Of Cajun ancestry, Preston sang in high school choral contests throughout the state of Texas. He formed a rock and roll band called 'The Shades', before recording his No. 1 hit single "Running Bear." The song was written in 1958 by J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who had died the previous year in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Preston quickly followed up with a minor hit called "Cradle of Love," and made several other records during the early 1960s that met with modest success.
"Cradle of Love" however, was a big hit in Athens, Greece in the early 60s.
Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He also performed at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri. In 2009 and 2010, Preston performed with the Lamar State College (LSCPA)Touring Band at Lamar State College- Port Arthur, in his hometown.
Johnny Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Preston died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
Danny Boy
Johnny Preston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
It's you, it's you, must go and I must bide
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an Ave there for me
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
The song "Danny Boy" by Johnny Preston is a melancholic and emotional ballad about separation and love. The song tells the story of Danny Boy, who has to leave his loved one, possibly due to an unfortunate circumstance. The opening lines, "Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling" refer to the traditional Irish instrument, the bagpipe, which is commonly played at funerals. This suggests that Danny Boy might have passed away, and his departed soul is calling out to his loved one.
Throughout the song, the lyrics illustrate the emotions of the singer as he reminisces about the time he spent with Danny Boy. The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing and love, as Danny Boy's significant other must leave him. The line, "It's you, it's you, must go and I must bide" highlights the sadness of separation. However, the singer urges Danny Boy to return someday and promises that he will be waiting. He sings, "But come ye back when summer's in the meadow, Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow, It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow, Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!"
The final verse of the song reveals a glimmer of hope as the singer imagines Danny Boy visiting him in the afterlife. The lines, "And kneel and say an Ave there for me, And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me," suggest that even in death, they will be reunited. The song ends on a peaceful note, with the singer sleeping in peace until Danny Boy comes to join him.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
Danny, I hear the sweet music of the pipes calling out to you
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The sound of the pipes echoes through the valleys and down the mountainside
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
The summer has ended, and the flowers are wilting and falling to the ground
It's you, it's you, must go and I must bide
You must leave me, and I must stay behind
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Please come back to me when the fields are green and the sun is shining
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
Or when the valley is silent and covered in white snow
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
I will be waiting for you, whether it is a bright day or a dark night
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!
Danny, my dear Danny, I love you more than you can know!
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
When you return to me, the flowers will have wilted and died
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
If I have passed away, as is possible
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
You will come to my resting place
And kneel and say an Ave there for me
You will kneel and pray for my soul
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me
I will hear your footsteps even though they are soft above me
And all my grave shall warmer, sweeter be
My resting place will feel warmer and sweeter because of your presence
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
You will lean down and whisper that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!
And I will rest in peace until the next time we are together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Frederick E. Weatherly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind