John Francis McCormack was born in Athlone, Ireland, the fourth of eleven children of Andrew and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884, and was baptised in St. Mary's Church, Athlone on 23 June 1884. His father was employed in Athlone Woollen Mills.
John received his early education from the Marist Brothers in Athlone, and later attended Summerhill College, Sligo. In 1903 he won the coveted gold medal in the Dublin Feis Ceoil and it was this event which set him on his climb to success. John married Lily Foley in 1906 and the couple had two children Cyril and Gwen.
Fundraising enabled his voice to be trained under Sabbatini in Italy. In 1907 John McCormack made his first important operatic appearance at Covent Garden in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. By 1912 he began to turn his attention to the concert stage, where his voice quality and charisma ensured that he became the greatest lyric tenor of his day.
He made numerous recordings, the first on phonograph cylinder in 1904. His most commercially successful series of records were those for the Victor Talking Machine Company in the 1910s and 1920s. He was the first artist to record It's a Long Way to Tipperary, in 1914. He also regularly broadcast on the radio and appeared in a number of sound films.
In 1917 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
To many people the highlight of McCormack's Irish career was his singing of César Franck's Panis Angelicus to the thousands who thronged Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
He was much honoured and decorated for his services to the world of music. His greatest honour came in 1928, when he received the title Count from Pope Pius XI in recognition of his work for Catholic charities. Although he often came to be referred to as "Count John McCormack" in his professional life, this title was officially recognised within only the Catholic Church ever.
McCormack retired in 1944, and died the following year at his home in Glena, Booterstown, Dublin.
It's A Long Way To Tipperary
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An Irish lad one day, All the streets were paved with gold, So everyone was gay! Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand, and Leicester Square,'Til Paddy got excited and
He shouted to them there: It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square! It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there. Paddy wrote a letter
To his Irish Molly O', Saying, "Should you not receive it, Write and let me know! If I make mistakes in "spelling", Molly dear", said he,"Remember it's the pen, that's bad, Don't lay the blame on me". It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square, It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there. Molly wrote a neat reply
It's a long way to Tipperary
To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square, It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there.
John McCormack's song "It's A Long Way to Tipperary" tells the story of an Irish lad who travels to London in search of a better life. He quickly becomes enamored with the bustling city, with its streets "paved with gold" and people singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand, and Leicester Square. However, Paddy soon grows homesick and thinks of his beloved who is still back in Tipperary. He sings about the long journey back to his hometown and the sweetest girl he knows.
The song is a nostalgic tribute to the Irish expatriate experience. It is a bittersweet reminder of the cost of leaving one's homeland and the longing for the familiarity of home. The song's lyrics also highlight the power of love and its ability to transcend distance and time. The exchange of letters between Paddy and his Irish Molly O' serves to reinforce this theme, with Molly's declaration that love has driven her silly and that she hopes Paddy feels the same.
As the song became popular, it became a favorite of both Irish and English soldiers during World War I. It was often sung as troops marched off to battle and served as a morale booster for soldiers far from their loved ones. It also became an anthem for the Irish regiment known as the Connaught Rangers, who would sing it to boost morale and as a reminder of their homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
Up to mighty London came
An Irish lad came to London
An Irish lad one day
A young man from Ireland
All the streets were paved with gold,
London was a place of opportunity and wealth
So everyone was gay!
Everyone was happy
Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand, and Leicester Square,
The people sang about the popular places in London
'Til Paddy got excited and
Until the Irish lad got excited and
He shouted to them there:
He shouted to the people there:
It's a long way to Tipperary,
Tipperary is far away
It's a long way to go.
It's a long journey
It's a long way to Tipperary
Tipperary is far away
To the sweetest girl I know!
To his beloved in Tipperary
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell to Piccadilly
Farewell Leicester Square!
Farewell to Leicester Square
Paddy wrote a letter
The Irish lad wrote a letter
To his Irish Molly O',
To his beloved in Ireland
Saying, "Should you not receive it,
In case you do not receive it
Write and let me know!
Let me know if you do not receive it
If I make mistakes in "spelling", Molly dear", said he,
If there are spelling mistakes, excuse them please
"Remember it's the pen, that's bad,
It's not me but the pen which is bad
Don't lay the blame on me".
Do not blame me for those mistakes
Molly wrote a neat reply
His beloved wrote a neat reply
To Irish Paddy O',
To the lad in London
Saying, "Mike Maloney wants
Mike Maloney wants to marry me
To marry me, and so
So I have to leave if you don't act
Leave the Strand and Piccadilly,
Leave the popular places in London
Or you'll be to blame,
Otherwise you will be to blame
For love has fairly drove me silly,
Love has made me crazy
Hoping you're the same!"
Hoping you still love me
It's a long way to Tipperary,
Tipperary is far away
It's a long way to go.
It's a long journey
It's a long way to Tipperary
Tipperary is far away
To the sweetest girl I know!
To his beloved in Tipperary
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell to Piccadilly
Farewell Leicester Square!
Farewell to Leicester Square
It's a long long way to Tipperary,
Tipperary is very far away
But my heart's right there.
But my heart is with my beloved in Tipperary
Writer(s): Phil Kelsall, Harry Williams, Jack Judge
Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shadowwolf1337
ah
a version that doesn't become choppy in the middle of the chorus
JasonJason210
It starts almost like Caruso's "Over There". Like a march.
Arthur Decker
Das Boot brought me here! 😊
Samurai J
Dis song is from world war 1 and dis song so rare or no
Nico Derbin
We’re can I get this song I’m getting a record player but also want this record
Oldtimemusiclover
I got this record a while ago it cost me alot of money but you could possibly find a copy on vinyl like in a compilation of ww1 songs but the 78 is very rare and very expensive
Nico Derbin
@Oldtimemusiclover oh