In the rock (and roll) community, Bill Monroe may be best known via one of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings at Sun Records, that of Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. Patsy Cline also made a highly regarded version of this song.
Danny Boy
Bill Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come you back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
The song "Danny Boy" by Bill Monroe is a loving and sentimental ballad that is typically sung around the time of St. Patrick's Day. The lyrics of the song embrace themes of love, loss, and longing, and evoke a vivid image of Ireland's rural beauty. The song is written in the first person from the perspective of a man named Danny Boy who is communicating his farewell to his loved one.
The opening lines, "Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling, from glen to glen, and down the mountain side" suggest that Danny Boy is a figure who is closely identified with the music and traditions of Ireland. The following lines, "The summer's gone, and all the roses are dying, it's you, It's you must go and I must bide" hint at the separation that Danny Boy is experiencing from his beloved as the seasons change. However, the chorus reassures his loved one that he will always be with her, telling her to "come ye back when summer's in the meadow, or when the valley's hushed and white with snow, for I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow, oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so".
The second verse intensifies the tone of the song by picturing the singer's eventual death and the grave he will occupy. However, his beloved is urged to come and visit him even after he is gone, giving her the location of the grave and the prayer to say for him. The final lines, "And I will sleep in peace until you come to me" suggest a profound depth of love that transcends even death itself. The song as a whole is incredibly moving and inspirational, and has become a beloved classic in Irish culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
Oh Danny boy, the beautiful sounds of music are calling you
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
Travel from glen to glen and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses are dying
The beautiful summer is gone and the once beautiful roses are withering away
It's you, It's you must go and I must bide
It's you who must leave me and I must stay behind
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Please come back to me when the summer is back in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
Or when the valley is quiet and covered in snow
For I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
I'll be here waiting for you, through any season, whether it be bright or dark
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so
Oh Danny boy, I love you so much
But when ye come and all the flowers are a dying
But when you come and the flowers are dying away
And if I am dead, dead I well may be
And if I am dead, as I may be
Just come and find, find the place
Just find the place
Find the place where I lay lying
Find the place where I am laying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me
And kneel and pray for me there
And I will hear tho soft you tread above me
And I will hear you softly walk above me
And my grave, my grave warmer and sweeter be
My grave, my resting place will be warmer and sweeter because of your love for me
For you're gonna kneel and you're gonna tell
Because you will kneel and tell
God you're gonna tell me how you loved me
You will tell God how much you loved me
And I will sleep in peace until you come to me
And I will rest in peace until you come to me
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
garrett holder
Monroes voice was truly amazing and this is a great example of his ability.... some cool fiddlin too
Vickie Wupdafox
This is the best version I have heard. It works well as a bluegrass song.
David Snyder
Please check out Harry Belafonte’s version from Live at Carnegie Hall. “Who would have ever guessed that the finest Danny Boy of them all was sung by a Jamaican?”
esmedoodles
... gives me goosebumps ... beautiful.
Rufus Buckner
What a kind voice! Thanks
tippimail1
My mother used to sing this song in Kansas in the early '50's[she probably sang it a lot earlier]but i remember it from then-we went to see him in Palo Alto,Ca. in the early'90's,and i told my friend,it might be the last time we'd see him,and it was.He would have been 106 today.When my mother died,i got an album of his ,the next day,that had this on it.
Ben Shavers
That was enchanting.
DL Mullins
Just listened to Elvis' version and it was great, but this one is the very best.
DL Mullins
In over thirteen years only one thumbs down. I bet that guy feels pretty stupid now.