BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Irish Culture "Danny Boy"... Banned?

Hi Tony, I read on the internet that the song "Danny Boy" will be banned for the entire month of March at a New York bar. One reason the owner gave is that the song was written by an English man, not Irish. I heard, many years ago, that the song was written by an Irish man on his way home from a pub one night - he had fallen in a ditch and could not get up, so lay there and composed the song, while waiting for help. Is this not true? Who did write "Danny Boy"? I love that song. Banning it seems very petty to me.

Hi Phyllis:

The Irish drunk in the ditch makes a great story ---but sadly it isn't true. "Danny Boy" is usually sung to the tune of the "Londonderry Air".
The lyrics were originally written for a different tune in 1910 by Frederick Weatherly, an ENGISH ( Oh my gosh !!!LOL) lawyer who never even set foot on Irish soil. The song was later altered to fit the new tune.
The first recording was made by Ernestine Schumann-Heink in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to Elsie Griffin,a great British Opera Singer, who made it one of the most popular songs in the early 1900's. Her other big "hit" was "Roses of Picardy".
"Danny Boy" slowly altered its popularity by becoming more of a lament, especially for soldiers going off to war. Firefighters use it also for the loss of one of their officers.I've heard it said that it is seldom even sung in Ireland. Nonsense!!It's a very popular solo or duet at ceilis or church concerts.

Thanks for clarification on "Danny Boy", Tony. I am happy to hear it is still so popular. It is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard.

Go raibh maith agat! Sl�inte.