“Danny Boy”

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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