Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949, Notting Hill, London) is a British singer/songwriter and guitarist. Highly regarded for his guitar techniques, Thompson was awarded the Orville H. Gibson award for best acoustic guitar player in 1991. Similarly, his songwriting has earned him an Ivor Novello Award and, in 2006, a lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio. Thompson made his debut as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in September 1967. He left the group in 1971 and began recording with his wife as Richard & Linda Thompson, before their marriage dissolved in 1983. Since then, Thompson has maintained a critically-acclaimed solo career.

He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.

Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.

danny boy
Richard Thompson Lyrics

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Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
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,

Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

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!

Overall Meaning

"Danny Boy" is a traditional Irish song that has captured the hearts of many people worldwide. The lyrics are melancholy and bittersweet, expressing the sorrow of separation between two lovers. The first verse begins with a haunting melody that sets the tone for the entire song. The pipes are symbols for the sounds of nature and the call of ancestral spirits. The phrase "from glen to glen, and down the mountain side" portrays the vast and beautiful landscape of Ireland. The second line references the end of summer and the falling of the roses, which signals the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The third line expresses the need for the beloved to depart and the sorrow that comes with it. The last line "It's you, it's you must go and I must bide" conveys the pain of separation and longing.

The second verse is an invitation to return. When summer comes around again, the singer wishes for their beloved to return. Or, they can return when the snow covers the valley in silence. The singer then promises to be there in sunshine or shadow, meaning that they will remain steadfast and true no matter what happens. The last line "Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!" shows the depth of the feelings the singer has for Danny.

danny boyRichard Thompson Lyrics

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danny boy
Richard Thompson Lyrics