Danny Boy
| PROFILE | |
| Lyricist | Frederic Weatherly |
| Year Written | Music unknown. Lyrics: 1912 |
| About Danny Boy | |
| The tune for “Danny Boy” is Londonderry Air, a tune popular in the Irish diaspora. It was first collected in 1885, but pre-dates that quite a bit; it is referred to as an “ancient air.” The lyrics were written by a Bath lawyer named Frederic Weatherly. The song is widely sung on Irish holidays. | |
Lyrics
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.
For 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 flowers are dying,
And 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 grace will warm and sweeter be,
For ye shall bend and tell me that you love me;
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.
Session / Album Information
1964
“Danny Boy” was recorded on May 25, 1964 and features Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums).
This recording released on:
- 1987: C2 40424 — Jazz
- 2011: Disc #1 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK1) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1