Question: When was the sonG "Oh Danny Boy" written?

Danny Boy




"Danny Boy" is a ballad set to an ancient Irish melody. English songwriter Frederic Weatherly wrote the lyrics, which are usually set to the Irish tune of the "Londonderry Air". The song was written in a small town called 'Limavady'[1] It is most closely associated with Irish communities.
History


Initially written to a tune other than "Londonderry Air", English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly wrote the words to "Danny Boy" in Bath, Somerset in 1910. After his Irish-born sister-in-law Margaret (known as Jess) in the United States sent him a copy of "Londonderry Air" in 1913 (an alternative version of the story has her singing the air to him in 1912 with different lyrics), Weatherly modified the lyrics of "Danny Boy" to fit the rhyme and meter of "Londonderry Air".[2][3]
Weatherly gave the song to the vocalist Elsie Griffin, who made it one of the most popular songs in the new century. In 1915, Ernestine Schumann-Heink produced the first recording of "Danny Boy".
Jane Ross of Limavady is credited with collecting the melody of "Londonderry Air" in the mid-19th century from a musician she encountered.[4]
Meaning
Various suggestions exist as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy".[5] Some have interpreted the song to be a message from a parent to a son going off to a war or uprising (as suggested by the reference to "pipes calling glen to glen") or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora.[5]
The 1918 version of the sheet music included alternative lyrics ("Eily Dear"), with the instructions that "when sung by a man, the words in italic should be used; the song then becomes "Eily Dear", so that "Danny Boy" is only to be sung by a lady". In spite of this, it is unclear whether this was Weatherly's intent.[6] Indeed, the song has been covered by a diverse range of male singers, including Mario Lanza, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Shane MacGowan, Jackie Wilson, Daniel O'Donnell, Harry Belafonte, Tom Jones, John Gary, Jacob Collier, Harry Connick Jr., and comedian Peter Kay amongst many others. All used the original lyrics.
Usage
"Danny Boy" is considered to be an unofficial signature song and anthem, particularly by Irish Americans and Irish Canadians.[7]
"Danny Boy" is considered the Anthem of Northern Ireland. Due to the complicated politics of Northern Ireland, an area governed by the United Kingdom on the island of Ireland (and populated by people of Irish and Scottish descent), anthems of both of those countries are used by their respective communities to indicate allegiance. For several sporting events where Northern Ireland competes individually, such as the Commonwealth Games, the local song “A Londonderry Air” is used as its anthem.[8][9]
The song is popular for funerals; but, as it is not liturgical, its suitability as a funeral song is sometimes contested.[10] In 1928, Weatherly himself suggested that the second verse would provide a fitting requiem for the actress Ellen Terry.
On 13 April 2013, the South Korean girl group Girls' Generation released the concert album of the 2011 Girls' Generation Asia Tour. The song is on CD 2, track number 7.[11]
Figure skating world champion Javier Fernández skated an exhibition program to Danny Boy choreographed by David Wilson, which Fernández debuted in Boston following his victory at the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships.[12]
Danny Boy, without lyrics, was the theme song for the television show Make Room for Daddy (1953-1957), later The Danny Thomas Show (1957-1964).
Opera singer Renée Fleming sang "Danny Boy" at the funeral service for Senator John McCain on 1 September 2018.
Danny Boy, with modified lyrics and music was used in Rubén Blades' album Mundo.
Adaptation
Southern gospel singer Dottie Rambo adapted the melody for her song, "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need", which was also notably sung by George Beverly Shea.
Notable recordings

"Danny Boy" has been recorded multiple times by a variety of performers. Several versions performed by notable performers are listed below in chronological order.






 from Duke University Libraries