I’m so excited that today we’re learning Danny Boy. This is a very popular tune that people like Jonny Cash, Andy Williams, The Irish Tenors, Judy Garland, and Bing Crosby have performed. It was even performed at John F. Kennedy’s and Elvis Presley’s funeral services.

What I’m trying to say is people love this tune and will definitely request it. Just last week I was performing and asked the crowd if anyone had any requests. Immediately, a woman yelled, “Play Danny Boy!”

Danny Boy Lyrics

Most people assume “Danny Boy” was written by an Irishman. However, that’s not exactly true. The lyrics were actually written by an Englishman named Fred Weatherly who set them to an ancient Irish tune called “The Londonderry Air” and published it in 1913 as “Danny Boy.”

I definitely love the melody of this tune, but I love the lyrics even more and had to include them below:

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling.
From glen to glen and down the mountainside.
The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling.
It’s you, It’s 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.
I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so.
But if you come, and all the flowers are dying,
And I am dead, as dead I well may be.
You’ll come and find the place where I am lying.
And kneel and say an “Ave” there for me.
And I will know, tho’ soft ye tread above me
And then my grave will richer, sweeter be.
And you’ll bend down and tell me that you love me
And I will rest in peace until you come to me.

Preview Video

Below is a preview of me playing through the entire tune on the bagpipes to give you an idea of what it sounds like before we start the step-by-step tutorial:

Sheet Music and Tutorial

If you have already enrolled in the Bagpipe Master course, here’s the link to check out the full step-by-step tutorial and download the sheet music:

Access Sheet Music & Tutorial