Danny Boy

[ Roud 23565 ; Ballad Index FSWB323 ; Frederic Edward Weatherly (1848-1929)]

Frederic Weatherly wrote the lyrics for Danny Boy in 1910.

Meg Aitken sang Danny Boy at the King’s Head Folk Club on Shefford, Bedfordshire on 12 November 1969, which was included in 2012 on the Musical Traditions anthology of recordings from that venue, King’s Head Folk Club. Rod Stradling noted:

What to say about this one? Never before collected from the oral tradition? Roud had to give it a new number! Surely everyone knew it? Written by Frederik E Weatherly (1848-1929) to the tune of The Londonderry Air and sung by Count John McCormack. An absolutely stunning performance from Meg, even if it is only one verse!

Richard Thompson sang Danny Boy live at Bottom Line, New York City, in 1982. This recording was included in 2006 on his Free Reed anthology RT: The Life and Music of Richard Thompson. Another live recording from Markthalle Hamburg on 10 December 1983 was released in 2017 on his CD and DVD Live at Rockpalast.

Fairport Convention and chorus (including Martin Carthy) sang Danny Boy on 9 August 1997 at the Cropredy Festival. This recording was included in the following year on their CD The Cropredy Box.

Judy Collins sang Danny Boy live at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna, VA, on 18 June 2000. This recording was released in the same year on her CD Live at Wolf Trap.

Eva Cassidy sang Danny Boy on her posthumous 2002 CD Imagine.

Mayumi Itsuwa sang Danny Boy with Japanese lyrics on her 2003 CD Time to Sing.

Logic sang Danny Boy on their 2004 album Carrickfergus.

The Haar sang Danny Boy on their 2022 album Where Old Ghosts Meet. They noted:

Danny Boy combines a traditional tune from County Derry with lyrics written by Somerset lyricist and author, Frederic Weatherly, circa 1914. We wanted to pare back the song and expose the bones of its innate, rare beauty.

Lyrics

Frederic Weatherly’s song 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
‘Tis you, ‘tis 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
‘Tis 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, 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.

Meg Aitken sings 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 leaves are dying;
’Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must stay.
But come ye back, when summer’s in the meadow,
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow.
Then I will come and tell you that I love you
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.