Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)

Subject: Origins: Danny Boy
From: moljac
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 06:31 PM

Hi,
I have heard a version of Danny Boy by an Irish singer named Tommy Fleming. A superb version, which is preceded by a verse I have never heard before. i get the feeling it is a poem of some kind, put to music.

Has anyone here heard this version and if so do they know where this new verse came from?

Tommy Fleming is relatively new on the scene and has toured with De Danann.

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 06:58 PM

At least give us a quote!

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 07:19 PM

History of Danny Boy This thread may answer the question, and it is cross linked with numerous other Danny Boy threads. It may be worth continuing any investigation there.

Welcome aboard Moljac; this comment is not 'casting nasturtiums' on your query, a quick search may have found the thread more suitable to 'refresh' (resurrect) but any suitable enquiry is welcome, and we'll try to help

Nigel

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 08:16 PM

Exceot that the query isn't about Danny Boy as such, it's about this unidentified poem attached to it by Tommy Fleming

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 01:09 AM

Moljac,
       I saved the Tommy Fleming "Danny Boy" on my computer from a local radio show,
unfortunately my hearing is far from perfect and this below is all I could make out.
There are a further two lines of which I could make no sense whatsoever. Of course
I don't have a clue who wrote the extra verse/s, but it is obviously a reprise of the main
elements of the normal song, which follows after the mising lines, however the author
seems to assume that it was Danny in the grave, which is not consistent with Fred
Weatherly's original song.


The valley's hushed, the flowers are dying,
The meadows ? are white with the winter snow,
? as I stand in the place where Danny's lying,
I say a silent prayer, somehow I know,
You hear me though soft I tread above you

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 03:40 PM

The version with the extra verse has been done by Roy Orbison, which I was lucky enough to borrow to add to my collection ( I now have 27 versions of Danny Boy) which no doubt you may realise has a very special meaning for me personally. (Thereby lies a long story over many years of my life), anyway I must say that Roy Orbisons version is the most poignant, heartbreaking version I have heard.

Whilst I don't know the author of the extra verses, it has been added to imply the return of Danny after many years to his fathers resting place, there is also a piece added onto the end.
Here are the words of Roy Orbisons version:-

The valley is hushed the flowers are all dying
The meadow is white with the winter snow
Lord as I stand at the place where daddy is lying
I say a silent prayer and somehow I know
He hears me there though soft I tread above him
So now he sleeps in peace his Danny boy's come home

(It then goes into the "normal" Danny Boy lyrics, then at the end, this)

I close my eyes and still I can see him standing there on the hill
Tears filled his eyes as he waved goodbye to me
I can't forget, I guess I never will
He said, the valley is hushed the flowers are all dying
The meadow is white with the winter snow
Come find the place where you know that I'll be lying
Say a silent prayer so I'll know.

Whew, never done so much typing, hope this helps.

Wilby

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From:
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 08:45 PM

Thanks Wilby.

Now, we need to see if we can find out who wrote the additional verses.

These extra verses are very nice though.

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: GUEST,Tom Dowling
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 12:21 AM

Yes, thanks Wilby. There is no doubt that I wll be in J & R Music World tomorrow looking for any Roy Orbison CD with that tune on it. This tune has such pull to it. Given the nearly universal familiarity of the melody, I found myself humming along with the (for me, new) extra front end and last verses. The 'dialogue' that these verses create, as it were, between the father and the son stopped me in my tracks, that is for sure. I am grateful for the reminder that this was one of the last tunes I played for my father as his hour approached.

Thanks for that,

Tom D.

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: moljac
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 06:35 AM

Thank you all for your help! I have plenty of information to work on now.
It is nice to know that there are people out there who care enough to take time out of their day...
Thanks also for the welcome - I have been visiting the site for some time in search of lyrics, but this is my first submission.

Cheers to you all!

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From:
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 07:46 PM

Hey Wilbyhillbilly,

I hope this adds to your collection. I have a friend of mine who a number of years ago gave me a verse he had written to go in between the two original verses. His name is Marty Walsh. He was the youngest police captain in the NY force in his day. I know he is alive and in his 70's.

"To Dublin Town they say that you have wandered
To joint the fight when hope was nearly gone.
And tho' at last they say you have surrendered
I know the cause you still will carry on.

Your face I see through eyes all dim with sorrow.
My heart is there where e're your footsteps go
And you are gone, but surely some tomorrow
You will come back tho' all the world says, "No!"

Goodwill,
Luke

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 10:17 PM

The verse addition done by Roy Orbison was also once recorded by Chicago group Arranmore with the whole thing as a prologue, but as I recall no author credit for the added text. I always liked it because it sounded as if it could have been a Southerner of either side returning from the civil war. Made it less an Irish-only piece and more universal. Hope we can unearth an author.

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: Kudzuman
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 10:52 PM

I recently heard Pat Mendoza do a great and moving version of this song. He prefaced it by explaining its powerful anti-war sentiment(Pat being a Vietnam vet). I had always heard the song before as a kind of sentimental love song too often played and played badly. Pat's a cappella version was a thing to remember and remind us of the horrors of war...something I personally never doubted.

Subject: RE: Origins: Danny Boy (introductory verse)
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 05:05 PM

Thanks lukeomalley,

Thats more verses I haven't heard before, it just keeps going on and on.

I just acquired a barbershop version which is a "bit" different but really good.

Thanks again
Regards

Wilbyhillbilly