Doonican started performing in his home town and featured in the first ever television broadcast from Waterford. He then joined a band which toured Ireland playing the drums. In 1951 he moved to England to join another group, The Four Ramblers who toured and performed on BBC Radio shows broadcast from factories.
He eventually went solo and had a radio show as well as performing concerts and cabaret. In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. As a result of this performance, he was offered his own show on BBC television, lasting for over twenty years and moving to Saturday as its popularity grew. It featured his relaxed crooner style performance sitting in a rocking chair, as well as a number of comic Irish songs, notably "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey", and "Rafferty's Motor Car", on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. He often wore a cardigan which became a trade mark, and was sometimes compared to American singer Perry Como though Doonican has claimed his main influence was Bing Crosby. As a variety show, there were a number of other acts featured and performers such as Dave Allen had early exposure on the show.
The Palladium performance also kick-started his recording career. Between 1964 and 1973 he was rarely out of the UK Singles Chart, his greatest successes including the singles "Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "What Would I Be", "If The Whole World Stopped Loving", and "Morning"; and the albums 13 Lucky Shades of Val Doonican, and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently. He also sang the theme song to the film, Ring of Bright Water.
He stopped performing in 2009 and spent a lot of his free time in Spain (where he had a second home).
Doonican's daughter wrote two books entitled Wired to the Moon and Fear of Custard under the name Sarah Kavanagh. Both stories are related to the performance entertainment world.
The Special Years
Val Doonican Lyrics
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From pinafores to lace
And in between are the special years
Time never can erase
From play toys to college boys
From little girl to wife
And in between are the special years
The special years are filled
With sweet promises and pain
But love will never taste
Quite so wonderful again
So slow up, don't rush to grow up
You'll be a woman before long
So stay awhile in the special years
Their magic will soon be gone
Just stay awhile in the special years
Their magic - will soon be gone...
The Special Years by Val Doonican is a timeless classic about the passage of time and growing up. The lyrics are evocative and resonate with anyone who has ever looked back on their childhood or adolescence with nostalgia. The song highlights how quickly time passes, and that while there are many stages in life that people go through, it is the special years that truly stand out.
The opening lines, "From pigtails to wedding veils, from pinafores to lace," provide a clear image of the transition from childhood to adulthood. The song suggests that this journey is marked by special years that are never forgotten. The special years are the years when people are at their most vulnerable and their most formative, with experiences that will shape them for the rest of their lives.
The lyrics also suggest that while the special years are filled with sweet promises and pain, they are also marked by a kind of love that is unique and unforgettable. The song's final lines urge listeners to slow down and enjoy this time, as it will soon be gone. The message in the song is clear - that the special years are worth cherishing, and that by reflecting on them, people can gain a deeper appreciation for the journey that has brought them to where they are.
Line by Line Meaning
From pigtails to wedding veils
From childhood innocence to becoming a bride
From pinafores to lace
From simple dresses to more mature and elegant ones
And in between are the special years
The time between childhood and adulthood is unique and memorable
Time never can erase
Memories from those years will always be with you
From play toys to college boys
From playing with toys to dating and being with boys in college
From little girl to wife
From being a little girl to getting married and becoming a wife
And in between are the special years
The years in between childhood and marriage are special and unique
You remember all of your life
Memories from those years will never fade away
The special years are filled
These years are filled with many experiences
With sweet promises and pain
There are both happy and sad moments during these years
But love will never taste
Love experienced during these years will always be special
Quite so wonderful again
It will be difficult to experience that same level of love again
So slow up, don't rush to grow up
Don't be in a hurry to become an adult
You'll be a woman before long
You will become an adult soon, without even realizing it
So stay awhile in the special years
Enjoy and savor the moments during these years
Their magic will soon be gone
These years will come to an end, so appreciate them while they last
Just stay awhile in the special years
Stay in that moment and cherish it
Their magic - will soon be gone...
These years will end soon, so make the most of them
Contributed by Maria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.