No, Danny Boy....

[Ronusan]

I like Danny Boy as well (it's pretty and a very easy melody to play for beginning irish flautists like me) but I always throw the trivia I know about it out to people whenever I get the chance. From what I understand the guy who wrote it was basically trying to cash in on the fad at the time of Irish tunes and Irish tenors. "Irish sounding songs are really big right now! I better write one quick to take advantage!" I can understand the Irish being irritated at it being requested above all else.

I wish that pub was in Dallas! I'd love a chance to belt out my favorite song, The Foggy Dew, for a free Guinness!

[auld argonian]

Okay...I have nothing against the tune..it's a beautiful melody...if you've ever seen the movie Brassed Off, one of the most touching parts of the film is when the colliery brass band plays it outside their fallen director's hospital window...it gets me entirely verklempt just like the part where they sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" under Babe Ruth's hospital window in The Babe Ruth Story.

I'm just kinda fed up with the abuse and overuse of the song...and if Dennis Day is listening from the afterlife, yeah...I mean you, buddy.

But here's the Brassed Off scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKDYE6ZGUV8

...you will, no doubt, recognize several very familiar faces.

And if you need to cheer back up after that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU

...damn, I love youtube!

Best

AA

[Galician]

HEY! I LIKE Danny Boy! A whole bunch of Irish American nuns are going to be VERY unhappy about this!

Uh oh, I can just see it now! Riled Religous go on Rampage!

[ccga3359]

What a poor excuse "Because it was written by an Englishman". Music has no borders with each person takeing away his own thoughts and emotion. Music is the one thing left without politics. Ask that a song not played because it's heard ad nauseum - fine, but because of political B.S. is simply childish.

[sharpdressedscot]

I have to say it gets jsut a little bit boring after the first few times...

yeah, it's like Stairway to Heaven...overplayed..

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I don't think anyone mentioned not liking the song Londonderry Aire/Danny Boy because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. Years ago Professor John Fielding, one of the founders of Irish Opera, told me that the words were set to that tune by the lyricist to comfort a friend whose son (Daniel) had recently passed away.

I agree that it, like Amazing Grace, are done to death, and would be happy to give both songs a BIG REST, along with Fields of Athenry...

[Mael Coluim]

Never been a favorite of mine. Glad to know it's really not Irish!

[ccga3359]

I don't think anyone mentioned not liking the song Londonderry Aire/Danny Boy because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. Years ago Professor John Fielding, one of the founders of Irish Opera, told me that the words were set to that tune by the lyricist to comfort a friend whose son (Daniel) had recently passed away.

I agree that it, like Amazing Grace, are done to death, and would be happy to give both songs a BIG REST, along with Fields of Athenry...

From the article:

NEW YORK - It's depressing, it's not usually sung in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day, and its lyrics were written by an Englishman who never set foot on Irish soil.

Keeping this mentality in mind shouldn't this "Irish" pub not celebrate St. Patricks Day because he was born in England?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Keeping this mentality in mind shouldn't this "Irish" pub not celebrate St. Patricks Day because he was born in England?

Our popular perception of Saint Patrick is based on the conflation of two distinct 5th century evangelicals called Patrick.

The first Patrick was born in Brittany, and assumed the name Palladius when consecrated Bishop of Ireland by Pope Celestine in 431, taking up residence in Ireland in 432. Here he remained until his death in 461, at which point he was succeed by:

The second Patrick who was born in Romano-Britain and, who at the age of 16, may have been sold into slavery, shipped off to Ireland, and spent perhaps as long as ten years there before returning to Britain. In Britain he received the call to return to Ireland, which he did in c. 457 (although there is evidence to suggest he may have arrived ten, or even twenty years earlier), dying in 492.

Patrician scholars continue to debate who was the "real" Patrick, although to most Irish it matters not a whit. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland, and that's good enough for most Paddy's, this one included.

But, until the debate is concluded as to who is the REAL St. Patrick, I think we ought to celebrate for two days...

[macwilkin]

What a poor excuse "Because it was written by an Englishman". Music has no borders with each person takeing away his own thoughts and emotion. Music is the one thing left without politics. Ask that a song not played because it's heard ad nauseum - fine, but because of political B.S. is simply childish.

Spot on, Grant. I wonder how big the outcry would be if the tables were turned?

Perhaps someone should play a Burns song for this publican on St. Patrick's Day, or at least one particular verse:

Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a' that)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth
Shall bear the gree an' a' that
For a' that an' a' that
It's coming yet for a' that
That man to man, the world o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that*

Emphasis mine.

Regards,

Todd