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.

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Thanks to God for My Redeemer, Now Thank We All Our God, Come, Ye Thankful People, Come, Sing to the Lord of Harvest, We Plow the Fields, Immanuel, to Thee We Sing, Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding, Away in a Manger, Comfort, Comfort Now My People, Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming, The People That in Darkness Sat, Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates, Watchman, Tell Us of the Night, Hail to the Lord's Anointed, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord, Good Christian Men, Rejoice, From Heaven Above to Earth I Come, Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, In the Bleak Midwinter, Earth Has Many a Noble City, God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen, Once In Royal David's City, The Friendly Beasts, The First Noel, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Angels, from the Realms of Glory, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard On High, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, What Child Is This?, Silent Night, Holy Night, Joy to the World!, Who Is He in Yonder Stall?, All Glory Be to God on High, Go Tell It on the Mountain, For All the Blessings of the Year, For Thy Mercy and Thy Grace, Another Year Is Dawning, May the Mind of Christ, My Savior, Great God, We Sing That Mighty Hand, Lead, Kindly Light, The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want, As With Gladness, Men of Old, We Three Kings of Orient Are, Like a River Glorious, Jesus, Lead Thou On, It Is Good to Sing Your Praises, Fear Not, O Little Flock, Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, I Need Thee Every Hour, Lead On, O King Eternal, All the Way, My Savior Leads Me, Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Theme, Lamp of Our Feet, Come, Sound His Praise Abroad, He Leadeth Me, In Heavenly Love Abiding, God Moves in a Mysterious Way, Great God of Wonders, Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting, O God of Bethel, Be Not Dismayed, Abide With Me, If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee, O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Let Us, with a Gladsome Mind, Children of the Heavenly Father, The God of Abraham Praise, Take My Life and Let It Be, It Is Well with My Soul, At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set

Song List: A Child Of The King A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Abide with Me Amazing Grace At Calvary At the Cross Be Still, My Soul Beneath The Cross Of Jesus Beyond The Sunset Blessed Assurance Blest Be The Tie That Binds Break Thou The Bread Of Life Bringing In The Sheaves Christ Arose! Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today Come, Thou Almighty King Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing Come, We That Love The Lord Come, Ye Thankful People, Come Count Your Blessings Crown Him with Many Crowns Day Is Dying In The West Face to Face with Christ My Savior Fairest Lord Jesus Faith of Our Fathers For The Beauty Of The Earth God Be With You God Of Our Fathers God Will Take Care of You Great Is Thy Faithfulness Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah Have Thine Own Way, Lord! He Leadeth Me He Lives He's Got The Whole World In His Hands Heavenly Sunlight Hiding In Thee His Eye Is On The Sparrow His Name Is Wonderful Holy, Holy, Holy How Firm A Foundation How Great Thou Art I Am His And He Is Mine I Am Thine, O Lord I Have Decided to Follow Jesus I Know Whom I Have Believed I Love To Tell The Story i need Thee Every hour In Christ There Is No East Or West In the Cross of Christ In the Garden It Came Upon the Midnight Clear It Is Well With My Soul Ivory Palaces Jesus Calls Us Jesus Is All The World To Me Jesus Loves Me! Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee Joy To The World Just A Closer Walk With Thee Just As I Am, Without One Plea Lead Me To Calvary Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Let The Lower Lights Be Burning Love Divine, All Loves Excelling More About Jesus Would I Know More Love To Thee My Faith Looks Up To Thee My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less My Jesus, I Love Thee Near The Cross Near to the Heart of God Nearer, My God, to Thee No, Not One! Now Thank We All Our God O Come, All Ye Faithful O For A Heart To Praise My God O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing O God, Our Help In Ages Past O Happy Day Oh, How He Loves You and Me! Oh, How I Love Jesus O Little Town of Bethlehem O Love That Will Not Let Me Go O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee O Worship the King Only Trust Him Onward, Christian Soldiers Open My Eyes, That I May See Pass Me Not Rescue the Perishing Revive Us Again Rock Of Ages Safe In The Arms Of Jesus Saved By Grace Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Shall We Gather at the River? Showers Of Blessing Silent Night! Holy Night! Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus Standing On The Promises Sweet By And By Sweet Hour of Prayer Take My Life and Let It Be Take The Name Of Jesus With You Take Time To Be Holy Tell Me The Old, Old Story The Bond Of Love The Church In The Wildwood The Church's One Foundation The Light Of The World Is Jesus The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want The Old Rugged Cross This Is My Father's World 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Trust and Obey Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus Were You There? What a Friends We Have in Jesus When I Survey the Wondrous Cross When Morning Gilds the Skies When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder Wonderful Words Of Life