Granted, this may not be an authoritative source, but on one of the "Three Irish Tenors" shows on PBS (pledge week special), one of the singers said that the "I" in "Danny Boy," was Danny's mother. She hears the pipes calling all the young men in the area into the military, and—if you read the lyrics from that viewpoint, it all makes perfect sense. This, despite the fact that the song is usually sung by a man—generally a tenor (prototype, John McCormack).

In fact, I would like to hear it sung by a woman.

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The first person I ever heard sing "Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies" was Claire, the girl I was going with and who taught me my first chords back in 1952. The second person I heard sing it was Walt Robertson. Then on a record by Pete Seeger. Later on, Joan Baez. And I sing it myself.

I see no reason why this shouldn't be sung by either gender. The singer, after all, is the narrator, and like a good actor, should be able to effectively take almost any role.

Don Firth