Londonderry Air arranged for String Orchestra.

A big band version of the song is used as the theme for The Danny Thomas Show (a.k.a. Make Room For Daddy).

"Danny Boy" was used to represent Northern Ireland at the start of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, sung by a choir of children on the Giant?s Causeway.

On November 25, 2014, the Vancouver Canucks used the song in honor of the recently deceased Pat Quinn, who played and worked in many executive capacities for the team.

There are various theories as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy". Some listeners have interpreted the song to be a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora.

The 1918 version of the sheet music included alternative lyrics ("Eily Dear"), with the instructions that "when sung by a man, the words in italic should be used; the song then becomes "Eily Dear", so that "Danny Boy" is only to be sung by a lady". In spite of this, it is unclear whether this was Weatherly?s intent.

Why the name Londonderry Air? Londonderry and Derry refer to the same place, a city in the north of Ireland, and also to the surrounding county. Supposedly the city of Derry was founded by St. Colmcille, although archaeological evidence shows that people were living there thousands of years earlier. There is an excellent museum in the city, which is worth a visit if you want to find out more. The name of the city was actually "Doire", corrupted to "Derry" by people who can?t pronounce Irish. It thought to derive from an Irish root meaning "oak tree".

Moving quickly along in history, about a millenium later the government of England was having a difficult time colonizing Ireland because of the fierce and warlike clans living there, especially in the north of the country, Ulster. The monarchs of England, almost all of whom were notorious cheapskates, were continually looking about for ingenious ways to conquer places without actually having to put up the money themselves, or run the risk of unpopularity if they lost. In the case of Ireland, some of these schemes of the "Brish gummit" (as it is termed nowadays in Ulster) are still producing unfortunate long-term consequences.

In 1608, King James I gave the city of Derry to the City of London corporation. I guess the deal could be summed up by saying that if the City of London could figure out a way to chase all the inhabitants out of Derry, they would be allowed to keep the loot, minus a percentage for the King of course. If they lost, well too bad. In celebration of this historic agreement, the name of Derry was officially changed to Londonderry. (For further information, check out the Northern Ireland Tourist Board?s History of Derry.)

The linguistic outcome of all this today is that, if you think that King James?s deal with the City of London was a good idea, you call both the city and county "Londonderry". If you do, you are probably a supporter of the Unionist movement that seeks to keep Ulster a part of the United Kingdom. If you think it was a bad idea, you call both "Derry", and you are probably a supporter of the Irish Nationalist cause. Or you might just be someone who thinks it?s confusing for kings to be going around changing the names of places all the time for no good reason.

You can find plenty of discussion about the political side of the question elsewhere, but here let?s look at the musical side. We have an air, collected in county Derry/Londonderry, and it doesn?t have a title. What do we call it?

If you were a proper Victorian, there?s no way you were going to call it the Londonderry Air, much less the Derry Air, because of the improper sentiments that these titles might suggest. My parents tell me that in their youth in Australia, it was usually called the Air from County Derry. (This would, I suppose, support Winston Churchill?s theory that Australia was inhabited by "convicts and Irishmen".)

My mother also sends the following information, referring to an arrangement of the tune by the Australian composer Percy Grainger:

Just another note about Danny Boy, that I grew up in Australia believing to be the Air from County Derry. We were looking through some LP?s last night (back to vinyl yet!) and found a Mercury Wing Classical Favorites stereo LP SRW18060, COUNTRY GARDENS and other favorites by Percy Grainger {played by} Eastman-Rochester Pops, Frederick Fennell, conducting. The cover notes included the following: "Irish Tune from County Derry was harmonised in memory of Irish childhood friends in Australia." Considered by many to be Grainger?s masterpiece of harmonization, the tune was collected many years ago by Miss Jane Ross of New Town, Limavady, Ireland. Grainger has set it for many instrumental combinations. So there?s another variant on the name for it. It doesn?t say who wrote the notes, but the bits in quotes for each of the works on the record are Grainger?s original comments.

The references to Londonderry Air that I?ve seen don?t go back any earlier than the late 1930s. For example, the Glenn Miller Orchestra recorded Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) in February 1940. Bing Crosby?s version was recorded in July 1941 (reference). (So many different things I could check up on!) Londonderry was an important American naval base during WWII, but the US hadn?t come into the war in 1940.

Need an anthem fast? They are ALL in my store! All my anthem arrangements are also available for Orchestra, Recorders, Saxophones, Wind, Brass and Flexible band. If you need an anthem urgently for an instrumentation not in my store, let me know via e-mail, and I will arrange it for you FOC if possible! keithterrett@gmail.com

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Here's how to play "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers on piano!

With this piano sheet music, you can play Bill Withers' famous song "Lovely Day".
It's a beautiful and accurate piano arrangement which is not too hard to play, and sounds fantastic!

The whole melody is included in the piano part, so it sounds great as an instrumental (piano solo) version. However, you can also use these sheets to accompany a singer, or sing along yourself - the full lyrics and chords are included!

"Lovely Day" was written by Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough, released as a single in 1977, and later included on Withers' album "Menagerie".

Over the years, it has been covered by countless other artists, including Kirk Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Jill Scott, Justin Timberlake, and Maroon 5.

Here are the full lyrics to "Lovely Day":

When I wake up in the morning, love
And the sunlight hurts my eyes
And something without warning, love
Bears heavy on my mind
Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
A lovely day
When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face
When someone else instead of me
Always seems to know the way
Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
A lovely day
When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face
When someone else instead of me
Always seems to know the way
Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
A lovely day

This valuable collection of hymns is just the first in a series of five! These are wonderful titles , from well-known favorites that many grew up with, to songs that are lesser known yet equally important. These tunes have the added benefit of being arranged in keys that are accessible to most vocal ranges, which is especially helpful when playing along with congregational singing. Arrangements are interesting and have lovely harmonies. Lever changes are indicated with diamond shaped notes. Some tunes have no lever changes, some have a lot. The left hand in a few of the tunes is quite active. An enormous amount of harp work for these 72 tunes.
Table of Contents: At the Lamb's High Feast,Hallelujah, What a Savior!,There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood, I Will Sing of My Redeemer, Am I a Soldier of the Cross?,I Know That My Redeemer Lives, Redeemed, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder, Rejoice! Ye Pure in Heart, Blessed Be the Name, Rejoice, the Lord Is King!, All Creatures of Our God and King, Blessed Assurance, For the Beauty of the Earth, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Nature's Works His Praise Declare, This Is My Father's World, Praise Him! Praise Him!, How Great Thou Art, Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire, Come, Let Us Rise with Christ, Fairest Lord Jesus, Crown Him with Many Crowns, Come Down, O Love Divine, Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart, Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove, Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire, Blessed Quietness, Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine, Holy Spirit, Truth Divine, Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now, Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, Holy Ghost, with Light Divine, Holy, Holy, Holy, Christ for the World We Sing, Take Time to Be Holy, O for a Closer Walk with God, Jesus Shall Reign, Revive Us Again, Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way, Come, Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire, O Zion Haste, Channels Only, Onward Christian Soldiers, I Love to Tell the Story, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, Be Thou My Vision, I Surrender All, Give of Your Best to the Master, All for Jesus, All for Jesus!, Close to Thee, O Jesus, I Have Promised, God of Grace and God of Glory, All People That on Earth Do Dwell, Grace Greater than Our Sin, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Faith of Our Fathers, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Just As I Am, Praise the Lord! O Heavens Adore Him, Ancient of Days, Holy God, We Praise Your Name,
Come, We That Love the Lord, Who Is on the Lord?s Side, Softly and Tenderly, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, God of Our Fathers, O My Soul, Bless God the Father, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Depth of Mercy!