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.
The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls
John Mccormack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the soul of music shed
now hangs as mute on Tara's walls
as if the soul were fled
So sleeps the pride of former days so glory's thrill is over
and hearts that once beat high for praise
now feel that pulse no more
the harp of Tara' swells
the chord alone that breaks at night
its tale of ruin tells
Thus freedon now so seldom wakes
the only throb she gives
is when some heart indignant breaks
to show that still she lives
John McCormack's song The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls is a mournful reflection of a lost time. It speaks to the decline and fall of a proud and glorious past, symbolized by the harp that once lit up the halls of Tara with its soulful music. The harp now hangs silent on the walls of Tara, no longer able to inspire the hearts and minds of lords and ladies. The pride of former days is asleep, and the glory's thrill is over. Hearts that once beat high for praise now feel that pulse no more. It is a melancholy reflection on the transience of human achievement and the impermanence of all things.
The song goes on to meditate on the significance of the harp, which was not only an instrument of music but a symbol of Ireland itself. The harp was a powerful emblem of the nation's cultural and political identity, and its silence is a sign of the decline of Irish independence and freedom. The only time freedom awakens now is in the indignant breaking of some heart, demonstrating that a sense of national pride and identity still flickers in the hearts of some.
Line by Line Meaning
The harp that once through Tara's halls
The instrument known to produce music that filled the halls of Tara
the soul of music shed
The instrument known for its soulful and soothing music
now hangs as mute on Tara's walls
The harp now remains silent, hanging on the walls of Tara
as if the soul were fled
As if the soul that once existed within the instrument has vanished
So sleeps the pride of former days so glory's thrill is over
The pride and glory of olden times are now long forgotten and lie dormant
and hearts that once beat high for praise
The hearts that once longed for praise have now lost their enthusiasm
now feel that pulse no more
They don't feel the same pulse anymore
No more to lords and ladies bright
The lords and ladies no longer have access to the charm of the harp
the harp of Tara' swells
The music from Tara's harp no longer reverberates the halls
the chord alone that breaks at night
The only sound that can be heard is the chord breaking in the quiet of the night
its tale of ruin tells
This sound tells the story of hardship and destruction
Thus freedon now so seldom wakes
Freedom has become rare and scarcely wakes
the only throb she gives
The only pulse freedom has
is when some heart indignant breaks
Is when a heart broken with resentment, shows that freedom still exists
to show that still she lives
To demonstrate that freedom still has a pulse
Contributed by Nolan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lucy Bulpin
My grandmother accompanied him at several concerts in London, and they remained friends for years.
Phyllis Ramsey
Fantastic singing by John McCormack! This is a very moving song sung with true feeling by the greatest Bard of Song!!
Pete Kernow
What must it have been like to hear this genius live! And presumably for much of his career he sang without any PA. The best singer ever, in any genre. And no, I'm not Irish!
Saint Bede
Marvellous : nice to hear this song again and well recorded. Thank you.
Gabriel Keown
Every time l hear McCormack lm in tears of emotion Beautiful
Elizabeth Evans
What a great voice ... Thank you!
Gabriel Keown
Hauntingly breathtakingly beautiful Soul searching lm in awe
VMA225
Magnificent !!!
Frank LeVay
The sentiments here expressed are appropriate for our own time!
carlos gonzalez
fantastico maravilloso musica