Danny Boy

Words & Music:

Irish Tune

 

I've given the basic chords here.  Play around with walking chords and substitutions.  In playing around to figure out the chords, I was able to come up with several different versions.  Some versions do a half-step chord shift up for the second verse.  Also, this is not an Irish song.  Some sources say this is a Scottish lyric set to an Irish tune from County Derry ("Londonderry Aire").  Another source claims that the words were written by Englishman Fred Weatherly.  Either way, only the tune is Irish.

 

E        A                             D

O, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

E            A                         Bm   E

From glen to glen and down the mountainside.

E            A                      D       Bm

The summer's gone and all the roses falling.

               A        D             E    E7

'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

E7          A         D               A

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow.

   E7       A        D                     Bm    E

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow.

E7           A       D              A

'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow.

D        A             D               A   E  E7

O, Danny boy, O, Danny boy, I love you so.

 

But, if ye come and all the flowers are dying,

If I am dead, and dead I well may be,

Then, if you bend and tell me that you love me,

I’ll sleep in peace until you come to me.

But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow

Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow

'Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow.

O, Danny boy, O, Danny boy, I love you so.