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.
Oft in the Stilly Night
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond Memory brings the light
Of other days around me;
The smiles, the tears,
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
When I remember all
The friends, so link'd together,
I've seen around me fall
Like leaves in wintry weather;
I feel like one,
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
The song "Oft in the Stilly Night" by John McCormack is a poignant reflection on the power of memory to transport us to the past. The song opens with the singer contemplating his memories in the quiet of the night before sleep overtakes him. He acknowledges that it is memory that brings the past to life for him in these moments, allowing him to recall the joys and sorrows of his youth. The second stanza takes on a sadder tone, as the singer reflects on loved ones who have passed away, leaving him feeling lonely and isolated.
The first stanza is full of nostalgia and longing as the singer reflects on his happy memories of youth. He reminisces about the joys and sorrows of his childhood, the words of love spoken to him, and the friends he made along the way. He acknowledges that these memories are bittersweet because they are accompanied by the realization that time has passed, and those moments are gone forever.
The second stanza takes a darker turn as the singer reflects on all the people he has lost over the years. He compares himself to a lone person in a deserted banquet hall, surrounded by the remnants of a party that has ended long ago. The image of the banquet hall is evocative of a time gone by, filled with merriment, but now only loneliness remains. The singer's loneliness is palpable as he considers the loss of his loved ones and the inevitability of his own death.
Overall, "Oft in the Stilly Night" is a moving exploration of memory and the power it holds to bring us joy and sorrow in equal measure. The song teaches us that memory is a double-edged sword, capable of bringing us comfort and pain in equal measure, but always reminding us of our past and the people who have shaped us into who we are today.
Line by Line Meaning
Oft, in the stilly night,
Many times during the quiet night
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Before falling asleep
Fond Memory brings the light
Fond memories are illuminated
Of other days around me;
Of experiences from the past
The smiles, the tears,
Both happy and sad times
Of boyhood's years,
From when I was a child
The words of love then spoken;
Words of affection expressed at that time
The eyes that shone,
Eyes that gleamed with life
Now dimm'd and gone,
Now faded and no longer present
The cheerful hearts now broken!
The happy and joyful hearts that are now shattered
Thus, in the stilly night,
Hence, during the quiet night
Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me,
Before sleep fully overtakes me
Sad Memory brings the light
Sorrowful memories are illuminated
Of other days around me.
Of days and times gone by.
When I remember all
When I recall everything
The friends, so link'd together,
The closely connected friends
I've seen around me fall
That I have witnessed lose their lives
Like leaves in wintry weather;
Like leaves falling from a tree in the winter
I feel like one,
I feel as though
Who treads alone
I am walking by myself
Some banquet-hall deserted,
In what feels like an empty or abandoned celebration venue
Whose lights are fled,
Whose lights have been extinguished
Whose garlands dead,
Whose decorations are now lifeless
And all but he departed!
And everyone else has left but me!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Therefore, in the quiet night
Ere Slumber's chain hath bound me,
Before sleep takes hold
Sad Memory brings the light
Sorrowful memories are illuminated
Of other days around me.
Of days and times gone by.
Writer(s): Stevenson
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@joshuagilbert8219
Oft in the stilly night
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond Mem'ry brings the light
Of other days around me:
The smiles, the tears of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimm'd and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus in the stilly night
Ere slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad Mem'ry brings the light
Of other days around me.
When I remember all
The friends, so link'd together,
I've seen around me fall
Like leaves in wintry weather,
I feel like one
Who…
@HugoDBPHuguenot
hollybyday
It was "hijacked" as popular music, so in my historical imagining it well might have been sung at a dinner table anywhere in England, the dominions, and Empire. I was writing about a time before you or I were born. I don't see why a historical imagining has to be viewed through your lense of post-modern, politically correct, deconstruction. We are not in a second-rate socialist dominated "university" taught literature class.
Sadly, I think I understand the genesis of your comment about "British militaristic triumphalism," but I don't see the connection specifically here. And as you seem to want to shove other music down my throat, I would rather it be Spring-Rice, "I Vow To The My Country."
As you seem to want to attack me personally; while undeserved in the original post, here are some facts that I am sure will cause you you to really hate me:
(1) I was educated at Westminster School and Balliol College, Oxford. For those sins I am sure you would have much hate for me.
(2) I married the daughter of a much-storied Major General, British Army -- no, he never served in Ireland, but I'm sure the hate you would have of him would attach to me.
(3) Though born and raised a Briton, I am half American. My father, who was a first-generation American with British roots, was a long serving Military Attache to Britain, a diplomatic post. Many reasons to hate me there.
(4) On the maternal side, I never mention this because it's just not that important to me -- I am directly related to an old, titled Anglo-Irish family that in turn is related by marriage to a famous British Army Field Marshall who's exploits were rather important in Europe circa 1800. Loads of reasons to hate me there.
(5) No self incrimination would be complete without a short list of "English Worthies" with whom I am to some extent friendly. Our serving Lord Speaker (the Lords) is an old friend from my Oxford days with whom I was once quite close; through family connections I am friendly with most of the immediate past MoD; good old John Major and Lord Hurd. Most dearly from my time in Hong Kong is Lord Patten whom I count as a friend. Before you smash Patten you might look into his report on policing in N. Ireland and it's effect. Lots of reasons to hate me there!
(6) After Oxford, my wife and I traveled to America (Yale) to read medicine together. She became a paediatric oncologist (bless her, I would never have strength for that) and I became a Trauma Surgeon with additional qualification in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. These are university positions which pay rather badly (it's funny really, I have friends from school doing tummy tucks, breast augmentations, and the like earning millions... I would kill myself out of boredom). After working in America for 20 years we have returned home, doing the same work, and loving being home.
I recently attended a fellow who, while quite drunk and under arrest, was going to need my trauma team's help. As I explained to him the nature of his injuries and needed surgery, he entitled me a "Toff wanker mother-f-er" just before trying to spit on me.
Perhaps you would like to jump in, explaining that everything I thought I had accomplished is really useless, making me a true toff wanker. Don't be shy, I really want to hear it from you!
Regards, Hugh MD FACS FRCS
@HugoDBPHuguenot
Teddyb1939 I enjoyed the music immensely as my original post suggested. (stomping feet) More, More!
As an undergraduate my chosen era of history was that time American popular historian Barbara Tuchman (Guns of August, The Proud Tower) called "Europe's last great golden age, 1880-1914" and I know the era well.
That wonderful piece transported me to that other time before Great War. I merely imagined a scene from that time when people dressed for dinner, and after the formalities someone would offer a song or some good verse. This seemed to upset hollybyday as I had "hijacked" an Irish bit of music.
Sir, since returning to Britain after almost 30 years abroad (short trips excepted), I have found one very sad thing. I'm a surgeon and an active professor, as is my wife. There is now in England (and Ireland) a profound class-hate for anyone who is well educated or accomplished. It's the most awful thing. I gave my entire personal history to that person to see if (she)
had the guts to attack me and how.
As the Americans say, I've jumped through every hoop there is in life, mostly in 14 years of training trying to be the very best Trauma Surgeon (with extra training in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery) that I can possibly be, and as an academic I am well thought of. Yet that class hate persists, and I want to understand it.
Do you see? I would appreciate your views.
My apologies for going on so long. Warmly,
Hugh MD DPhil. FACS FRCS
@maryrussell-mf9ru
beautiful, we grew up listening to John McCormack
@annebrady3496
My mother used to sing this, she had a beautiful voice and it always makes me sad when I hear it. R.I.P. mother. hope you are still singing in Heaven...
@kjcunningham297
Me too,may God bless you....3 years old and I gree
@kjcunningham297
I greet to this day. It was one of her greatest gifts to
@kjcunningham297
Me. my heart goes out to you.
@richmerne3593
This has to be the definitive of all versions. Not only the intonation, the expressiveness the modulation with primitive gear, but also T. Moore's immortal beautiful nostalgic song. Maybe I'm just getting old when it almost brings tears.
@Teddyb1939
Lovely words about a beautiful voice and song.
@luigicorvi1661
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU....THIS RENDITION ALLOWS US TO GLIMPSE ADDICTION SAFELY...AS I REPLAY IT CONSTANTLY....EACH TIME AS THE FIRST!
@kjcunningham297
Don:t be restrained. I weep every time.
@maryflannery6805
Eyes misting over - my beloved Dad used to sing this, among many other great Irish songs. He passed away last November. Rest in Peace, Daddy.