Thank You for Hearing Me: The Definitive Sinéad O'Connor Discography

“Danny Boy”

by Davy Spillane

Traditional, arranged by Davy Spillane/Sinéad O'Connor

3 versions

4:45

live 1993 on the Late, Late Show

The Late, Late Show: Celebration of Irish Music various artists video

4:31

Danny Boy: In Sunshine or in Shadow video

4:14 (as "Danny Boy - "The Derry Air"")

The Sea of Dreams album

Lyrics

(Source: as heard)

Ah, Danny boy,
The pipes, the pipes are calling.
From glen to glen,
And down the mountainside.
The summer's gone,
And all the flowers are 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.
And I'll be here
In sunshine or in shadow.
Oh, Danny boy,
Oh, Danny boy,
I love you so.
But if you come
And all the flowers are falling,
And I am dead,
As dead I may well be,
You'll come and find
The place where I am lying
And you'll then (?) say an "Ave"
There for me.
And I will hear, though soft
Your tread above me,
And o'er my grave will warmer,
Sweeter be.
And you will bend
And tell me that you love me.
And I will sleep in peace
Until you come to me.
But if I live,
And should you die for Ireland,
Let not your dying thoughts
Be just of me,
But say a prayer to God
For our dear sire land.
I know he'll hear
And help to set her free.
And I will take
Your pike and place my dearest,
And strike a blow,
Though weak the blow may be.
'Twill help the cause
To which your heart was nearest
Oh, Danny boy,
Oh, Danny boy,
I love you so.

Quotes

Davy Spillane (Source: The Sinead O'Connor Site: undated interview)

[responding to Sinéad's question, "Why did you think of me for "Danny Boy"?] I was so touched that you loved the music for "Dreaming Of The Bones" and chose to write the words for it. You were just like an angel. On a personal level, it meant an awful lot to me. I recognized that something special was happening, and "Dreaming Of The Bones," as you know, is magic.

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