【美语坛春之声歌曲活动】 --介绍并翻译爱尔兰民歌 Danny Boy

介绍并翻译爱尔兰民歌 "Danny Boy"

 

[Introduction]

"Danny Boy" is considered to be an unofficial signature song and anthem, particularly by Irish Americans and Irish Canadians.  It is one of the most popular songs around the world.

"Danny Boy" was a ballad written by a English songwriter and a lawyer Frederic Weatherly in 1910.  The song did not gain the popularity as he thought until he set the lyrics to the Irish tune of the "Londonderry Air" in 1913.

Londonderry is a North Ireland county.  English word 'air' stands for '小调，小曲'.  Londonderry Air has been aound for long time.  Jane Ross of Limavady is credited with collecting the melody of "Londonderry Air" in the mid-19th century from a musician she encountered. 

Frederic's American sister-in-law in Colorado happened to hear this tune in a Irish immigration gathering.  She noted it down and passed it to her brother-in-law.

There are various theories as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy".  Some listeners have interpreted the song to be a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora. 

But Frederic Weatherly mentioned that his song did not reflect any war. 

The song's popularity was surely because of the beautiful melody。  it is also  because that it touches people's heart by dealing love, separation and reunion, life and death.  I still remember one time I was in Atlanta in a park.  Thousands of Irish people gathered there for a ethnic ceremony.  People put on traditional attire, women in long colorful skirts and man in short skirts.  Children played in the meadow.  Everything is soaked in a lovely Danny Boy melody.

[My Translation of the Lyrics]
 

The King's Singers - Danny boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen and down the mountain side The summer's gone and all the roses falling 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide 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 Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so But when ye come and all the flowers are dying If I am dead, as dead I well may be You’ll come and find the place where I am lying And you'll then say an "Ave" there for me And I shall hear though soft ye tread above me And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be For you'll bend and tell me that you love me And I shall sleep in peace, until you come to me

少年丹尼 噢！少年丹尼，那风笛，风笛在呼唤 在山谷徊荡，又飘向山那边 夏天已逝去，玫瑰花在凋零 你必须离去我只能等待 当你回来时，绿茵铺满大地 或山谷沉静，白雪皑皑 我将迎接你，不管烈日或风雨 噢！少年丹尼，噢！少年丹尼，我爱你 如果你回来时百花已经枯萎 也许我已经长眠在此 你会前来找到我的坟墓 并且会跪下为我祈祷。 而当我听那轻柔的脚步在头顶 我的坟墓更加温暖谧静 因你会俯身并低声说着“我爱你” 我将从此安息，直到你再次来临。

 
[My singing ]




[Please enjoy Danny Boy performed by King's Singers]