Eva Cassidy - Danny Boy

"Danny Boy" is a song whose lyrics were originally written for a different tune in 1910 by Frederick Weatherly, an English lawyer. In 1913 they were modified to fit the melody, Londonderry Air .

By many Irish Americans and Irish Canadians Danny Boy is considered to be their unofficial signature song and is often included at Irish-American funerals. Fire department bands throughout the country honor their fallen fire-fighters with this sentimental and bittersweet classic. While the song is supposed to be a message from a woman to a man, Weatherly provided an alternative "Eily dear" for male singers in 1918 as it is just as often sung by men. In addition, some people interpret the song as a message from a parent to a son going off to war.


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 flowers dying.

'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 here in sunshine or in shadow.

Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so.


But when ye come and all the roses falling,

and I am dead, as dead I well may be,
Go out and find the place where I am lying,

And kneel and say an Ave there for me.


And I will hear tho' soft your tread above me,

and then my grave will warm and sweeter be.

For you shall bend and tell me that you love me,

And I will sleep in peace until you come to me.