John McCormack The Minstrel Boy

"The Minstrel Boy" is an Irish patriotic song written by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) who set it to the melody of The Moreen, an old Irish air. It is widely believed that Moore composed the song in remembrance of a number of his friends, whom he met while studying at Trinity College, Dublin and who had participated in (and were killed during) the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen. However, the song gained widespread popularity and became a favourite of many Irishmen who fought during the United States Civil War and gained even more popularity after World War I. The song is notably associated with organisations that historically had a heavy representation of Irish-Americans, in particular the police and fire departments of New York, Boston and Chicago and those of various other major US metropolitan areas, even after those organisations have ceased to have a substantial over-representation of personnel of Irish ancestry. The melody is frequently played at funerals of members and/or officers of such organisations who have died or been killed in service, typically on bagpipes. Unsurprisingly, given its lyrics, it is also associated with the Irish Army and with traditionally Irish regiments and/or Irish Brigades found in other armies. (A song with similar status is the more recent "Danny Boy".) The text of the original song follows:

The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• McCormack
• The
• Minstrel
• Boy

[sheilamaclean]

This song is one of those fine melodies that forever clings in the memory; no doubt Thomas Moore wrote these words from eye witness experience of the time as a young man in troubled Ireland and how John McCormack did his song justice.

Thanks for posting.

[antibatrat]

I learned this song from Chief O'Brien. We used to sing it on the cardasian front.

[TheDustysix]

@andrewlubin19067 my thoughts and sentiments exactly! FMF airdale 77-81. semper fi! you young marines and all your cohorts in the army, navy, air force and coast guard are the finest troops we have ever had. not just from your skill and bravery, but most importantly for love and devotion to each other. small unit cohesion is your guys forte.

[eastwestcoastkid]

Beautiful, sad song..

[Apemanwithcalculator]

@TheFwible as a welshman I remember hearing this somewhere before......who told you? source?

[msartlit]

We learned this song when I was in elementary school in the U.S. in the early 1960's. It brought me to tears then and does today. Thanks for posting!

[TheFwible]

Utter Bullshit. It's entirely welsh.

[Sportymike]

@pjdonagh Sure some of Ireland's greatest patriots were Protestant, Wolfe Tone etc.

[Kitminor]

This is a grand Irish song. I hd it played at my mother,s funeral, during the Calie after the occasion. kminor@accesscomm.ca

[andrewlubin19067]

To our Marines in RC SW and Soldiers in the Anghardab...Semper Fi and HOOAH!!

[trite34]

Wonderful...