Danny Boy is a ballad written by English songwriter Fredric Weatherly in 1913 and set to the traditional Irish melody Londonderry Air. Weatherly wrote the words originally in 1913 and set them initially to a different melody. Upon receiving a copy of Londonderry Air from his sister-in-law later that year, he decided to reset the lyrics to this now famous tune. Early recordings of this new arrangement helped spread it to a wider audience and made it one of the most popular songs in the early 20th century. As to the melody’s origin, Jane Ross of Limavady is credited with collecting the original melody from an itinerant musician in mid-19th century Ireland.

Many Scots of my grandfather and father’s generations had a song that they considered their own. At special occasions and family gatherings they would share this song with the assembled guests. These songs were usually songs of loss, regret or about being strangers in a new land. My arrangement of this timeless melody is dedicated to my grandfather, Daniel Sinclair. This was his signature song and he always sang it beautifully.