NYC pub owner bans `Danny Boy' in March

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NYC pub owner bans `Danny Boy' in March

By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press WriterThu Mar 6, 6:24 AM ET

It's depressing, it's not usually sung in Ireland for St. Patrick's

Day, and its lyrics were written by an Englishman who never set foot on

Irish soil.

Those are only some of the reasons why a Manhattan pub owner

is banning the song "Danny Boy" for the entire month of March.

"It's overplayed, it's been ranked among the 25 most depressing

songs of all time and it's more appropriate for a funeral than for a

St. Patrick's Day celebration," said Shaun Clancy, who owns Foley's Pub

and Restaurant, across the street from the Empire State Building.

The 38-year-old Clancy, who started bartending when he was 12 at his

father's pub in County Cavan, Ireland, promised a free Guinness to

patrons who sing any other traditional Irish song at the pub's pre-St.

Patrick's Day karaoke party on Tuesday.

The lyrics for "Danny Boy," published in 1913, were written by

English lawyer Frederick Edward Weatherly, who never even visited

Ireland, according to Malachy McCourt, author of the book "Danny Boy:

The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad."

He said Weatherly's sister-in-law had sent him the music to an old

Irish song called "The Derry Air," and the new version became a hit

when opera singer Ernestine Schumann-Heink recorded it in 1915.

Some say the song is symbolic of the great Irish diaspora, with

generations of Irish fleeing the famine and poor economic conditions

starting around 1850. Others speculate it's sung by a mother grieving

for her son or by a desolate lover. Lyrics include: "The summer's gone,

and all the flowers are dying/ 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must

bide."

"Danny Boy" was recorded by Bing Crosby in the 1940s, served as the

theme song of television's "Danny Thomas Show" from 1953 to 1964. It

has been performed by singers ranging from Judy Garland and Elvis

Presley to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

At least one patron at Foley's was glad to hear the song was

banned from the pub for the rest of the month.

The song is "all right, but I get fed up with hearing it — it's like

the elections," Martin Gaffney, 73, said in a thick Irish brogue.

Gaffney said Wednesday he looked forward to crooning his own Irish

favorites, such as "Molly Malone" — whose own theme is hardly a barrel

of laughs.

A sort of unofficial anthem of Dublin also known as "Cockles and

Mussels," the song tells the tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plies

her trade on city streets and dies young of a fever.

[danasgoodstuff]

I love Ben Webster's version (NOT 'cover'!); maybe they should just ban vocal renditions, but I do like Jackie Wilson's...

[Christiern]

What a sensible thing to do. Of course, he could also simply charge any customer a hundred bucks for singing it.

[Alexander]

"He said Weatherly's sister-in-law had sent him the music to an old

Irish song called "The Derry Air," and the new version became a hit

when opera singer Ernestine Schumann-Heink recorded it in 1915."

I think we should simply put "The Derry Air" behind us.

[Christiern]

As I recall, Madame Schumann-Heink had a rather large one.

[Jim Alfredson]

How long before somebody sues due to a violation of the First Amendment?

[Randy Twizzle]

I read somewhere that Tony Bennett named his son Danny after once hearing Art Tatum playing Danny Boy in a club.

[Free For All]

I read somewhere that Tony Bennett named his son Danny after once hearing Art Tatum playing Danny Boy in a club.

Good thing Tatum didn't play "Dinah".

[jostber]

Danny Boy in March is like eating soup with a fork. Not too suitable.

[Rooster_Ties]

Glad that March is out of the way, so I could finally post this...

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1807240