Oh Danny Boy

Best that grows. Photo Jennifer Weber 2010As a result of participating in SkyWatch Friday I have had my consciousness raised to many wonderful photobloggers around the world -- not to mention the skies they live under.

(I do not consider myself a photoblogger; I'm just a freelance writer who loves to take pictures, then quasi-force unsuspecting passers-by to look at them, a la obligatory postprandial home movies of days past!)

LOL

Anyway, one such excellent blog I have discovered is The Skoog Farm Journal. 

I find it interesting when I encounter blogs that, immediately you click into them, begin playing music. Generally that's a blogging no-no and I personally would never do it, but to each his own. If I don't like the music, I leave. That doesn't happen very often.

On the rare occasion you discover some interesting tunes that way.

And that's what happened today when I clicked on the blog of Lori Skoog to see her SkyWatch Friday pictures ... which, by the way, are astounding.

But this music began playing ... Danny Boy ... a song which always makes me weep. 

See, I'm Irish. An Irish Baptist who does not say Aves -- don't even know what they are, for that matter -- but Irish nonetheless, with the attendant gift of gab and hyper-emotionalism, if not the penchant for frittering away my paycheck on Guinness.

I've never even tasted stout ale. Have no plans to.

I'm a Baptist Irish Teetotaler ... and I wouldn't have it any other way. I like being different.

Anyway, I didn't know who the late Eva Cassidy (1963-1996) was -- never heard of the lass until today -- but you can bet your four-leaf-clover I'll be figuring out how to buy one of her albums.

(She and I may be related. My grandmother's maiden name was Cassidy.)

Here she is (Eva; not my grandmother), singing from beyond an early grave what I consider the quintessential Irish heartbreaker of a song: the matchless Danny Boy.

Close your eyes! Sit back. Listen. Emote. Do feel free to weep. I'm right there with you.

Comments

[Donna (Texas)]

...Oh...My....Word.....How beautiful.......I've heard it a million times before but NOT like that....One of my favorites...
hughugs

[Debbie]

I've always liked the song.

I'm like you on visiting a blog that has music that auto starts, it assaults my senses and is distracting. If they want to add music to their blog, then have the courtesy to allow the reader to start it on their own if they want to hear it.

[irene]

Well!, I was well on my way to weeping, when I heard this lovely melody. I'm not Irish, but... I named my eldest son Daniel (Danny Boy) after my friends dad who I adored. At his funeral one of his granddaughters (and I don't know how she did this) sang this wonderful song. Not a dry eye in the place, the priest had to compose himself before he could carry on. Now there is a Polish match to this, but that doesn't mean I don't absolutely love this. I'm not sure what all the meaning behind the words are, (I can't listen to it that carefully) I'm crying too hard but I LOVE it. thank you.

[Jennifer]

@ Donna ... I know, right? Almost too incredibly beautiful. So sad Eva had to die young and leave so much potential unused!

@ Debbie ... I agree; I never know what to make of it when music comes on a blog! Sometimes it even scares me! But lots of people who have playlists use really beautiful songs.

@ Irene ... girl, it is a very moving song. Sometime you should look up the words and read them. They tell a wonderful and poignant story!

[Skunkfeathers]

Last time I heard that song, it was at the funeral of a colleague who had strong Irish heritage.

One other occasion, it was being belted out, off key, by a drunk work colleague, prior to the advent of karoake bars.

Both times brought me to tears; the latter one, 'cuz I was laughing so hard.

Either way, that song can do it, shore 'nuff.

[Lori Skoog]

Jennifer,
Thanks for finding my Journal, and I'm glad you too can appreciate Eva Cassidy. I know, many people don't like music on a blog...that's why I say that you can click it off if you don't want it. However, I happen to get many comments on my music and and there are two people who put it on at work and just let it keep playing all day. A good thing for those who don't like it, is to just turn their volume off before they check out blogs.

Anyway...I have now found your blog! I love "Danny Boy" and she does an amazing job with "Over the Rainbow." It's funny, the impact music can have on your emotions.

Thank you very much for writing about my blog in your post.

[Jennifer]

@ SF ... it seems everyone has deep feelings about this song! It's universal.

@ Lori ... I am forever in your debt for playing Eva Cassidy on your blog. The funny thing was, it wasn't the first song to come up. The main reason I turn off blog music when it happens is, there's almost always music playing in my house already! So it sounds discordant .... but when I was reading your blog I wasn't playing music, and when I glanced at your playlist and saw the song Danny Boy, I clicked on it. And it was instant amazement and love ... so much so that, that very night I went to Barnes & Noble and bought Eva's CD Songbird! Which I love ... in large part because of Over the Rainbow! Eva OWNS that song! And it's all because of you and SkyWatch! So I'm very happy to have made your blogging acquaintance because your pictures and your blog are wonderful. You're bookmarked! Have a blessed Fourth of July.