100 years ago: “Danny Boy” charted for first time

Danny Boy Ernestine Schumann-Heink

Writer(s): traditional (adapted by Fred Weatherly) (see lyrics here) First Charted: January 19, 1918 Peak: 5 US, 2 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Whenever alcohol and sentimentality are mixed in Irish bars around the world” LW there’s bound to be a rousing sing-a-long to “the delicious melancholy” LW of “the lovely lilting ballad ‘Danny Boy,’” LW “one of the most popular songs of the 20th century.” LW The song has been said to be a “mother’s lament” about her son heading out to find his fortune or fight against the English. “In her motherly way, she adds a bit of blackmail by suggesting that if he goes, he will never see her alive again.” LW Other accounts have said it is about an Irish father singing to his son, but still about the song heading off to war. SF Frederick Weatherly, a lawyer and sometime politician who published lyrics for at least 1500 songs, wrote the lyrics for “Danny Boy” in 1910. Ironically, he was an Englishman who is thought to have never even set foot in Ireland. SF It is disputed whether he wrote a tune to accompany the words LW or had simply written a poem not set to any tune. WK His sister-in-law, Margaret Enright Weatherly, provided him with “The Londonderry Air,” a traditional Irish melody which dates back to at least the first half of the 19th century and has been paired with hundreds of different lyrics. LW It has also been linked as far back as the 17th century to a blind harpist named Rory Dall O’Cahan. Jane Ross, of Londonderry, is then reported to have written down the music after hearing it played by a fiddler. SF Margaret heard her father and other Irish railroad workers play when she was a child in California. WK Frederick then adjusted the lyrics to fit the song, although some accounts say that Margaret actually set the words to the music. WK Either way, Frederick never acknowledged her contribution, which caused a major division amongst the family. SF She and her husband died in poverty while he went on to achieve fame and wealth. SF Weatherly gave the song to singer Elsie Griffin, who turned it into one of the new century’s most popular songs. WK The first charted version came in 1918, when Ernestine Schumann-Heink took it to #5 on the U.S. pop charts. Subsequent chart versions came from Glenn Miller (#17 US, 1940), Al Hibbler (#9 RB, 1950), Conway Twitty (#10 US, 1959), Sil Austin (#59 US, 1959), Andy Williams (#64 US, 1961), Patti LaBelle (#76 US, 1964), Jackie Wilson (#25 RB, 1965), and Ray Price (#9 CW, 1967). The song has also been recorded by Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Shane McGowan, Glenn Miller, Sinéad O'Connor, Elvis Presley, and Jim Reeves. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Ernestine Schumann-Heink LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 23. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 11/22/2022.

House of Pain “Jump Around” released

Jump Around House of Pain

Writer(s): Lawrence Muggerud, Erik Schrody (see lyrics here) Released: May 5, 1992 First Charted: June 27, 1992 Peak: 3 US, 3 CB, 14 RB, 8 UK, 45 CN, 15 AU, 12 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.6 UK, 1.93 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 160.9 video, 418.89 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: House of Pain was comprised of MCs Everlast (Erik Schrody) and Danny Boy (Dan O’Conner) along with DJ Lethal (Leor Dimant). They came out of the same underground Los Angeles scene as Cypress Hill. In fact, DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill produced House of Pain’s “enduring anthem” TB “Jump Around.” He said he originally produced the beat for Cypress Hill, but rapper B-Real wasn’t interested in recording it. Then it was offered to Ice Cube before finally getting to House of Pain. WK While “Jump Around” proved to be a one-hit wonder for the rap trio, it became a “raucous party jam that still, years after its release, can ramp up the energy on any dancefloor.” TB NME’s Johnny Dee said it “makes your body feel as if it was possessed by a jumping bean.” WK In the UK it is “widely regarded…as a club classic.” WK The song is best known for the high-pitched squealing that “appears at the beginning of almost every bar – 66 times in the course of the recording.” WK Different sources say the squeal comes from Prince’s scream in his 1991 song “Gett Off” or the saxophone in Junior Walker & the All Stars’ “Shoot Your Shot.” Everlast said a horn makes the sound, not Prince. He also said it samples Divine Styler’s “Ain’t Sayin’ Nothin,’ which samples ‘Shoot Your Shot.’” WK It has been suggested, however, that Everlast may have said that simply to avoid the high price tag of paying Prince for the sample. SF Meanwhile, DJ Muggs says it didn’t come from Prince or Junior Walker. WK About.com’s Bill Lambsaid the song suggested that “the marriage of edgy rock and hip-hop could actually become a thing.” WK His words proved prophetic as Everlast went on to have a solo career with alternative-rock favorites “What It’s Like” and “Ends” while DJ Lethal became a member of rap-rock group Limp Bizkit. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for House of Pain SF Songfacts TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 252. WK Wikipedia First posted 6/23/2023.