No, Danny Boy....

[Amoskeag]

24 hours later and I'm still put off about this. I think it no coincidence that the barman chose March as the month to ban this song and because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. The is a little ditty that is quite popular south of the border entitled "Star Spangled Banner". I'm curious if this song is banned during the month of July as the tune is originally an English drinking song composed by Englishman John Stafford Smith. Kudos though to Francis Scott Key for his updated powerful lyrics. Getting off the soap box now.

Of course not! We love "Anacreon in Heaven".

On a more general note, throughout the 19th C. national melody collections were published by all manner of publishers. The fact that many of the tunes did not in fact originate in the claimed nations, didn't bother the publishers or the public one bit. These collections sold like hot cakes and were just another element of the emergent sheet music industry. A second resurgence came with advent of recorded music and this time the ancient national tunes were recorded, even if they had to be written just for the occasion. The one that springs to mind from the late 18th C is "All Those Endearing Young Charms" from Moores Irish Melodies published in 1804. It was an English waltz but sounded Irish enough for inclusion. The lyrics were added in the mid 19th C and the rest is "history" or so they tell me.

I know that Danny Boy is overplayed but I heard a man sing it in church once and my eyes just unloaded!
Bob

[emolas]

24 hours later and I'm still put off about this. I think it no coincidence that the barman chose March as the month to ban this song and because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. The is a little ditty that is quite popular south of the border entitled "Star Spangled Banner". I'm curious if this song is banned during the month of July as the tune is originally an English drinking song composed by Englishman John Stafford Smith. Kudos though to Francis Scott Key for his updated powerful lyrics. Getting off the soap box now.

Isn't there another popular US song called "My Country 'Tis of Thee" that is just different lyrics set to "God Save the Queen"? A bit funny to have a patriotic song based off the anthem of your former ruler, I think.

Amazing Grace always does it for me. Can a song that evokes so much emotion ever be overplayed. It's possible that one is not in the mood to hear it at that particular time. Star Spangled Banner with the right voice and a certain pause before "And the rocket's red glare..." Wow!

My sister can't listen to Amazing Grace anymore because a piper played it at my other sister's burial at sea. It can be a very emotional song and no other instrument but the pipes can do it justice.

[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..

[BoldHighlander]

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

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

Unless it's being done by the Pogues

[Jerry]

I have always liked the song, and still will no matter who wrote it. One of the most inspiring playings of it I can remember was at our annual retirees Christmas party, a few years ago. One of our group, named Danny, of course, had just died and as all of the retirees and current employees stood hand and hand in silence, someone played a CD recording of "Danny Boy". So, yes. it is a sad song, and is often overplayed, but I still like it.

[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!

[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...

[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...

[Mael Coluim]

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