# What's the meaning of the song "Danny Boy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2000, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909 "2000-06-09T22:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/21 "2011-05-07T14:21:53Z")
_And I will hear, though soft you tread above me, And I will lurch, and rise like April rains: Eleven years have passed, so say you love me, And you and I alike will go in search of braaiiinnnssss…_ ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/22 "2011-05-07T14:28:01Z")
I kind of doubt it’s about going off to war, if it’s happening when “_The summer’s gone and all the roses falling_”? Late fall when the plants are dying is a pretty odd time to be mustering troops for battle in pre-industrial northern Europe. Of course, Mr. Dan is coming back someday, winter or summer, so he’s probably going on an extended journey. Is it possible that the sound of bagpipes is just elevator music for the highland/eirie-land ambience? Sound carries now that the leaves are gone, and all that… (I always thought this was a Highlands song. Did not know until now it was specifically Irish. Musta been the bagpipes reference that confused me…) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/23 "2011-05-07T16:07:23Z")
[PBS documentary](http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Boy-Sunshine-Eric-Clapton/dp/B0002T87FO). Haven’t seen it in a while but it stated that the song was about young men emigrating and leaving their mother’s behind. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/24 "2011-05-07T16:16:41Z")
I’m sure that apostrophe was simply misplaced. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/25 "2011-05-07T16:26:39Z")
I always read it about lovers parting for an extended period of time, with the woman singing, but it could be about parents/children. It really doesn’t matter: it’s just about how uncertain this world is, and how whenever two people part for an extended period of time, they can’t be entirely sure they will see each other again. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/26 "2011-05-07T16:50:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m sure that apostrophe was simply misplaced. 😉 They really like their [mothers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibBFIr_e6W8). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/27 "2011-05-07T16:52:43Z")
Moving to Cafe Society from GQ. Posters should note that this thread is nearly as old as the song itself. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/28 "2011-05-07T17:01:39Z")
For all the people who think that the singer is a female (mother, lover of “Danny Boy”) . . . isn’t the song traditionally sung by a man? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/29 "2011-05-07T17:32:14Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I always thought it was London Derriere. > [@Loach](#): > > [PBS documentary](http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Boy-Sunshine-Eric-Clapton/dp/B0002T87FO). Haven’t seen it in a while but it stated that the song was about young men emigrating and leaving their mother’s behind. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m sure that apostrophe was simply misplaced. 😉 No, I think they’re on to something 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/30 "2011-05-07T18:17:17Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > _And I will hear, though soft you tread above me, > And I will lurch, and rise like April rains: > Eleven years have passed, so say you love me, > And you and I alike will go in search of braaiiinnnssss…_ Oh, bravo! ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/31 "2011-05-07T19:35:07Z")
The rarely heard third verse follows the “going off to war” idea: > [@](#): > > But should I live, and should you die for Ireland, > Let not your dying thoughts be all of me, > But breathe a prayer to God for our dear sireland, > That He will hear, and He will set her free. > > And I will take your place and pike, my dearest, > And strike a blow, though weak that blow may be. > To help the cause to which your heart was nearest, > And you will rest in peace until I come for thee. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/32 "2011-05-07T20:56:52Z")
Is that third verse part of the original song, or a later addition? It certainly makes it pretty clearly about war, but it also doesn’t really seem to fit with the original (even if the original is also about war). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/33 "2011-05-07T21:25:22Z")
> [@Gestalt](#): > > For all the people who think that the singer is a female (mother, lover of “Danny Boy”) . . . isn’t the song traditionally sung by a man? So’s is _House Of The Rising Sun_, but there’s no doubt it’s about a woman. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/34 "2011-05-08T02:04:06Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I always thought it was London Derriere. Benny Hill shout-out caught. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/35 "2011-05-08T02:20:32Z")
I always figured the pipe in the song refers to a fife, not a bagpipe. That would put a stronger military spin on it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/36 "2011-05-08T02:39:39Z")
Many of the questions in this thread are answered in Malachy McCourt’s [Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad](http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Boy-Legend-Beloved-Ballad/dp/0451208064/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304821044&sr=1-1). Originally written by Weatherly in 1910 to another tune and a hit in 1913 in it’s current form. Presumably then _Eily Dear_ of 1918 is Weatherley’s attempt to suck more from Danny’s marrow. All the militaristic verses are subsequent add-ons. General opinion amongst students of the song is that it is about emigration but it doesn’t really matter. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/37 "2011-05-08T14:19:35Z")
I feel I need to post [the greatest rendition of Danny Boy ever recorded](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU). ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/38 "2011-05-08T16:36:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is that third verse part of the original song, or a later addition? It certainly makes it pretty clearly about war, but it also doesn’t really seem to fit with the original (even if the original is also about war). I don’t know for sure but I get the feeling it’s a later addition. Sinead O’Connor sings the first half of the third verse here in a lovely a capella version of the song: https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSjvLG7IJAI?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/39 "2011-05-08T19:03:35Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > _And I will hear, though soft you tread above me,_ > _And I will lurch, and rise like April rains:_ > _Eleven years have passed, so say you love me,_ > _And you and I alike will go in search of braaiiinnnssss…_ Most zombie jokes are tired and weak. But this was pretty good. Kudos. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/40 "2011-05-08T22:46:06Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > - > > And you and I alike will go in search of braaiiinnnssss…\* Sure’n, this line always brings a tear to me eye. Best wishes, hh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909.md?page=3)