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.
Natives
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For all our native tongues we're all native here
Sons of their fathers' dream the same dream
The sound of forbidden words become a scream
Voices of anger, victims of history
Plundered and set aside, grown fat on swallowed pride
With promises of paradise and gifts of beads and knives
Missionaries and pioneers are all soldiers in disguise
The fishers of men they wave their truth like bait
With the touch of a strangers' hand innocence turns to shame
The spirit that dwelt within it sleeps out in the rain
For all our native tongues we can't communicate
For all our native tongues we're all natives here
The scars of the past are slow to disappear
The cries of the dead are always in our ears
Only the very safe can talk about wrong and right
Of those who are forced to choose some will choose to fight
Promesses de paradis terrestre,
Presents de perles et de coutreaux
Missionnaires et poinniers sont des soldats saveurs deguises
Survivants et conquerants,
Ils nous font attendre
Des charlatans ondulant
Leur verite comme un applat
Au toucher d'une main atrange
L'innocence se convertit en deshonneur
L'esprit qui demeure a l'interieur
Dort dans la pluie
Malgre toutes nos langues,
Nous ne pouvons communiquer
Malgre toutes nos langues natives,
Nous sommes tous natifs ici
Les cicatrices do passe sont lentes a disparaitre
Les complaintes des morts resonnent toujours
Dans notre tete le bien do mal
De ceux forces de choisir,
Quelques uns choisiront de lutter
The song "Natives" by John McDermott is a powerful commentary on the oppression and struggle of Indigenous peoples throughout history. The first verse speaks to the fact that despite having different languages and cultures, Indigenous peoples all over the world share a common experience of colonization and marginalization. The line "sons of their fathers' dream the same dream" acknowledges that the desire for autonomy and freedom is universal among Indigenous peoples.
The second verse highlights the role of colonial powers in perpetuating this oppression. The lines "the sound of forbidden words become a scream" and "voices of anger, victims of history" expose the ways in which Indigenous cultures and languages were systematically suppressed through policies such as residential schools and forced assimilation. The image of "fishers of men" waving their truth like bait is a damning indictment of the ways in which Christian missionaries and European settlers used religion and gifts to manipulate and control Indigenous peoples.
The final verse acknowledges that the scars of this history are still present today. The lines "the cries of the dead are always in our ears" and "only the very safe can talk about wrong and right" suggest that the trauma and violence of colonization cannot be easily forgotten or forgiven. The lyric "of those who are forced to choose some will choose to fight" speaks to the resilience and resistance of Indigenous peoples in the face of oppression.
Overall, "Natives" is a poignant and haunting reflection on the impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples and their ongoing struggle for justice and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
For all our languages we can't communicate
Despite the many languages we speak, we are incapable of understanding each other.
For all our native tongues we're all native here
Regardless of the language we speak, we all belong to the same land.
Sons of their fathers' dream the same dream
As descendants of our forefathers, we are bound to seek the same dreams.
The sound of forbidden words become a scream
When certain words are silenced, they turn into screams of frustration.
Voices of anger, victims of history
Outraged voices stem from being victims of historical injustices.
Plundered and set aside, grown fat on swallowed pride
Having been robbed and neglected, we have resorted to feeding on our own suppressed pride.
With promises of paradise and gifts of beads and knives
With the bait of an idyllic future and insignificant presents, people were once deceived.
Missionaries and pioneers are all soldiers in disguise
Religious preachers and explorers are soldiers cloaked as something else.
Saviors and conquerors they make us wait
They're the ones who save and conquer us, making us wait for their decisions.
The fishers of men they wave their truth like bait
They lure people to follow their own version of the truth.
With the touch of a strangers' hand innocence turns to shame
Innocence can turn into guilt upon encountering a stranger's touch.
The spirit that dwelt within it sleeps out in the rain
The essence that once resided there is now lost and forgotten.
The scars of the past are slow to disappear
The wounds inflicted in the past take a long time to heal.
The cries of the dead are always in our ears
The affliction caused by the deceased lingers on in our minds.
Only the very safe can talk about wrong and right
The ones who are absolutely secure can determine what's right and wrong.
Of those who are forced to choose some will choose to fight
Out of those who have no other option, some will pick up arms and fight.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-kr2xn9qx2f
I love my Italian heritage, who would not if they were I? From the southernmost 'property', Sicily on my paternal Grandfather,s side and Tuscany on my Paternal Grandmother's side from Pisa. I was beyond my teens as a byproduct of my parents divorce in the sixties before I found out I was half Scottish. I knew my mother was not Italian but my father forbade anything other than Italian and I never questioned it. My mother was a dutiful, if scared wife. When I found out I was half Scottish of the Wallace clan I was taken aback with a history hereto unknown to me. I love it, I revel in it. It brings out the poetic/romance side of me. I am 78 next and really do appreciate my entire heritage.
@dianaklien1560
I am watching in 2021 and praying that Scotts are finding “The Brave” in their hearts today.
@randyo.bowling1907
Me too! Rancy Oather Bowling, the 24th greats Grandson of Raibert de Brus!!! & 17 Greats Grandson of James, I of Scotland, Clan Campbell & Campbell blood descendant. Knights Templar (Masonic).
@ryanhutchison476
@@randyo.bowling1907 Being a Glaswegian i can firmly say, I have no idea what any of that means
@CalumOH
@@randyo.bowling1907 Is that right aye? I'm the popes brother and the queen's sister
@gordonshewan9892
Always....
@macbagpipethehaggis3213
As a Glaswegian that's something I widnae brag aboot. Pretty sure the Bruce wouldn't brag about it either.
@johngialanellajr8650
Years ago in 1970 I was at the Veterans Hospital for tests for 2 weeks and this Beautiful Blue Eyed Blond girl named Laura McDermott came every day and and we talked every day I could really have seen me with her forever, but never did. Scottish girls are so Pretty.
@ieuanbriers
That man can sing and those lassies can dance. You Scots know how to put on a show. All the best from your Welsh Cousins.
@marshaflorom730
So proud to be 43 percent Scottish!! Thank you so much!!