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.
This Is All I Ask
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Learning to enjoy at my leisure all the simple pleasures
And so I happily concede
That this is all I ask, this is all I need
Beautiful girls, walk a little slower when you walk by me
Lingering sunsets, stay a little longer with the lonely sea
Children everywhere, when you shoot at bad men, shoot at me
Wandering rainbows, leave a bit of color for my heart to own
Stars in the sky, make my wish come true before the night has flown
And let the music play as long as there's a song to sing
Then I will stay younger than Spring
The song "This Is All I Ask" by John McDermott talks about the value of simple pleasures and enjoying life's small moments. The lyrics describe the singer's realization that he has entered the prime of his life, and instead of worrying about what he does not have, he finds joy in the little things. He wants to indulge in the simple pleasures of life and make the most of his time. He also asks for the world to slow down and allow him to appreciate its beauty. The singer wants to journey to a magical place where adults cannot comprehend its beauty, and he wishes to stay young forever. Overall, the song emphasizes the beauty of life's simple pleasures, and it encourages listeners to enjoy the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
As I approach the prime of my life, I find I have the time of my life
As I grow older and wiser, I am finally finding enjoyment in the simple things in life.
Learning to enjoy at my leisure all the simple pleasures
I am taking my time and savoring the small joys that life has to offer.
And so I happily concede
I am content to accept that what I have is enough for me to be happy.
That this is all I ask, this is all I need
I only need the simple things in life to be content and satisfied.
Beautiful girls, walk a little slower when you walk by me
I appreciate the beauty of women and wish to take my time to admire them.
Lingering sunsets, stay a little longer with the lonely sea
I enjoy the natural beauty of sunsets and wish to savor them in solitude.
Children everywhere, when you shoot at bad men, shoot at me
I believe in the innocence of children and wish to protect them from harm.
Take me to that strange, enchanted land grown-ups seldom understand
I long for a magical world that only children can see and understand.
Wandering rainbows, leave a bit of color for my heart to own
I appreciate the beauty of rainbows and wish to keep a piece of that beauty in my heart.
Stars in the sky, make my wish come true before the night has flown
I believe in the power of wishing and hope that the stars will grant my wishes before they disappear.
And let the music play as long as there's a song to sing
I love music and wish to listen to it for as long as there is a song to enjoy.
Then I will stay younger than Spring
By enjoying the simple things in life, I will always feel young and alive, no matter my age.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GORDON JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind