I'll Be Here In Sunshine Or In Shadows

In 1910, Frederick Edward Weatherly wrote an unsuccessful song he called Danny Boy.

In 1912, his sister-in-law in sent him a tune called Londonderry Air and he noticed that his Danny Boy lyrics were a perfect fit to the melody. He published a revised version of the song in 1913.

According to some legends, Rory Dall O'Cahan originally wrote the music for the song in the 1600's. Londonderry Air commonly holds the distinction as the first lyrics set to the composition. The current tally exceeds 100 songs following the same tune.

The basic storyline in Danny Boy is of a young Irish lad called to military duty by the sound of distant bagpipes, as was the custom of the time, and a loved one who promises to wait for him. The lyrics further infer that either the young soldier or the one who awaits his return will die during his absence.

Danny Boy has long been played at funerals, wakes and memorial services, including Mass, and cherished by police officers and firefighters, who identify with its message. In particular, the ballad has been associated with the Irish, as its passages conjure up images of Ireland's green pastures and wind-swept hills. Fire and police departments have also historically been dominated by Irishmen, of which a large percentage is Catholic, thus reinforcing the connection to the song.

The sorrowful strain was played at the funerals for Fire Chief Peter Ganci and John F. Kennedy, Jr. Ganci was killed in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, banned Danny Boy and other secular songs from funeral Masses in October, 2001, and was met with great disapproval. One former police officer was quoted as saying, "I want Danny Boy sung at my funeral Mass and, if it isn't, I'm going to get up and walk out."