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.
When You and I Were Young Maggie
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To watch the scene below
The creek and the creaking old mill Maggie
Where we used to long long ago
The green growth is gone from the hills Maggie
Where first the daisise spring
The creaking old mill is still Maggie
Oh they say that I'm feeble with age Maggie
My steps are much slower than then
My face is a well written page Maggie
And time all along was the pen
Oh they say we have outlived our time Maggie
As dated as songs that we've sung
But to me, you're as fair as you were Maggie
When you and I were young
Oh they say we have outlived our time Maggie
As dated as songs that we've sung
But to me, you're as fair as you were Maggie
When you and I were young
When you and I were young
Maggie, John McDermott's ballad, is a tale of nostalgia from an aged man looking back on his youth with a fondness that only memories can conjure. As the song begins, the singer in the present day proceeds to describe a picturesque landscape he has encountered as he walks up the hills - the once lush green expanse that he used to visit with Maggie. He reminisces about the creaking old mill and the creek, which has aged and become a memory of their youthful days. The green growth is gone from the scenery, and the creaking old mill stands still as a remnant of their youth.
As the song continues, the singer introduces the theme of aging and frailty. He acknowledges that his steps have slowed down with age, but his memories of Maggie have not faded. He praises Maggie's beauty and acknowledges the impact of time on his well-written page of a face. He admits that people say they have outlived their time and are as dated in their ways as the songs they once sang, but to him, Maggie remains as lovely as when they were young.
The song captures the essence of the impact of time on our lives and the memories of our youth we hold dear. It suggests that even though our bodies may age and memories fade, we can always hold onto these memories and remember the good times we shared with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
I wandered today to the hills Maggie
Today, I took a walk to the hills to see the scenery below.
To watch the scene below
I wanted to observe the view from the hills.
The creek and the creaking old mill Maggie
I saw the creek and the old mill that makes a creaking sound, which reminded me of the past.
Where we used to long long ago
I remembered the times we spent there in the past.
The green growth is gone from the hills Maggie
The hills are no longer covered in green growth, like they were before.
Where first the daisies sprung
The first signs of spring were daisies, which used to grow on these hills.
The creaking old mill is still Maggie
The old mill still makes its creaking sound even after all these years.
Since you and I were young
This has been the case since we were young and spent time together here.
Oh they say that I'm feeble with age Maggie
People say that I have become weak with age.
My steps are much slower than then
I walk slower now than I did when I was young.
My face is a well written page Maggie
My face shows the signs of my age and the experiences I've had in my life, like a well-written book.
And time all along was the pen
Time is the force that writes the story of our lives.
Oh they say we have outlived our time Maggie
People say that we are no longer relevant or useful.
As dated as songs that we've sung
We are old-fashioned and out of date, like the songs we used to sing.
But to me, you're as fair as you were Maggie
To me, you are still as beautiful and wonderful as you were when we were young.
When you and I were young
This is how I remember you, from the time when we were young and spent time together here.
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Colonel Sanders
I wandered today to the hills Maggie
To watch the scene below
The creek and the creaking old mill Maggie
Where we used to long long ago
The green growth is gone from the hills Maggie
Where first the daisise spring
The creaking old mill is still Maggie
Since you and I were young
Oh they say that I'm feeble with age Maggie
My steps are much slower than then
My face is a well written page Maggie
And time all along was the pen
Oh they say we have outlived our time Maggie
As dated as songs that we've sung
But to me, you're as fair as you were Maggie
When you and I were young
Oh they say we have outlived our time Maggie
As dated as songs that we've sung
But to me, you're as fair as you were Maggie
When you and I were young
When you and I were young
Carolyn Delahoussaye
I taught myself to play this song about 75 years ago No piano lessons. Still one of my favorites to play.
Ronald Williams
One of the sweetest, and saddest, old love songs ever written, performed by one of the greatest tenors that ever lived. What more could one ask for?
L.G. DuBoise
My mom recently passed away, my dad chose this sing to be played, because remembered his grandpa singing it to his grandma. How beautiful it was.
Alan and Janet Pohl
I cannot ever ever listen to this song without crying. This is such a beautiful version.
oscargoya
No one can sing this quite like John McDermott. I remember my mother singing this to me as a child. Thank you for posting.
Herbert LaFountain
I remember as a child, my mother playing this on the piano and tears running down her face. I was way too young to figure it out. Now I'm 74 and my wife and I have had our 51st Anniversary I find myself doing the same thing, as before we were married, we did the same walking. This man's voice brings those memories flooding back
James Tait
me to.
James Tait
FORGOT. i AM ALSO 74 AND WE ARE WEEKS AWAY FROM OUR 51ST. oOPS SORY ABOUT THE CAPS. But you are right about the memorys. This song nrings so many of them back. Thank you JM
Narnia Girl
Thank you Herbert, for your memories: you were blessed to have a mother who could bring music into your home. All I can say, at this point in my life (age almost 68!) is that I am SO GLAD I have Jesus, that this life is NOT all there is, and that one day I will be with mom and dad, family (going waaay back, that I have never even met!) and friends. Heaven is going to be a blast, as Honeytree, (the 60's and 70's Jesus People singer) used to say. God bless all coming to songs like these for comfort. May you realize, with Jesus having paid for your sins and making a way for you to Father God, that this life is NOT "all there is"!
fluide fluide
I also. Oh I do miss my mum.