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.
Sonny's Dream
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your daddy's a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
Sonny lives on a farm in a wide open space
Kick off your sneakers and let go the race
And you can lay down your head by a sweet river bed
But Sonny always remembers what it was his mama said
Sonny, don't go away, I am here all alone
And your daddy's a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
Sonny carries a load, though he's barely a man
There ain't much to do, yet he does what he can
He watches the sea from a room by the stairs
The waves keep on rollin', they've done that for years
Sonny, don't go away, I am here all alone
And your daddy's a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
It's a hundred miles to town, Sonny's never been there
Yet he goes to the highway and stands there and stares
And the mail comes at four and the mailman is old
But he still keeps his dreams full of silver and gold
Sonny, don't go away, I am here all alone
And your daddy's a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
Sonny's dreams can't be real, they're just stories he's read
They're just stars in his eyes, they're just dreams in his head
Still he longs in his mind for the wild world outside
And I know I can't hold him though I've tried
And I've tried, and I've tried
Sonny, don't go away, I am here all alone
And your daddy's a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
John McDermott's "Sonny's Dream" is a poignant and melancholic song about a mother's love for her son, who despite being content living on a farm and by a sweet river bed, still dreams of exploring the wild world outside. The mother expresses her concern for her son, knowing that his father is often away at sea and he carries a heavy load though he's barely a man. She implores him not to go away, yet acknowledges that she cannot hold him back, no matter how hard she tries. The song is a reflection of the human experience of longing for something more, even if it means leaving behind the comfort and safety of one's current circumstances.
The lyrics convey a sense of heartache and vulnerability, as the mother feels tired and not all that strong, and the nights are long and silent. The farm and the river become symbols of safety and comfort, while the sea and the wild world outside represent the unknown and the possibility for adventure. The song suggests a tension between the desire for safety and the desire for adventure, and the difficulty of reconciling these opposing desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Sonny, don't go away, I am here all alone
The singer is pleading for Sonny to stay with her.
And your daddy's a sailor who never comes home
Sonny's father is a sailor who is often away at sea.
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
The nights are lonely and quiet, making the singer feel even more alone.
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
The singer is exhausted, physically and emotionally.
Sonny lives on a farm in a wide open space
Sonny lives on a farm in a remote area with lots of open land around him.
Kick off your sneakers and let go the race
Sonny is encouraged to relax and enjoy life at his own pace.
And you can lay down your head by a sweet river bed
Sonny can find peace and rest by the river.
But Sonny always remembers what it was his mama said
Sonny values his mother's advice and holds it close to his heart.
Sonny carries a load, though he's barely a man
Sonny has responsibilities that are beyond his age and experience.
There ain't much to do, yet he does what he can
Although there is not much for Sonny to do, he tries to be productive and helpful.
He watches the sea from a room by the stairs
Sonny can see the ocean from his room, which he looks at regularly.
The waves keep on rollin', they've done that for years
The ocean is always moving, and this brings some comfort to Sonny who is used to this consistent sight.
It's a hundred miles to town, Sonny's never been there
The nearest town is far from Sonny's farm, and he has never visited it before.
Yet he goes to the highway and stands there and stares
Sonny is curious about the world beyond his farm and looks out at the highway with interest.
And the mail comes at four and the mailman is old
The mail arrives at 4 p.m. and the mailman is an elderly person.
But he still keeps his dreams full of silver and gold
Despite his situation, the mailman still has hopes and aspirations of his own.
Sonny's dreams can't be real, they're just stories he's read
Sonny's hopes and desires seem unattainable to the singer because they are solely derived from stories Sonny has read, not his own experiences.
They're just stars in his eyes, they're just dreams in his head
Sonny's aspirations and dreams are pure and come from his mind and imagination.
Still he longs in his mind for the wild world outside
Sonny craves adventure and excitement beyond his current circumstances, fantasizing about the outside world.
And I know I can't hold him though I've tried
The singer wishes she could keep Sonny close to her, but she is unable to stop him from pursuing his dreams.
And I've tried, and I've tried
The singer has been unsuccessful in keeping Sonny at the farm with her.
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
The loneliness and silence are accentuated by the fact that Sonny has left, making the nights even longer.
And I'm feelin' so tired, I'm not all that strong
The singer is emotionally and physically exhausted from being alone and worrying about Sonny's safety and well-being.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paragon Arc
I'm quite fond of this song, John is a brilliant singer.Thank you Paola for the upload.
ThePinkTerror
My grandfather and my grandmother loved to listen to this man, my grandfather passed away about ten months ago and my grandmother passed away on Sunday. Listening to John again brings back good memories, thank you.
boorose666
A shout out to Ron Hynes, the great Newfoundlander who wrote this song in 1976.
Denise Joy
Love this song
Gregory Dalton
Ron died last night at the age of 64...a sad day for NL'ers
LadyGreyCarolyn
Thanks for your comment!!
Sean Kelly Hogan
My mother sang this to me when i was 3 to put me asleep
Stewart Fox
I really enjoyed this one Paola.A beautiful song sung brilliantly by John. Best Wishes to you my friend....Stewart.
Garry Herron
A nice song to sing from the heart yes.
SARAH Y HUTSON
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PIECE FROM GOOD OLD MCDEMOTT!! THANKS SO MUCH!! PAOLA!!