Danny Boy
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
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,
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

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!

Overall Meaning

The song "Danny Boy" by Jimmie Rodgers is a melancholic ballad that tells the story of two lovers who are parting ways. The beginning of the song talks about the call of the pipes, which may refer to the sound of bagpipes being played in the hills, a common tradition in Ireland. The singer, Danny Boy, is being called to leave and it seems that he will have to leave his lover behind. The second line, "From glen to glen, and down the mountain side", speaks to the Irish countryside with the glen referring to a narrow valley and the mountainside being a representation of the hilly terrain.


The chorus is the most well-known part of the song, and it is a pleading message from the lover to Danny Boy, asking him to return when summer comes again. The lyrics imply that the singer will wait for Danny Boy no matter what, whether it is in sunshine or in shadow. The love between the two is very apparent as the singer expresses her deep feelings, stating "Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!"


The last verse is a heart-wrenching one as it speaks about death, with the singer saying that if she dies, Danny Boy must come to her grave and say a prayer for her. She expresses her belief that she will be able to hear him even though she will be dead. The song ends on a poignant note as Danny Boy is promised by the singer that she will sleep in peace until his return.


Overall, "Danny Boy" is a beautiful song that speaks of love, loss, and longing, unmissable for those who savor Irish ballads.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
Danny, you can hear the sound of the pipes calling you from far away


From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The pipes' echoes reach you as you travel through the valleys and down the mountainside


The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
Summer is gone and the roses that once bloomed are now falling, signaling the passing of time


It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
You must leave and I must stay behind, as that is our fate


But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Come back to me when the meadow is green with summer growth


Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
Or come back to me when the valley is quiet and covered in white snow


It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
I will always be here, whether it's sunny or overcast


Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!
Danny, my dear, I love you very much!


But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
When you return, the flowers may be wilting, indicating the end of the season or the end of life


If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
I may already be dead by the time you return


You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
You will find my final resting place


And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
You will kneel and say a prayer for me, invoking God's blessings upon my soul


And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
Even though you walk lightly on my grave, I will hear you


And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
My grave will feel warmer and more comforting because of your presence


For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
You will lean down and express your love for me


And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
I will rest peacefully until the time comes when you join me in the afterlife




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ARR: PETER HOPE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@MAKSEEM23

I have loved this Jimmie Roger’s song for 50 years!