have a great day xo
Dear Rachel, Thank YOU so much for YOUR lovely comment here, and naming all these great songs! You KNOW that I love that song by Mozart, the one from the Shawshank Redemption! "So many songs make me cry, it's just ridiculous", Rachel, we have that in common!
What a Heartfelt posting... " Danny Boy " is one of my favourites and a song that I 've sung over and over in my childhood and concert days... There is certainly not a poem nor melody that harkens the heart with such real emotion as this one, written in a time of strife.... It's exquisite and surely a gift that we have been blessed with....Thank You for sharing this beautiful post and the lovely voices of the choir... It was a true JOY to read and listen to ... Hugs
How long do you have? Music is my sanctuary and so many songs can elicit that reaction from me. I know you have a son but "In My Daughter's Eyes" makes me cry buckets every time I listen to it. Whew. You can imagine that I don't listen to it often. HA!
Dear Audrey, Of course there are many songs that make you cry, we are a lot alike, aren't we? :-) "In My Daughter's Eyes", oh yes, I can understand you crying buckets over that one!
Hey Paul! Thanks, that photo on my header was taken by Richard, it is sunset a few nights ago on top of Arabia Mountain. We were truly amazed at the beauty of it.
That is a beautifuf song, Kay. There are quite a few that stir powerful emotions in me, but I can't quite bring one to mind right now. Quite interesting that the man who wrote a song associated with Ireland is from England!
I work in an operating room and music is a big part of our day. We play it to soothe the savage surgeon beast or, if a patient has a request, we play it to calm their nerves and give them something nice to listen too while going under anesthesia. One of our docs loves heavy metal...not so soothing to me! I love anything Josh Grobin sings....hits me in the heart. Also, I love Louis Armstrong singing "What a wonderful world"..makes me weepy!
I hope I don't hear heavy metal when I am being operated on, I would think I had gone to hell! I also love Louis Armstrong singing "What A Wonderful World", just one of the BEST songs EVER! (Of course, I loved him singing "Hello Dolly" in the movie!)
Dear Cait, Thanks. I am glad you liked this. I looked up the song, "The Fields of Athenry" and I like that one too. And I have never heard of it before, so thank you! Would love to see your post about music that moves you. Many of the hymns at church make me cry often. I think I have a post about "My Song is Love Unknown".
How ironic that one of the most iconic Irish songs was written by an Englishman! I love "Danny Boy."
ReplyDeleteDebra,
DeleteIronic and iconic, you must be a poet! Perhaps a songwriter?
oh kay, what a touching post this is. i went to john's blog and was most impressed. i love that he sang danny boy.
ReplyDeleteit's a song that's made me cry from my earliest memory. too, wind beneath my wings by bette midler. i am lucky to have friends who are musicians and song writers. i write stories and they write songs and then we share.
it's a good life when music takes hold.
thanks for this tonight, kay. ♥
kj
Dear kj,
DeleteThank you so much for this comment. I know that you are such a good writer that this means a lot to me!
I love "Wind Beneath My Wings" too, what a great song.
Thanks again for your thoughtful words! x
"A melody which remains—deep down in our hearts". That describes it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteTurandot Act III: Nessun Dorma! - Luciano Pavarotti
Makes me cry every time.
Hugs my friend,
e
Oh, I just looked that song up, and Pavarotti singing it, yes, I can understand you crying!
DeleteI have Pavarotti on my blog singing "Come Back To Sorrento" which is one of my favorites!
While the song doesn't "speak" to me as much as it obviously does to you and many, many other people, having followed your link to John's blog was certainly worth it - I've had a look (and listen) around and left some comments. Thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, and two songs that manage to bring tears to my eyes (not always, but almost always) are incidentally two that were sung by Harry Belafonte, someone I love and admire from afar: "Island in the Sun" and "September".
DeletePlus many Beatles songs, but that's another story and has more to do with Steve and his early death than with the actual song.
I never knew this song really until 9/11/01 and then it was so sad to hear it at the Memorials. Also, my son sang it when he was in Chorus at school and believe me, when my own son sang this song, I was certainly moved!
DeleteHarry Belafonte also sings Day-O, which reminds me of an Atlanta Braves game! (They play the first few bars of it.)
Danny Boy seems such a sad song to me, but then a lot of sad songs are very beautiful. Some of Verdi's arias are sad but so beautiful too. Thanks for visiting my blog. Photos of Lake Powell coming up soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! Looking forward to more of Lake Powell!
DeleteWhat a lovely post to start my day. I like Danny Boy and will pop over and visit the blogger you mention. I shall also try and post a song that moves me emotionally - there are so many. What would life be without music or poetry? I prefer 'The Fields of Athenry' to Danny Boy - that is one Irish song that has just come to mind, do you know that one?
ReplyDeleteHey Cait! Your reply is down below! Don't know how I did that! Goofy me!
DeleteThank you Kay. I am pleased you enjoyed the song. How nice to read some of the thoughts of the writer; but song and story appeal to the heart..
ReplyDeleteHey John! Thanks for posting your song! And glad you liked this post too! Keep a song in your heart always!
DeleteThat song always make me a bit tearful too.
ReplyDeleteWe were discussing Elvis Presley at work the other day. We all agreed that two Elvis songs which make us cry are 'In The Ghetto' and 'Old Shep'. (We are all dog lovers, you see!)
Dear Joanne,
DeleteI LOVE Elvis, truly I do. He was such a wonderful singer and well, he was Elvis, there has been no one else quite like him. Such an incredible voice and so wonderfully Southern!
I think "Old Shep" is one of the first songs that Elvis sang in public.
Danny Boy makes my eyes fill up too, my Nan used to love the song (she was from Cork) and makes me think of her.
ReplyDeleteDear Cheryl,
DeleteThere is nothing like the songs from your childhood to bring tears to your eyes!
I've always loved Danny Boy - the melody especially. You know, I am very selective as to the music I listen to - mostly preferring silence - as I find music incredibly powerful at affecting how I feel and what I think about. And I am sure that the timeless classics are those songs and melodies that go straight to our heart! Auld lang syne is another one of those songs for me. xoxo Silke
ReplyDeleteDear Silke,
DeleteI know just what you mean about being selective about music. And MELODY is so important to me! Sometimes, if a song has too much drumming (rhythm) I can't even listen to it, I am ALL about the melody!
And I also love Auld Lang Syne, what a great song!
Danny Boy is a lovely song.
ReplyDeleteThe ones that tear me up most of the time are Louisiana 1927, about the terrible flooding that washed so much of our heritage away, and Over By Your Mama 'n Them, about what we lost to Hurricane Katrina.
Dear Mimi,
DeleteThe Louisiana 1927 song is so sad, about a real tragedy. I couldn't find that second song you mentioned, but my goodness, Hurricane Katrina was so terrible. I think they should stop naming hurricanes by name, I feel so sorry for any woman named Katrina.
Dear Kay, what a lovely thoughtful post. I love Danny Boy - when it was used in the wonderful film 'Memphis Belle' I cried buckets. Those young men, flying off to save us all. So many songs make me cry, it's just ridiculous: Meryl Streep singing 'The Winner Takes it All' in Mamma Mia...so poignant & real. Elton John's 'Your Song'. So many Mozart arias that I can't mention them all...perhaps I will just say the Letter Aria( featured in the Shawshank Redemption & at our wedding) and the Countess's 2nd aria from 'the Marriage of Figaro'...also 'Batti, batti O Bel Masetto' from 'Don Giovanni...filled with so much real love & spirit...Puccini's 'Your tiny hand is frozen' from La Boheme...O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi...Vera Lynn singing 'the White Cliffs of Dover'...Frank Sinatra singing 'My Funny Valentine' & Nat King Cole singing most everything, but especially 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square'...I could go on (& on) but I would fill up your comments completely! Thanks for making me think about it! have a great day xo
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel,
DeleteThank YOU so much for YOUR lovely comment here, and naming all these great songs! You KNOW that I love that song by Mozart, the one from the Shawshank Redemption!
"So many songs make me cry, it's just ridiculous", Rachel, we have that in common!
Dear Kay ..
ReplyDeleteWhat a Heartfelt posting... " Danny Boy " is one of my favourites and a song that I 've sung over and over in my childhood and concert days... There is certainly not a poem nor melody that harkens the heart with such real emotion as this one, written in a time of strife.... It's exquisite and surely a gift that we have been blessed with....Thank You for sharing this beautiful post and the lovely voices of the choir... It was a true JOY to read and listen to ... Hugs
Oh thank you so much for your comment here! I also love the voices of the choir and I am happy that you did also!
DeleteI'm another one that gets tears hearing "Danny Boy".
ReplyDeleteMusic is so wonderfully moving. I am in tears almost always when the choir is singing at my church!
DeleteHow long do you have? Music is my sanctuary and so many songs can elicit that reaction from me. I know you have a son but "In My Daughter's Eyes" makes me cry buckets every time I listen to it. Whew. You can imagine that I don't listen to it often. HA!
ReplyDeleteDear Audrey,
DeleteOf course there are many songs that make you cry, we are a lot alike, aren't we? :-)
"In My Daughter's Eyes", oh yes, I can understand you crying buckets over that one!
I enjoyed John's version of Danny Boy also. Love your header!
ReplyDeleteHey Paul!
DeleteThanks, that photo on my header was taken by Richard, it is sunset a few nights ago on top of Arabia Mountain. We were truly amazed at the beauty of it.
That is a beautifuf song, Kay. There are quite a few that stir powerful emotions in me, but I can't quite bring one to mind right now. Quite interesting that the man who wrote a song associated with Ireland is from England!
ReplyDeleteDear Martha,
DeleteWhen I read something that surprises me, I like to share it on my blog!
I work in an operating room and music is a big part of our day. We play it to soothe the savage surgeon beast or, if a patient has a request, we play it to calm their nerves and give them something nice to listen too while going under anesthesia. One of our docs loves heavy metal...not so soothing to me! I love anything Josh Grobin sings....hits me in the heart. Also, I love Louis Armstrong singing "What a wonderful world"..makes me weepy!
ReplyDeleteI hope I don't hear heavy metal when I am being operated on, I would think I had gone to hell!
DeleteI also love Louis Armstrong singing "What A Wonderful World", just one of the BEST songs EVER! (Of course, I loved him singing "Hello Dolly" in the movie!)
Dear Cait,
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am glad you liked this. I looked up the song, "The Fields of Athenry" and I like that one too. And I have never heard of it before, so thank you!
Would love to see your post about music that moves you.
Many of the hymns at church make me cry often. I think I have a post about "My Song is Love Unknown".