The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
Danny Boy
The Chieftains 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 flowers falling
'T's you, 't's you, must go and I must bide
But come ye back when summer's in meadow
Or when the valleys hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in the shadow
And when you come and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I will may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And 'neel and say an 'Ave' for me
And I shall hear those soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warm and sweeter be
If you will built and tell me that you love me
Then I shall sleep in peace until you come to me
The song "Danny Boy" was written by the English lawyer Fred Weatherly in 1910, who was inspired by the melody of an Irish song called "Londonderry Air." The song is a traditional Irish ballad that speaks to the love between two people who must separate. The lyrics emphasize how the person Danny loves must go away, but encourages them to return when the seasons change, and the singer will be waiting. The singer also makes clear that if they were to die before Danny returns, they want him to visit their grave and pray for them.
Throughout the song, the emphasis on nature is strong, as Danny is called by the sound of the pipes, and the love between the two is compared to the changing of seasons and blooming of flowers. The singer's feelings of love and longing are also apparent, as they repeatedly express their love for Danny and the hope to be reunited with him. The final verse brings a sense of closure, as the singer asks Danny to tell them that he loves them before they die so that they can sleep in peace until he comes to join them once more.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss, and the desire to hold onto and be reunited with those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
The sound of the bagpipes is summoning you, Danny
From glen to glen and down the mountain side
The music echoes throughout the valleys and hillsides
The summer's gone and all the flowers falling
It is now autumn, and the vibrant blossoms are withering away
'T's you, 't's you, must go and I must bide
You must depart while I remain behind
But come ye back when summer's in meadow
Please return when the meadows are lush with summer foliage
Or when the valleys hushed and white with snow
Or when the tranquil valleys are blanketed with pristine snow
'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in the shadow
I will be there for you in any circumstance, both during happiness and sorrow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so
Oh Danny, I hold such great affection for you
And when you come and all the flowers are dying
When you return and the flowers have wilted
If I am dead, as dead I will may be
In the event of my death, which may come to pass
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
You will visit me where I am buried
And 'neel and say an 'Ave' for me
Kneel and recite a prayer for me
And I shall hear those soft you tread above me
I will hear the gentle sound of your footsteps above my resting place
And all my grave will warm and sweeter be
The warmth of your love will bring comfort to my final resting place
If you will built and tell me that you love me
If you will build me up with your words and express your love for me
Then I shall sleep in peace until you come to me
I will rest peacefully until you join me at my side
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TERRY RENDALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ramblin rose
If ever a voice held heart felt tears with grace and beauty...it is truly Diana Krall's voice in this haunting version... "in sunshine and in shadow" her cup pours forth a stream of honeyed mead of simple notes made with tenderness straight into the Golden Chalice of our Hearts. All true felt...sincerity, integrity and poignancy! Has this song not touched a million hearts? Paddy, oh sweet, sweet Paddy and lest we forget Frederic Weatherly we salute them both... I hope somewhere, somehow, someone maybe just you and me, right here and now we'll play this for Queen Elizabeth II - because of her beauty and truth of heart..."'tis you, tis you that must go and I must bide" Thank you Ma'am for your Service. Give Danny Boy our regards.
Blue Dun
Wow. This is an amazing version. Sorry all the Irish who have sung this, but this is THE best
jacquesbrelfan
Wonderful version. ...her voice is so beautiful...superb arrangement....paddy moloney is a genius
Anne Marie Jackson
This is truly my favorite version of this song.
Seaghán Ó Raghallaigh
The best version !!!
Blue Dun
No doubt...the best. FANTASTIC
Stefano Marossa
E' STUPENDA!!! Grazie IRLANDA!!
Samuel J. Morris
best version ever
Calle Slåtteby
Love !
graciela palmada
Lovely