# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/41 "2011-05-09T04:34:10Z")
I’m not of Irish descent, and St. Patrick’s day means naught to me, because (1) I’m Protestant and wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day, and (2) “Danny Boy” is one of the saddest songs ever. Recently, I read (can’t remember where) that someone (a restauranteer/bar tender?) was trying to introduce a more uplifting song for the occasion. I’d go along with that, but being a snotty WASP, I doubt it would make a difference to me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/42 "2011-05-09T04:38:14Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I feel I need to post [the greatest rendition of Danny Boy ever recorded](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU). Why did I know this would be the Muppets? 😃 Sheer genius. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/43 "2011-05-09T07:04:03Z")
Thanks to \*Miller’s Crossing \*the song now reminds me of a guy walking though the woods and expecting to have his head blown off. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/44 "2011-05-09T14:21:22Z")
This song was maudlin corny muzak to me until I heard Johnny Cash’s rendition. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/45 "2011-05-09T20:30:36Z")
> [@movingfinger](#): > > Thanks to \*Miller’s Crossing \*the song now reminds me of a guy walking though the woods and expecting to have his head blown off. Nah, Danny Boy was Leo escaping a hit and being an artist with a Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/46 "2011-05-09T20:52:58Z")
> [@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…_ Sir, I salute you. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/47 "2011-05-17T17:20:19Z")
[Here’s a current rendition](http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2011/0517/media-2960051.html#), from today outside Buckingham Palace. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/48 "2011-05-17T18:50:03Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Here’s a current rendition](http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2011/0517/media-2960051.html#), from today outside Buckingham Palace. From 2:18 it was the tune I’ve always heard. What preceded that? A portion of “Londonderry Air” that was not used for “Danny Boy?” Some other tune in medley? Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/49 "2011-05-17T18:59:44Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > From 2:18 it was the tune I’ve always heard. What preceded that? A portion of “Londonderry Air” that was not used for “Danny Boy?” Some other tune in medley? Anyone know? It’s just a variation on it as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909/50 "2011-05-25T01:12:22Z")
> [@movingfinger](#): > > Thanks to \*Miller’s Crossing \*the song now reminds me of a guy walking though the woods and expecting to have his head blown off. “The old man’s still an artist with a Thompson!” ETA: Which, I see, now, was already referenced upthread. Best wishes, hh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-song-danny-boy/21909.md?page=2)