No, Danny Boy....

[Coemgen]

Personally, I like it.

But then, I also listen to the same song over, and over, and over, et cetera ad nauseum, without getting bored by it.

It annoys the *expletive* out of my family

[Yaish]

Pubs can ban whatever they want, but of course patrons who want to hear the song will go elsewhere.

Same for pipers. If you don't like playing Amazing Grace, then don't become a piper for hire. Businesses serve their patrons, not the other way around.

[beloitpiper]

Pubs can ban whatever they want, but of course patrons who want to hear the song will go elsewhere.

Same for pipers. If you don't like playing Amazing Grace, then don't become a piper for hire. Businesses serve their patrons, not the other way around.

When I'm hired, I play whatever my employers pay me to play. I don't have to like the tune, but I'll play it. But when I'm playing at my school or performing at a pub or something and somebody shouts out "Danny Boy!", no, I probably won't play it.

[PiobBear]

I know that Danny Boy is overplayed but I heard a man sing it in church once and my eyes just unloaded!

I once knew a priest who would sing it during mass for Irish American funerals. Beautiful voice, very nice fellow, and he was a great friend of the pipes.

[James MacMillan]

Calm down - Don't they say that "Music has charms to soothe the savage breast?"

or something like that?

[macwilkin]

Isn't there another popular US song called "My Country 'Tis of Thee" that is just different lyrics set to "God Save the Queen"? A bit funny to have a patriotic song based off the anthem of your former ruler, I think.

Also "God Save our Native Land". Nothing really funny about it, since many aspects of American government come from the mother country.

When I teach the American Rebellion...oops, Revolution in my history classes, I always mention what the regimental history of the Black Watch says about it:

We can boast no Battle Honours for our part
in the American War of Independance,
because it was rightly decreed that Battle Honours
should not be granted for a war with our kith and kin.

T.

[Yaish]

During the War of 1812 (and probably before) the British soldiers called Americans "Cousin Jonathan", to denote the still close ties even with to the nation they were at war with.

[Zardoz]

That song just depresses me... Plus it is way overplayed at Irish events! This time of year it's sort of the Irish version of Scotland the Brave. I put a note in my funeral plan (I'm OK, just like to plan ahead!) not to play it. Play 'Carraig Fhearghais' and 'The Soildier's Song' for me!

[PiobBear]

That song just depresses me... Plus it is way overplayed at Irish events! This time of year it's sort of the Irish version of Scotland the Brave. I put a note in my funeral plan (I'm OK, just like to plan ahead!) not to play it. Play 'Carraig Fhearghais' and 'The Soldier's Song' for me!

Never occurred to me to play "Carraig Fhearghais" on the pipes (good tune though, just found sheet music for it), but I'll definitely be piping "Amhrán na bhFiann"!


I'd mentioned piping AG ad nauseum by requests at an Irish festival; one of the highlights of that weekend was when two lovely young women chatted us up. I asked if they'd like a tune, and one of them rather wistfully said that what she'd really like is to hear the National Anthem. I immediately struck in, and in a strong clear voice she proudly sang along with my pipes in Irish. That one incident made the whole trip for me.

[Ozman1944]

No Danny Boy? NO DANNY BOY???? Such outrage! Qhuick, bring out the pitchforks & torches!!!!