Bill Hughes formed the idea of a trio of Irish tenors during a Cannes festival at which the famous Three Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras and Plácido Domingo were performing. Hughes wanted to produce a television special and first approached Ireland's Finbar Wright in 1998 to join the group but Wright's recording contract with Sony BMG prohibited such a venture. Hughes then invited Canadian John McDermott to head up the group and he accepted. After conferring with Ireland's leading vocal coach, Dr. Veronica Dunne, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan were asked to join. In 1999, "The Irish Tenors-in Dublin" debuted on PBS television in the United States.
PBS signed up for another special by the increasingly popular new group but early in 2000 McDermott's mother died and John decided he could not fully commit himself to the group. Days before PBS was to film The Irish Tenors - Live in Belfast Hughes again contacted Finbar Wright and asked him to step in. Wright agreed to help and was asked to stay on for upcoming tour dates. Having left Sony, Wright was able to join the trio on a permanent basis.
In 2001, the Irish Tenors filmed their third special, an historic PBS broadcast at New York's Ellis Island , hosted by Irish/American actor Martin Sheen. Their album "Ellis Island" topped Billboard's Heatseeker list and landed on its "Top 10 Best of 2001".
In 2006, after Tynan left the group to concentrate on his solo career, Karl Scully was asked by Kearns and Wright to join the trio. This successful blend of voices spurred Bill Hughes to produce a television 9 part series for Ireland's RTE titled The Irish Tenors & Friends. Friends performing on the television special with The Irish Tenors include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber , Paul Carrick, Finbar Furey , Hayley Westenra , Shayne Ward , Sharon Shannon, Peter Grant , Rebecca Storm, Lucia Evans , and Celine Byrne.
In 2007 the South Carolina Legislature issued a "Proclamation" welcoming the trio to that State at their performance in Charleston.
The trio continues to tour yearly.
The Old Man
The Irish Tenors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've said our last good-bye
His soul's been blessed and he's laid to rest
And it's now I feel alone
He was more than just a father
A teacher my best friend
He can still be heard in the tunes we shared
[Chorus:]
I never will forget him for he made me what I am
Though he may be gone memory lingers on
And I miss him... The old man
As a boy he'd take me walking
By mountain field and stream
And he showed me things not known to kings
And secret between him and me.
Like the colors of the pheasant
As he rises in the dawn
And how to fish and make a wish
Beside the holly tree
I never will forget him for he made me what I am
Though he may be gone memory lingers on
And I miss him... The Old Man
I thought he'd live forever
He seemed so big and strong
But the minutes fly and the years roll by
For a father and his son
And suddenly when it happened
There was so much left unsaid
No second chance to tell him thanks
For everything he's done
I never will forget him for he made me what I am
Though he may be gone memory lingers on
And I miss him... The Old Man
"The Old Man" by The Irish Tenors is a heart-wrenching song that captures the essence of a son's relationship with his father, who has passed away. The song is about the singer's longing for his father and how his father's absence has left him feeling empty. The emotions conveyed through the lyrics are powerful and evoke a sense of nostalgia in anyone who has lost a loved one.
The first verse talks about how the singer and his family have said their final goodbyes and laid the father to rest. However, despite the closure, the singer is overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness. The second verse highlights the special bond the singer shared with his father. The father was not just a guardian but also a mentor and a confidant. The father's presence is missed, particularly when the son plays music, and he can still hear the echoes of his father's tunes.
The chorus is a poignant refrain that summarizes the song's mood, "I never will forget him for he made me what I am. Though he may be gone, memory lingers on, and I miss him... The old man." The chorus is successful in evoking a sense of longing that most people can relate to.
Overall, "The Old Man" is a deeply personal song that invites the listener to reflect on their familial relationships while expressing a profound sense of gratitude and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
The tears have all been shed now
We have cried and mourned, and now it is time to move on.
We've said our last good-bye
We have had the opportunity to say goodbye to the old man.
His soul's been blessed and he's laid to rest
The old man has passed away and has been given a proper send-off.
And it's now I feel alone
The realization of never seeing the old man again has set in and it's a lonely feeling.
He was more than just a father
The old man was not just a biological father, but also a mentor and a friend.
A teacher my best friend
The old man was someone who taught the singer life lessons and was a confidant.
He can still be heard in the tunes we shared
The old man's memory is still present when the singer hears songs they used to listen to together.
When we play them on our own
The artist continues to listen to the songs they shared together for comfort.
I never will forget him for he made me what I am
The artist will always remember the old man for the positive influence and impact he had on their life.
Though he may be gone memory lingers on
Even though the old man is no longer physically present, his memory will always be with the artist.
And I miss him... The old man
The singer feels a deep sense of loss and longing for the old man.
As a boy he'd take me walking
The old man used to take the artist on walks when they were younger.
By mountain field and stream
They would spend time together in the mountains, fields and by streams.
And he showed me things not known to kings
The old man taught the singer things that are valuable and not necessarily known by everyone.
And secret between him and me.
The old man and the singer had a special bond and secrets between them.
Like the colors of the pheasant
The old man showed the artist the beauty of nature and the different colors seen in wildlife.
As he rises in the dawn
This refers to the way the pheasant looks when it rises in the morning light.
And how to fish and make a wish
The old man taught the singer how to fish and even how to make a wish while doing so.
Beside the holly tree
This likely refers to a specific place by a holly tree where the old man and narrator would go fishing together.
I thought he'd live forever
The artist believed that the old man was invincible and would always be there.
He seemed so big and strong
The old man projected strength and it seemed like he could handle anything.
But the minutes fly and the years roll by
Time moves quickly and before the artist knew it, the old man was gone.
For a father and his son
This line refers to the relationship between a father and son, highlighting the emotional connection they share.
And suddenly when it happened
The old man's passing was unexpected and sudden.
There was so much left unsaid
The singer wishes there was more time to express gratitude and appreciation to the old man.
No second chance to tell him thanks
The singer wishes they had a second chance to express gratitude and appreciation to the old man.
For everything he's done
The singer acknowledges the positive impact the old man had on their life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PHIL COULTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ron Wickman
on Grace
A glorious rendition that tears at one's heart, without histrionics.. Wm. Shakespeare couldn't have said it better.