John Francis McCormack was born in Athlone, Ireland, the fourth of eleven children of Andrew and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884, and was baptised in St. Mary's Church, Athlone on 23 June 1884. His father was employed in Athlone Woollen Mills.
John received his early education from the Marist Brothers in Athlone, and later attended Summerhill College, Sligo. In 1903 he won the coveted gold medal in the Dublin Feis Ceoil and it was this event which set him on his climb to success. John married Lily Foley in 1906 and the couple had two children Cyril and Gwen.
Fundraising enabled his voice to be trained under Sabbatini in Italy. In 1907 John McCormack made his first important operatic appearance at Covent Garden in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. By 1912 he began to turn his attention to the concert stage, where his voice quality and charisma ensured that he became the greatest lyric tenor of his day.
He made numerous recordings, the first on phonograph cylinder in 1904. His most commercially successful series of records were those for the Victor Talking Machine Company in the 1910s and 1920s. He was the first artist to record It's a Long Way to Tipperary, in 1914. He also regularly broadcast on the radio and appeared in a number of sound films.
In 1917 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
To many people the highlight of McCormack's Irish career was his singing of César Franck's Panis Angelicus to the thousands who thronged Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
He was much honoured and decorated for his services to the world of music. His greatest honour came in 1928, when he received the title Count from Pope Pius XI in recognition of his work for Catholic charities. Although he often came to be referred to as "Count John McCormack" in his professional life, this title was officially recognised within only the Catholic Church ever.
McCormack retired in 1944, and died the following year at his home in Glena, Booterstown, Dublin.
Kathleen Mavourneen
John McCormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking,
Oh, hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
Oh, hast thou forgotten this day we must part?
It may be for years, and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
It may be for years and it may be forever,
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light.
Ah! Where is the spell that once hung on thy numbers,
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night!
Mavourneen, mavourneen, my sad tears are falling,
To think that from Erin and thee I must part!
It may be for years, and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
It may be for years and it may be forever,
The lyrics of John McCormack's Kathleen Mavourneen tell the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman named Kathleen. He describes the idyllic scene around them, with the horn of the hunter being heard on the hill and the lark shaking the bright dew from its wings. However, he cannot shake the sadness he feels at the thought of having to part with Kathleen, as they may not see each other for years or maybe even forever. He implores Kathleen to speak to him, as she is the voice of his heart, and he longs to hear her words one last time.
The man mentions the blue mountains glowing in the sun's golden light, perhaps describing the beauty of their surroundings and what they are leaving behind. He asks Kathleen to arise in her beauty, as she is the star of his night, meaning his guiding light and source of comfort during dark times. The chorus repeats the idea that they may be apart for years or forever, and the man's tears fall as he contemplates leaving Kathleen and Erin, the poetic name for Ireland.
Line by Line Meaning
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill.
The sound of the hunter's horn echoes across the hill.
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking,
The lark's wings stir the dew on the ground as she flies.
Oh, hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
Have you forgotten that we must part soon?
Oh, hast thou forgotten this day we must part?
Have you forgotten that today is the day we must part?
It may be for years, and it may be forever,
Our separation may last for a long time, or it may be permanent.
Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
Why are you not speaking, my beloved?
It may be for years and it may be forever,
Our separation may last for a long time, or it may be permanent.
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light.
The mountains appear blue in the light of the setting sun.
Ah! Where is the spell that once hung on thy numbers,
Where is the enchantment that was once held in your words?
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night!
Rise up in your beauty, my guiding star!
Mavourneen, mavourneen, my sad tears are falling,
My dear one, my dear one, I am crying tears of sadness.
To think that from Erin and thee I must part!
To think that I must leave you and our homeland of Ireland!
It may be for years, and it may be forever,
Our separation may last for a long time, or it may be permanent.
Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
Why are you not speaking, my beloved?
It may be for years and it may be forever,
Our separation may last for a long time, or it may be permanent.
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bicicletasaladas
Kathleen Mavourneen! The grey dawn is breaking,
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking
Kathleen Mavourneen! What slum bring still.
Oh hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
Oh hast thou forgotten this day we must part,
It may be for Years, and it may be forever
Oh why... art thou silent, thou voice of my heart,
It may be for Years and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent Kathleen Mavourneen.
Kathleen Mavourneen! Awake from thy slumbers,
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light,
Ah! where is the spell that once hung on my numbers,
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night
Mavourneen, Mavourneen, my sad tears are falling,
To think that from Erin and thee I must part,
It may be for Years, and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent thou voice of my heart ,
It may be for Years...and it may be forever,
Then why....art thou silent Kathleen Mavourneen.
James Upton
The sheer exquisiteness of the phrasing - Mc Cormack gave even to the apparently simple drawing room song the same attention as to German Lieder, or French Art song. His interpretations remain the gold standard. It is as if he operated on a plateau well above other singers of the same songs, god like. Combined in him was huge musical intelligence, a gifted voice, incredibly disciplined technique, and gorgeous sensibility to every word and phrase. 'Art concealing art'.The last of the great Bards of Ireland.
Irish Mike
James, thank you for watching and your insightful comments!!
Somersetuk
Exactly James well said........his god given voice in folk songs and opera...what a gift for peace. ??
Bicicletasaladas
Kathleen Mavourneen! The grey dawn is breaking,
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking
Kathleen Mavourneen! What slum bring still.
Oh hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
Oh hast thou forgotten this day we must part,
It may be for Years, and it may be forever
Oh why... art thou silent, thou voice of my heart,
It may be for Years and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent Kathleen Mavourneen.
Kathleen Mavourneen! Awake from thy slumbers,
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light,
Ah! where is the spell that once hung on my numbers,
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night
Mavourneen, Mavourneen, my sad tears are falling,
To think that from Erin and thee I must part,
It may be for Years, and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent thou voice of my heart ,
It may be for Years...and it may be forever,
Then why....art thou silent Kathleen Mavourneen.
Irish Mike
Thank you for watching and posting the lyrics!!!
J Streby
This song gives me goosebumps every time.
Ciaran Mac Aodha-Ó Cinneide ne Hughes-Kennedy
Incredible purity and pathos. Vastly versatile in cadence and connotation. Listening to this stunningly beautiful music reminds one they were born in an age of artistic apostacy. His music hot wires one to their parents IRL. Beautiful imagery too. Thanks
Irish Mike
Thank you so much for your kind words and insightful comments!!!!!
saltburner2
This is the first JM record I bought new as a schoolboy in the 1950s, It still moves me deeply.
Phyllis Ramsey
I love this song! John must have loved it, too. He recorded it several times. This particular recording was unpublished for many years. It was finally released to be used on a new cd compilation of John McCormack's songs. How do I know this? I read it on the liner notes of that cd which I bought. Very lovely video!!