St. Patrick’s Day/Danny Boy/ Dad Day

My husband and I (compulsively) decorate and celebrate every holiday.
I think it’s because we didn’t get enough “celebrating” as children, or in our previous adult lives.
So, with St. Patrick’s day on the calendar, we got out the green patterned china, re-covered the valence in the dining room with Shamrock fabric and got out our “Irish paraphernalia” (some of which we acquired in Ireland proper).

For the past two days, as I was making Irish Soda Bread, and Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner, I found myself humming the tune “Danny Boy”.
Not really a stretch to be thinking of this song for St. Patrick’s Day, to be sure.
But the song just wouldn’t let me go.
Because it was one of my father’s favorite songs, it put me in a kind of sad/sweet state of mind.
I’ve heard so many people perform this song, and yet never performed it in public, myself.
In my younger years, I was fascinated to learn there was a second verse and chorus to the song.
Yesterday, I also dug out of my collection, a VHS that I got for my Dad one Christmas. It’s titled “Danny Boy-In Sunshine or in shadow”. It’s a documentary which includes musicians, performers and music historians, all sharing their perspective of the song.
I’d never watched it before.
Apparently, Eric Clapton’s favorite way of honoring this song is to perform it instrumentally on his acoustic guitar. Of course, he can do that and not break a sweat.

Since the song and Dad were both haunting me, yesterday, I visited Dad’s memorial on “Find a Grave” and left him a shamrock and told him I was thinking of him.
I left him the words of the second verse of Danny boy.
Then, home alone, I pulled out my 12-string guitar, and sang the entire song for him.
The lyrics still flutter through my spirit,
And remind me that, one of the two people, who have loved me most, in this life,
Is gone.

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 kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
For ye shall bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

Until next time,
Eat something wonderful
And live a life worth loving.
-Kim