General Norman Johnson (23 May 1943, Norfolk, VA – 13 Oct 2010, Atlanta, GA), had a hit as the lead singer of The Showmen, in the early '60s, with the New Orleans rock'n'roll anthem It Will Stand.
When Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown, in 1967, to establish their own Invictus/Hot Wax group of labels, they teamed-up Johnson with Eddie Custis, Danny Woods &, Canadian born, Harrison Kennedy - as the new company's flagship act - under the appropriate name 'Chairmen of the Board'. Dozier explained, according to Songfacts: "We called them that because of their extraordinary talents. They each played several instruments, sang and wrote songs as well." Custis left the group after their second album.
Though they all had a turn at lead vocals, it was General Johnson's quirky hiccup-laden style and his songwriting which became increasingly showcased, wit hthe group selling a million plus copies of "Give Me Just A Little More Time". Chairmen of the Board also scored with "You've Got Me Dangling On A String", "Pay To the Piper", "Everything's Tuesday", "Working On A Building Of Love", "Elmo James", "Finders Keepers", and the original version of "Patches", a memorable ballad later covered with great success by Clarence Carter.
Kennedy, Woods and Johnson all went on to cut solo albums of varying quality, whilst Johnson wrote and produced (with Greg Perry) for other Invictus/Hot Wax acts, notably Honey Cone. Harrison having left, Johnson and Woods toured the UK in 1976 with six musicians as "Chairmen of the Board", but were not as successful as before. The act was broken up immediately afterwards, Johnson having signed for Arista Records as a solo artist.
In 1978, Johnson reformed the Chairmen of the Board. In 1980, the new Chairmen founded Surfside Records, for which the group records for to this day.
The Chairmen of the Board (General Johnson, Danny Woods and Ken Knox) were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
General Johnson continued to perform with Woods and Knox as the "Chairmen of the Board" until his death from lung cancer in 2010.
In 2012, Chairmen of the Board released a single, "You", which was written and produced by Knox.
In 2013, former member Harrison Kennedy was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the "Acoustic Artist" category.
Danny Woods died in January 2018.
Danny Boy
Chairmen Of The Board 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 roses falling,
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 hushed and white with snow,
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If 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, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
The lyrics of "Danny Boy" by Chairmen of the Board tell a story of love and longing, as well as the inevitability of mortality. The song is a heartfelt plea from one person, presumably Danny Boy, to another, urging them to return and professing their love.
The opening stanza sets the scene in a picturesque setting, as the pipes are calling from glen to glen, creating a sense of ethereal beauty. However, the tone quickly shifts as the summer fades away and the roses fall. This change in season symbolizes the passing of time, a reminder that life is fleeting. The singer acknowledges that Danny Boy must leave while they stay behind, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of their situation.
In the second stanza, the singer expresses the hope that Danny Boy will return when summer returns to the meadow or when the valley is covered in snow, indicating that their love and longing for Danny Boy is constant, regardless of the season. They pledge to be there waiting, whether in sunshine or shadow, suggesting unwavering devotion.
The third stanza takes a more somber turn, acknowledging the possibility of death and highlighting the uncertainty of life. The singer imagines a scenario where Danny Boy returns to find that they have passed away, instructing them to find the place where they lie and say an Ave (a prayer) for their soul. This verse conveys a sense of melancholy and the acknowledgement of mortality, emphasizing the fragility of life.
The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope and solace. The singer assures Danny Boy that even though they may be absent, they will still be able to hear his presence above their grave. They anticipate that their resting place will become warmer and sweeter when Danny Boy pays them a visit, for it is in that moment that they will bend down and profess their love. The lyrics conclude with the comforting thought that the singer will rest in peace until the day Danny Boy comes to join them, suggesting a belief in reunion even after death.
Overall, the lyrics of "Danny Boy" convey a profound sense of love, longing, and acceptance of life's fleeting nature. They speak to the enduring power of relationships and the hope for a return, both in this life and in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
Oh, Danny boy, the music, the music is beckoning
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
Through valleys and mountains, echoing far and wide.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
The season has ended, and the flowers are fading away,
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
You have to leave, and I have to stay.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
But return when the meadow is lush and bright,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
Or when the valley is silent and covered in snow,
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
I will be here, in both joy and sorrow,
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I deeply adore you!
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
But when you return, and the flowers have withered away,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
If I have passed away, as is likely,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
You'll come and discover the spot of my rest,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And kneel down and pray there for my soul's plea.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And I will hear, though gently you step on the ground above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
And my resting place will feel warmer, sweeter to me,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
Because you will lean down and confess your love for me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
And I will rest in tranquility until you join me!
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind