I apologize that this page will not be as lighthearted as the rest of this site, but if you're thinking about writing to complain about my "Danny Boy" comments: Don't Bother.

Quite frankly, JOTD is the work of many hundreds of hours.  It is not now and has never been a profit-making enterprise, nor have more than a fraction of the over 100,000 people who have visited these pages ever voiced their support or contributed to it.  Hence, continuing the site comes down to whether I enjoy doing so.  When I cease to enjoy putting my time into some aspect of it, the time has come for that aspect to stop.

I'm weary of "Danny Boy" complaints.

Without exception, everyone who has written to complain has no idea what they're talking about, most didn't read my comments very carefully, and almost all of them contradict one another.  If your favorite romantic "Danny Boy" story is wounded by my comments, life (your life) must go on.  I don't owe anyone a detailed explanation for my conclusions, beyond what is expressed on the "Danny Boy" page, and I don't feel obliged to debate the question further.

When something becomes popular, especially if a considerable period of time is involved, there is ample opportunity for various tales to evolve as to where it came from. Sometimes authors encourage this "innovation" in order to stimulate sales.  Writers of television documentaries go along for the ride because many of the romantic fantasies that surround popular works or events are what the public want to hear--it stands to reason if you think about it.

The English writer of the piece, Frederic Edward Weatherly, who was 65 when he composed words and music, was a prolific composer with literally thousands of compositions to his credit. He wrote it purely as a money-making enterprise and, when it failed to catch-on, re-wrote it and adopted a new tune (Londonderry Air).  All the romantic tales you hear on the latest television piece about the poem or read in the forwards to gift books that claim to offer the "original" Gaelic text to the poem (there is no such thing; the author was English and it is doubtful he understood any of the Gaelic) about dead fathers grieving for their sons or their own fathers notwithstanding.

It may be a little hard for some to grasp, but the piece never originated as an Irish national icon.  It is simply a good song with a charming message--that made its author some money.  If your Scottish ancestors are now clamoring for my bones (as one reader generously informed me--how we migrated to Scotland all of the sudden he didn't explain), perhaps my 1,000 years (and more) of Scottish ancestors will ask them to overlook my many weaknesses.

In my case I took the time to read the sources and I'm content with my version of what happened. Again, this material isn't original with me.  As for the comments about the dog, these are based on remarks made by the author himself during his lifetime.  I really don't care if one is forced to conclude that this viewpoint attributes human attributes to a dog, such as prayer, kneeling, religion, and such.  If you find this troubling, you haven't read enough poetry.  You also haven't owned enough dogs.

So, if you post comments to my "Guest Book" complaining about "Danny Boy," they won't see publication.  If you write complaining about the page or telling me how stupid I am, I probably will not respond.  If I do, it will be to refer you to this page.