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.
Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air
I see her tripping where the bright streams play
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er
Oh! I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
I long for Jeannie with the day dawn smile
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again
Oh! I long for Jeannie, and my heart bows low
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow
I sigh for Jeannie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone
Now the nodding wild flow'rs may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more
Oh! I sigh for Jeannie with the light brown hair
Floating like a vapor, on the soft summer air
The song “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair” is a slow and melancholic piece with wistful vocal quality. It tells the story of a man who dreams of his lost love, a woman named Jeannie, whose memories still haunt him. The lyrics use vivid imagery of the summer air and streams, the daisies, and the beautiful songs that Jeannie would sing, which are all now lost.
The first verse of the song tells us about the man's dream where he sees Jeannie with the light brown hair, floating in the summer air. She is portrayed as carefree and happy as she trips by the stream. The second verse expresses the longing that the man feels for Jeannie. He misses the warmth of her smile and the melodies she used to sing, which now only bring him sadness. The third and final verse paints a sad picture of the man's current situation: Jeannie has vanished, and her sweet songs are no longer heard. The man sighs and wishes that he could be with her once again, but it seems impossible as her whereabouts are unknown, and her gentle fingers will never cull the nodding wildflowers again.
Line by Line Meaning
I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
I often imagine seeing Jeannie, the woman with light brown hair, in my dreams
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air
In my mind, Jeannie appears to be carried by the warm summer breeze like a foggy mist
I see her tripping where the bright streams play
I envision her frolicking and dancing near the sparkling streams
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way
Jeannie is as cheerful and lively as the carefree daisies dancing around her
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour
Jeannie was very musically talented and had many different songs to sing
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er
Jeannie's singing drew many birds to join and harmonize with her beautiful melodies
Oh! I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair
I can't help but envision Jeannie with her lovely brown locks in my dreams
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft, summer air
Jeannie appears to be suspended in mid-air or floating gently in the breeze of summertime, like an apparition
I long for Jeannie with the day dawn smile
I yearn for Jeannie's beautiful smile to greet me when the new day arrives
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile
I miss her friendly demeanor and her ability to win people over with her charm
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by
The memory of her songs echoes in my mind, like a part of my past that's long gone
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die
My heart is heavy with disappointment and regret over my unfulfilled hopes and dreams
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain
My sorrow feels just like the mournful wind at night and the heavy raindrops, like an expression of my deep emotions about my loss
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again
I am mourning for the person I lost and know deep down that she won't be able to come back
Oh! I long for Jeannie, and my heart bows low
I wish for Jeannie back in my life, and the sadness of her absence weighs heavy on my heart
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow
I know that I can never find Jeannie where the beautiful streams of life flow because she is gone forever
I sigh for Jeannie, but her light form strayed
I am sad and miss Jeannie, but it's been a while since I have seen her and know she is not close anymore
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade
Jeannie has left the place where she was loved and admired by those who knew her and is far away from her familiar and beautiful hometown
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown
Jeannie's radiant smile and beautiful singing voice are no longer present in my life
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone
The memory of Jeannie is as fleeting as a happy dream that eventually fades away
Now the nodding wild flow'rs may wither on the shore
The once vivid and bright flowers become droopy and die away without Jeannie's gentle touch to care for them
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more
Jeannie's delicate and loving nature is absent, and her gentle touch will no longer be there to nurture and cull these flowers
Oh! I sigh for Jeannie with the light brown hair
My heart aches and longs for Jeannie with her lovely light brown hair
Floating like a vapor, on the soft summer air
I can't help but imagine Jeannie gently floating on the soft breeze of summer, like mist
Writer(s): Carmen Dragon, Stephen Foster
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnsmith-jp2tn
Were the Man from Mars to arrive on earth and ask any local to hear a song sung to perfection, he should cite this song.
It's as near to perfect singing as you'll ever hear - for his balanced delivery, breath control, diction, pure and exquisite tones, the heartfelt feeling in every syllable.
My late, beloved mother loved Sweetly She Sleeps but I think might have preferred this materpiece.
Magisterial and quite magnificent!
Truly life enhancing!!
@blundy3788
I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air
I see her tripping where the bright streams play
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er
Oh! I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft, summer air
~~
I sigh for Jeanie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone
Now the nodding wild flow'rs may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more
Oh! I sigh for Jeanie with the light brown hair
Floating like a vapor, on the soft summer air
@googleone9209
I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Borne, like a vapor on the summer air;
I see her playing where the bright streams play,
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour.
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er:
Oh, I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.
I long for Jeanie with a day-dawn smile,
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile;
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by,
Sighing round my heart over the fond hopes that die:—
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,—
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Oh, I long for Jeanie, and my heart bows low,
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow.
I sigh for Jeanie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade;
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown,
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone.
Now the nodding wild flowers may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more:
Oh, I sigh for Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.
@Ryan-th4um
This is helping my mourn a love of mine. Thank you
@johnthompson932
Ok will try again - my great aunt Jean born in the 1890s her husband John a musician - he used to play this and my mother thought he had composed it just for her - and here am I at 60 weeping for the memory of those gone - thank you John McCormack happy tearful memories
@annastasera9629
It is the magic of the song - I hear it for the first time ever, and tears come to my eyes though I have no memories connected to it❤
@BlossomFlowerGirl
I love listening to John McCormack singing this, such beautiful pure tones. This was my granddad’s favourite song. Love you granddad.
@johnthompson932
here I am again weeping great aunty Jeannie with her wedding favours near me
@thetruth156real3
Some people argue who sings which song better then another, but I don’t think anyone will argue that this is the best ever version of this song. Simply beautiful.
@adrianmunch88
They say this outstanding singer sang with with a tear in his voice...well he always brings tears to my eyes when I hear this one and many other of his songs too. There are many great singers out there, but certain songs by certain singers are just better than them all. Examples being many of the Irish folk songs by McCormack. A lot of these songs brought great romance into our marriage which gave us a very strong bond, She being an Irish Colleen helped too. And of course John being Irish. What a great nation, and that accent 🤗
@caseyjones8549
wow I was looking for a Van Morrison song in this popped up instead so I decided to listen to it because I have an affinity towards the early 1900s. Beautiful just beautiful it was a year before my father was born and he's passed away now. That's what this recording this is 1934
@janevonmaltzahn2667
If only singers learned to sing like this today!
@patricias5122
This reminds me of my dear late mother, how she LOVED this song. Rest in peace, dear Sara.