After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
Daughter Of Mine
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the wedding day of his daughter
As his mind wanders back to the first time he held her
He looks at her now, the same pride in his eyes
As onto the dance floor they glide
This is the dance of the bride and her father
Dance with me daughter of mine
Dance with me daughter of mine
You'll soon be going away
I loved you since you first began
Now you've found a new man
But I love you so, and this you must know
That my love won't falter
So dance with me daughter
Beautiful daughter of mine
We walk down the aisle
On my face there's a smile
But deep in my heart there's a tear
Our friends and relations are here in the church
With smiles on their faces they stare
As we walk t'ward the man who has stolen your heart
And to whom I must give you away
But I wish you love and happiness too
On this your wedding day
Chorus
The dance has begun
We twirl around the floor
But I know you're not my little girl anymore
A lovely young woman has taken her place
And there's happiness written all over her face
But always remember although we must part
You may leave my arms but never my heart
Chorus
In John McDermott's "Daughter Of Mine," the lyrics convey the emotions of a father on his daughter's wedding day. He looks back at the first time he held her and realizes how grown up she has become. As he dances with her at her wedding, he knows that he must let her go to her new husband, but his love and pride for her will never change. He tries to hold back the tears as he walks his daughter down the aisle, knowing that he must give her away to another man, but still wishing her all the happiness in the world. As they dance, he realizes that even though she's not his little girl anymore, she will always hold a special place in his heart and he will continue to love her no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
These are the thoughts of a father
A father reflects on his daughter's wedding day
On the wedding day of his daughter
The daughter's wedding day is the subject of the father's thoughts
As his mind wanders back to the first time he held her
The father recalls the moment he first held his newborn daughter
He looks at her now, the same pride in his eyes
The father still feels immense pride when he looks at his daughter on her wedding day
As onto the dance floor they glide
The father and daughter move gracefully together during their dance
This is the dance of the bride and her father
The song describes the special dance between a father and his daughter on her wedding day
Dance with me daughter of mine
The father asks his daughter to dance with him
On this your wedding day
The father wishes to share this special moment with his daughter
You'll soon be going away
The father knows his daughter will be starting a new life with her husband
I loved you since you first began
The father has loved his daughter since the moment she was born
Now you've found a new man
The daughter has found a new love and partner in life
But I love you so, and this you must know
The father wants his daughter to know how much he loves her
That my love won't falter
The father's love for his daughter will never diminish
So dance with me daughter
The father invites his daughter to join him in this special moment
Beautiful daughter of mine
The father expresses his pride and affection for his daughter
We walk down the aisle
The father and daughter walk down the aisle together
On my face there's a smile
The father is happy for his daughter, but also emotional
But deep in my heart there's a tear
The father is holding back tears as his daughter gets married
Our friends and relations are here in the church
The wedding ceremony is taking place in a church, surrounded by friends and family
With smiles on their faces they stare
The guests are happy and enjoying the occasion
As we walk t'ward the man who has stolen your heart
The father and daughter walk towards the groom, who has won the daughter's heart
And to whom I must give you away
The father will now give his daughter away to her new husband
But I wish you love and happiness too
The father wants his daughter to be happy in her new life
The dance has begun
The father and daughter have started their special dance
We twirl around the floor
The father and daughter dance together in a graceful and joyful way
But I know you're not my little girl anymore
The daughter has grown up and become an independent woman
A lovely young woman has taken her place
The daughter has become a beautiful and confident woman
And there's happiness written all over her face
The daughter is happy and excited to start her new life
But always remember although we must part
The father and daughter will be separated, but still have a special bond
You may leave my arms but never my heart
The father's love for his daughter will endure no matter what
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dannylong6687
Lyrics
Daughter of Mine
These are the thoughts of a father
On the wedding day of his daughter
As his mind wanders back to the first time he held her
He looks at her now, the same pride in his eyes
As onto the dance floor they glide
This is the dance of the bride and her father
Dance with me daughter of mine
On this your wedding day
Dance with me daughter of mine
You'll soon be going away
I loved you since you first began
Now you've found a new man
But I love you so, and this you must know
That my love won't falter
So dance with me daughter
Beautiful daughter of mine
We walk down the aisle
On my face there's a smile
But deep in my heart there's a tear
Our friends and relations are here in the church
With smiles on their faces they stare
As we walk t'ward the man who has stolen your heart
And to whom I must give you away
But I wish you love and happiness too
On this your wedding day
The dance has begun
We twirl around the floor
But I know you're not my little girl anymore
A lovely young woman has taken her place
And there's happiness written all over her face
But always remember although we must part
You may leave my arms but never my heart
The dance has begun
We twirl around the floor
But I know you're not my little girl anymore
A lovely young woman has taken her place
And there's happiness written all over her face
But always remember although we must part
You may leave my arms but never my heart
Songwriters: Eric Robertson
@docteursade1
Daughter Of Mine, Lyrics
These are the thoughts of a father
On the wedding day of his daughter
As his mind wanders back to the first time he held her
He looks at her now, the same pride in his eyes
As onto the dance floor they glide
This is the dance of the bride and her father
Dance with me daughter of mine
On this your wedding day
Dance with me daughter of mine
You'll soon be going away
I loved you since you first began
Now you've found a new man
But I love you so, and this you must know
That my love won't falter
So dance with me daughter
Beautiful daughter of mine
We walk down the aisle
On my face there's a smile
But deep in my heart there's a tear
Our friends and relations are here in the church
With smiles on their faces they stare
As we walk t'ward the man who has stolen your heart
And to whom I must give you away
But I wish you love and happiness too
On this your wedding day
Chorus
The dance has begun
We twirl around the floor
But I know you're not my little girl anymore
A lovely young woman has taken her place
And there's happiness written all over her face
But always remember although we must part
You may leave my arms but never my heart
Chorus
@ryanmckenna2521
If I live long enough to walk my daughter down the isle, I hope to dance with her to this song for our father daughter dance.
@craigcarolynhagopian3728
Wonderful and ageless song. Many years ago, two ladies who worked in the same office had mentioned that another was going to play this song at her wedding but they had never heard it before. I had a CD in my car and let them listen to it. When they came back, they remarked they wished they had more tissues with them. This song never loses its meaning for any father or daughter. Thank you, John McDermott.
@music2flyful
Holding our newborn baby girl in my arms and listening to this song makes me want to hold on to our beautiful daughter as long as possible 💝 I was told time just flies away 😪
@BunnyDsty
My Dad sent this to me this morning. He said that he has a hard time telling me how much he appreciates me, but maybe this will help. LOL. I have the best Dad in the world.
@captainercoupe2016
I heard this beautiful song on the car radio this morning for the first time and it made me cry... so sweet.
@artmcpharlin6730
I treasure the memory of Michele and I dancing at her wedding 35 years ago and my 3 wonderful grand girls.
@steveblack3626
This song my daughter chose to dance with me on her wedding day 10 years ago. Not a dry eye at the wedding especially mine, a fantastic performance by John and will remember it always. Kenny
@heathlynn100
I once heard a story about John McDermott and his kindness. A woman and her daughter were at a concert where he was performing..It was the daughter's 16th birthday.John found out some how and went into the audience to meet this young woman.What a wonderful sincere and generous thing to do! I am sure that young woman will remember it forever.
@Nortonsnorton
Another beautiful song John, this brings back happy memories having given two daughters away in marriage. Those Father Daughter Dances were so special! 😩😂🥰
@mattneeson2019
This song by John was the song my only daughter and I danced at her wedding. I don't think there were any dry eyes in the hall. I know mine weren't. And being an Irish family you know everyone went nuts at the end. Thank you for that day John and Christine. Will be with me always.