KERRY DANCE, THE
(Aka O THE DAYS OF THE KERRY DANCING)
(Words and Music by James Lyman Molloy - 1879)


Ernestine Schumann-Heink - 1913
John McCormack - 1936
Julie Andrews - 1957
Ray Anthony & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1959
Lester Lanin Trio (Instr.) - 1960
John O'Neill with Gordon Franks Singers & Music - 1962
Percy Faith & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1963
Shirley Scott & Kenny Burrell - 1964

Also recorded by:
Horace Heidt & His Musical Knights (vocal: The Heidtlites); 
Deborah Henson-Conant; Ithaca College Band; Eileen Farrell; 
Joyce Breach; Larry Adler; Thelonius Monk; Kenneth Walters; 
Art Tatum; Knuckles O'Toole ........ and others.


  


Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing
Oh, the ring of the piper's tune
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness 
Gone, alas! like our youth, too soon
When the boys began to gather
In the glen of a summer night
And the Kerry piper's tuning 
Made us long with wild delight

Oh, to think of it, oh to dream of it
Fills my heart with tears
Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing
Oh, the ring of the piper's tune
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness 
Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon

Was there ever a sweeter colleen
In the dance than Eily Moore
Or a prouder lad than Thady
As he boldly took the floor
"Lads and lasses to your places
Up the middle and down again"
Ah, the merry hearted laughter 
Ringing through the happy glen

Oh, to think of it, oh to dream of it
Fills my heart with tears
Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing
Oh, the ring of the piper's tune
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness 
Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon

Time goes on and the happy years are dead
And one by one, the merry hearts have fled
Silent now is the wild and lonely glen
Where the bright glad laugh will echo ne'er again
Only dreaming of days gone by
Fills my heart with tears

Loving voices of old companions 
Stealing out of the past once more
And the sound of the dear old music
Soft and sweet as in days of yore
When the boys began to gather
In the glen of a summer night
And the Kerry piper's tuning 
Made us long with wild delight

Oh, to think of it, oh to dream of it
Fills my heart with tears
Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing
Oh, the ring of the piper's tune
Oh, for one of those hours of gladness 
Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon






(Contributed by Mel Priddle - September 2013)