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.
So Deep Is The Nigtht
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No Moon tonight
No friendly star
To guide me with it's light
Be still my heart
Silent lest my love should be returning
From the world, far apart
So deep is the night
O, lonely night
On broken wings
My heart has taken flight
And left a dream
In my dream our lips are blending
Will my dream be never ending
Will your memory haunt me 'til I die
Alone am I, deep into the night
Waiting for the light
Alone am I, I wonder why
I wonder why.
John McCormack's song "So Deep is the Night" is a heart-wrenching ballad about love and the loneliness that ensues when that love is no longer present. The opening lines, "So deep is the night, no moon tonight, no friendly star to guide me with its light," set the tone for the song. McCormack is writing from the perspective of someone who feels lost and alone on a very dark night. He longs for a guiding light or a friendly star to show him the way, but there is nothing there to help him.
The second verse, "Be still my heart, silent lest my love should be returning, from the world far apart," adds to the feeling of longing and sorrow. McCormack is afraid to even let his heart beat too loudly, for fear of missing the return of his love. He is aware that his love may be far away, but he still holds out hope that she will return to him someday.
The song takes a dreamlike turn in the third verse, where McCormack sings about a dream where he and his love's lips are blending. He wonders if the dream will be never-ending, or if the memory of his lost love will haunt him until the end of his days. The chorus repeats the line "alone am I, deep into the night, waiting for the light," emphasizing his feelings of loneliness and desperation.
Overall, "So Deep is the Night" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the essence of lost love and the deep longing that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
So deep is the night
The night is full of profound darkness.
No Moon tonight
The moon is not in the sky tonight.
No friendly star
There are no stars to guide him.
To guide me with it's light
Stars usually guide people through the darkness with their light.
Be still my heart
He wants his heart to calm down or stop beating.
Silent lest my love should be returning
He remains silent, afraid that his loved one might return.
From the world, far apart
The person he loves is far away, possibly in another country.
O, lonely night
The night is very lonely.
On broken wings
He feels like he is flying with damaged or broken wings.
My heart has taken flight
He feels like his heart is flying away from him.
And left a dream
He is left with only his dream or imagination.
In my dream our lips are blending
He dreams about being intimate with the person he loves.
Will my dream be never ending
He wonders whether his dream will ever end.
Will your memory haunt me 'til I die
He is worried that he will always remember the person he loves, even after he dies.
Alone am I, deep into the night
He is alone in the deep darkness of the night.
Waiting for the light
He is waiting for something, possibly his loved one or a sign that things will get better.
I wonder why
He is unsure about why things are the way they are.
Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Augusto Correia
Chopin the Prince of Romanticism
How sad is my heart without you.
Are you far away and do not you think of me?
Tell me why?.
Do you suffer this soul that loves you, wanting to move away?
You are a vision that appears at night, to give my heart hope.
But my illusion does not return, and another kiss, while my song I sing for you,
only for you, sweet dream of gold, my heart will fly sad without love.
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RESPONDER
performingtart
Had this played in the chapel of rest at my dad's funeral, it was one of his favourite songs. It's a lovely song but will always be tinged with sadness for me.
Phyllis Ramsey
I love the pure emotion in John McCormack's voice as he sings this beautiful song. There is no one on this earth that can communicate a song the way he does. He will always be the best!!
Kent Twitchell
I have read that McCormck and Caruso referred to each other as "the world's greatest tenor". McCormack has such heart and soul in that technically perfect voice. I have listened to him all my life. Jo Stafford sang a song during the 40s "No Other Love" from this same Chopin Etude in E Major Op.10, No. 3. Finbar Wright does "So Deep the Night" beautifully also yet there is only one John McCormack. I cannot imagine the world without him.
John Macleod
Johns voice is my little piece of heaven on earth. Marlain
Lonny Welch
had the privilege to study with another great enor Eugene Conley, and John McCormack was his earliest inspiration. I am grateful he introduced me to John McCormack's voice.
David Thompson
Such a beautiful voice, this song makes me cry.
Antoinette Rader
Reminds me of my childhood days. Always heard this music.Thankyou:)))
John Hutson
I have viewed this dozens of times, a fabulous rendition and perfect scenery.I have always loved parks and woodland and have often wondered where this was filmed.
Adrian Allan
John Hutson alexander park manchester m16 thanks for the comment
Christopher Gernaey
McCormack is my favorite singer of ALL TIME. He is simply amazing and words cannot describe the things his singing have done to my life and my heart. This piece is just another testament to his pure amazingness. Chopin would have been proud to have listened to this. His tonal quality and unique (but EXTREMELY technical) singing style is just without words. RIP John, you remain my singing hero for all time...