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.
Send Me Away With A Smile
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must say goodbye
Don't you hear the bugle call?
And the fife and drum beats all
With the flag wave over us all
Tho I love you so
It is time to go
And the soldier in me you'll find
Many boys like me
You would not have me stay behind?
So, send me away with a smile little girl
Brush the tears from eyes of brown.
It's all for the best
And I'm off with the rest
With the boys from my hometown.
It may be forever we part little girl
But it may be for only a while.
But if fight here we must
Then in God is our trust.
So, send me away with a smile.
When I leave you dear
Give me words of cheer
To recall in times of pain.
They will come towards me
And will seem to be
Like the sunshine after rain.
Amid shot and shell
I'd remember well
You must be a soldier too.
And through this war I am fighting
For My country, my home, and you.
It may be forever we part little girl
But it may be for only a while.
But if fight here we must
Then in God is our trust.
So, send me away with a smile.
The song "Send Me Away With A Smile" by John McCormack is a poignant and emotional ballad about a soldier saying goodbye to his loved one. It is a reflection of the many farewells that took place during World War I and the emotional toll it took on the soldiers and their families. The lyrics depict the soldier's inner conflict between his love for the girl and his duty to his country. The bugle call, fife and drum are heard, signaling his departure, but the soldier pleads with the girl not to cry. He asks for her to send him off with a smile, reminding her that it's all for the best and that he is off with the rest of the boys from his hometown.
The song is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that military personnel and their loved ones make in service to their country. It speaks to the heart-wrenching moments when two people who love each other must part ways due to circumstances beyond their control. The lyrics also reflect the soldier's desire to protect his loved one and his country while acknowledging the danger he faces on the battlefield. Despite the fear and uncertainty, the soldier believes that in God they trust and that he will come back to her after the war.
Overall, "Send Me Away With A Smile" is a moving tribute to the resilience and courage of soldiers and their families, and a reminder of the human cost of war.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl don't cry
Don't cry, young girl
I must say goodbye
I have to bid farewell
Don't you hear the bugle call?
Can't you hear the sound of the bugle?
And the fife and drum beats all
All the while, the fife and drums play on
With the flag wave over us all
As the flag waves over all of us
Tho I love you so
Even though I love you deeply
It is time to go
It's time for me to leave
And the soldier in me you'll find
You'll find the soldier in me
When on land or sea
Be it on land or sea
Many boys like me
There are many boys like me
You would not have me stay behind?
Don't you want me to stay behind?
So, send me away with a smile little girl
Send me off with a smile, young girl
Brush the tears from eyes of brown.
Wipe away the tears from your brown eyes
It's all for the best
This is all for the best
And I'm off with the rest
I am leaving with the rest of the soldiers
With the boys from my hometown.
Along with the boys from my hometown
It may be forever we part little girl
We may be separated forever, young girl
But it may be for only a while.
But it may only be for a short time
But if fight here we must
But if we must fight here
Then in God is our trust.
Then we will rely on God
When I leave you dear
When I leave you, my dear
Give me words of cheer
Give me words of encouragement
To recall in times of pain.
To remember during difficult times
They will come towards me
Those words will come to me
And will seem to be
And they will feel like
Like the sunshine after rain.
Like sunshine after the rain
Amid shot and shell
Amidst the sounds of gunfire and cannonfire
I'd remember well
I will remember well
You must be a soldier, too.
You must be a soldier as well
And through this war I am fighting
And I'm fighting this war
For My country, my home, and you.
For my country, my home, and for you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AL PIANTADOSI, LOUIS WESLYN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jonopearce5934
Very poignant , my Dad died last Sunday and he was a massive JMc fan and I was looking for a track to play at his funeral and found this lovely song. It has made me smile, laugh and cry in 2 or so minutes, and perfect as a memorial for my lovely Dad.
@Corrie121
Love the lyric of this lovely song, and this John McCormack is just perfect. Thank you for sharing.
@pushbikeman
John McCormack was a wonderful singer and this great war era song just breaks my heart at what lay ahead for the soldiers of king and country 1914-1918.
@hughx5235
Yes, we can argue about theoretical "just wars" (and the one we are currently fighting is always "just" and we are on the right side) but World War 1 was quite unnecessary and caused nothing but disaster - including World War 2.
@sutlers2day
Great remark...touching sentiment. AGREE!!
@canadacalling6892
It must have been really something to see John McCormack live in concert. This is awesome.
@randallevans5141
A concert sequence exists in one of his films, titled something like SONG OF MY HEART. He also sings a song in a Hollywood film, in color.
@taylordesotell6384
I have the original 78 recording as well and it seems to be the exact one that JDL Oldies has. It was recorded in 1917 making it 99 years old.
@jackw.5000
Taylor Desotell This year makes it 100 years old
@Honne1064
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