这是一首有着悠久历史的爱尔兰民歌。悠久到什么程度?曲子三四百年!歌有一百年!有这样一个网站,专门描述这这首歌的来历:The Origion of Danny Boy。有关Danny Boy的历史,还可以参考:Danny Boy — the Mystery Solved。还有一本书叫《Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad》。综合如下,
1855年,一个叫George Petrie的人出了一本叫"Londonderry Air"的书,是一本爱尔兰古音乐的集锦。里面写到这首优美的旋律是一个叫Jane Ross(1810-1879)的女人提供的。Jane收藏了大量民间的未被出版的音乐,并无私的奉献了出来。而这个Jane又是在一个叫Jimmy McCurry(1830-1910)的街头盲艺人那里听来的。但究竟这首旋律是谁作的呢?据说(不确切),是一个叫Rory Dall O’Cahon的爱尔兰人(1660?-1712?,版本不一),是一个竖琴师,原曲的名字叫作《Londonderry Air》,为了表现失去土地的悲伤。
这个旋律被Petrie公开出版之后,那个时代的很多著名的添词人试图为此曲写歌词,但是很多都没有被公众认可。这个旋律一共有超过90个版本的歌词!
那时淘金潮,很多人都涌向了美洲新大陆,带着他们的音乐。1912年的一天,一个叫Margaret Weatherly的人听到一群淘金者演奏这首美丽的旋律,于是想起了他的丈夫的哥哥,Fred Weatherly(1848-1929)。此人是一名显赫的英国律师,业余时间做歌词创作(一生共作1500余首)。于是Margaret说服他们复制了此曲。可巧的是,Fred在1910年就写好了一首歌词叫"Danny Boy",一直苦于没有合适的曲子相配,而这一个正合适。这套歌词立即被世界范围的爱尔兰人所接受。……这首歌在世界范围迅速流传,据说有二百多个版本演绎了这首歌。
这个曲子一直很熟悉,说不上来时什么时候入耳的。但真正的仔细听却是在我来日本之后,那时候日语不好,就从广播上录下一些片断上学放学的路上反复听。那时非常喜欢一个午夜的节目,一个深沉的男声娓娓道来,中间插播一些好听的歌曲。就是那时有一段时间反反复复地听了很多便Danny Boy,是一个女声的清唱,婉转悠扬,真有绕梁三日之感。
这个曲子现在版本真是太多了,经常会听到各种乐器的独奏,各种人的翻唱,当然也有很多语言的版本。这就是一个经典的旋律的魅力:可以用很多种方式,可以表达不止一种的情感,可以让很多人感动。
我下载了一个男声小合唱的版本和一个长笛竖琴的演奏版本。相信大家都熟悉此旋律,愿能一起重温。
[EDIT 2005-01-27] Amang友情提供了两个不错的版本,一个是双吉他的,另一个是萨克斯风的,都非常有味道,尤其是萨克斯的那个,感觉像在一个欧洲小镇的酒吧里的那种迷离飘渺的氛围。在这里特别感谢Amang。
合唱 | 长笛演奏 | 男声独唱(2005.08.18上载)
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 are dying
‘Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bideBut come you back when summer’s in the meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow
‘Tis I’ll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you soAnd if you come, when all the roses 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 meAnd I shall hear, tho’ soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you’ll not fail to tell me that you love me
I simply sleep in peace until you come to me
Beatiful Song, i’ve other two versions one of which is performanced by Eric Clapton, if you like i could send it to you.
That’s nice! Amang, just send it to me –> coolger [at] gmail [dot] com
i’ve sent them
WoW, Google spamed your Email, I have found it out from Spam.
You’re welcome,by the way have you heard Damien Rice(the episode of is his work), an irish indie singer, i suggest you to have a try, if you can’t find them,you could write to me , i’ve his album …
i’ll take an exam in 20 minutes … …
这首歌很美,我很喜欢。我也听过一首童声的《Danny Boy》,也很美,童声衬托得很美,如果你有酷狗的话,可以在上面搜一搜
It is nice song which I love very much, if you guys and ladies have all relatede version, pls. kindly send me, and it will be highly appreciated.
I love to collect the old European song.
Specially song in around WWII.
There are so many touching heart song, may be in that moment, life is so short.
TKs. advance for the one whom send me the song.
i love this song so much~and i love the boy who sings this song named Delcan Galbtaith!that’s so wonderful!
Could you please tell me who this “Danny Boy” is? Someone said it’s the author’s dog! But I don’t think so. It’s more like a song written for a buddy friend, or a lover, and it must also have some historical or even political background, when “the pipes are calling” for something, perhaps you know?
There is a group of people waiting to know your answers, thank you!
can not download,why?
你好,我在今日的博客上引用你这篇的几段。
已注明出处。
谢谢
To Serena:
照爱尔兰民歌的原始意味,这首歌是写父子之情,Danny Boy最后寻找到的,是父子之爱。这首歌十八世纪时原是老父送别出征的儿子的,认为儿子即使作战生还,他老先生也墓草久宿了,所以才有‘你天涯远引’、‘我在此长埋’的伤感,最后盼儿子找到他坟上,两人在生死线上,相聚一回,真是很动人的布局。可是,把这一幕延伸成男女之间生离死别的情歌,也许比写父子之情更动人。
I’m think it is a beautiful song .I love the boy’s singing.It can let me think about another boy.
That’s why I can’t download it.
I prefer the Danny Boy by Diana Kroll,…compared with that by Declan Galbraith.
btw, your name is the same as one of my professors back in university. I still remember his assignment: one report every two weeks, on novels or any reading materials in English.