DANNY BOY
Written by Frederic Edward Weatherly


Oh Danny Boy the pipes, the pipes are calling,
From glenn to glenn and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone and all the flowers dyin'
It's you, it's you must go, and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's bare* or white with snow.
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadows.
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's bare* or white with snow.
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadows.
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
*the word sounds like "bare" when Jim sings this verse. However, the traditional lyrics are "hushed."
Reeves always loved the classic old folk song "Danny Boy." Jim's interpretation of the lyrics was that it's about an Irish boy whose father is doing the singing. Though some persons may argue with that view of the song, Reeves firmly believed that was the way it was.

It was a great show tune-the audiences loved it. And it made a powerful closing-or encore-number. "Danny Boy" was one of his favorite songs to perform.

Reeves recorded "Danny Boy" twice. The first time was with studio musicians-and, perfectionist that he was, Reeves was displeased with the outcome because he thought the feeling was not there. So he recorded it later with his own musicians: Dean Manuel on the Piano; Mel Rogers, drums; James Kirkland, bass; and Leo Jackson, guitar-the same group he always used on the road. The version included in this album is a live performance recording…with his own musicians…the way he preferred it.

Taken from the notes accompanying "Jim Reeves - A Legendary Performer" (CPL1-1891).
© 1976 RCA Records - Submitted by C.B. Dixon.


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