這首《倫敦德里小調》英文名字是Londonderry Air 、或是The Song Of Londonderry,又名《倫敦德里之歌》、《丹尼男孩 》(Danny Boy);是根據流傳在倫敦德里(愛爾蘭島北部的一個小城)一首古老民歌《向庫庫列英告別》改編而成的。歌曲是有著悠久歷史的愛爾蘭民謠,曲子流傳至今也有三四百年的歷史,以前只有曲調而沒有歌詞。後來有好事者開始為它填詞,有很多種版本,歌詞填寫到如今也有百年多的時間,至於演奏或演唱的形式,那就更多了。
歌詞:Would God I were the tender apple blossomThat floats and falls from off the twisted boughTo lie and faint within your silken bosomWithin your silken bosom as that does now.Or would I were a little burnishd appleFor you to pluck me, gliding by so coldWhile sun and shade you robe of lawn will dappleYour robe of lawn, and you hairs spun gold.Yea, would to God I were among the rosesThat lean to kiss you as you float betweenWhile on the lowest branch a bud unclosesA bud uncloses, to touch you, queen.Nay, since you will not love, would I were growingA happy daisy, in the garden pathThat so your silver foot might press me goingMight press me going even unto death.喔但願我是嬌柔的蘋果花從彎曲的樹枝上面落下飄落在你那溫柔的胸懷我把它當作我的家我長住下喔但願我是光亮的蘋果在樹上等你將我摘下樹蔭下陽光在你的身上描畫也照亮你的金色頭髮喔我願長在玫瑰叢林跟你走過我能夠吻你我成為最低枝條上的蓓蕾就能輕輕觸摸最美的你喔既然我的愛情沒有希望我願做雛菊開在小路上你漫步荒原踩在我的身上我就在你的腳下死亡這首曲子的作曲者為羅利戴爾歐卡漢,英文原名為Rory Dall OCahan,此曲寫於1600年間。後來,費德里克魏舍利,英文原名為Frederick Edward Weatherly,他在1913年將其填了DANNY BOY的歌詞,深受當時人們的喜愛,而流傳至今。羅利戴爾歐卡漢當初寫這首歌時,歌名為倫敦德里小調英文原名為Londonderry Air,亦有歌詞。倫敦德里是北愛爾蘭的一個地名,與英國的首都倫敦無關,不可混淆,Air是詠唱調或小調之意。倫敦德里小調的填詞其實亦相當優美,只是DANNY BOY的填詞太受歡迎了,所以演唱者選擇以DANNY BOY歌詞唱的人比較多,其實二種歌詞之意境是不分軒輊的。DANNY BOYOh Danny Boy,The pipes, the pipes are calling.From Glenn to GlennAnd down the mountain side.The summers goneAnd all the flowers are dying.Tis you, tis you must goAnd I must bide.But come ye backWhen summers in the meadow.Or when the valleys hushedAnd white with snow.Tis Ill be hereIn Sunshine or in ShadowOh Danny Boy, oh Danny BoyI love you so.But when ye comeAnd all the roses fallingAnd I am deadAs dead I well may be.Go out and findThe place where I am lying.And kneel and say an Ave there for me.And I will hearThe soft you tread above meAnd then my graveWill warm and sweeter be.For you shall bend and tell meThat you love meAnd I will sleep in peaceUntil you come to me.另外有一個叫湯姆斯摩耳,英文原名為Thomas Moore的人,在DANNY BOY填詞之前亦針對此曲寫過歌詞,名為輕柔的豎琴英文原名為The Gentle Harp,只是較不流行,其英文歌詞如下:The Gentle HarpMy gentle harp, once more I wakenThe sweetness of thy slumbring strainIn tears our last farewell was takenAnd nos in tears we meet again.Yet even then, while peace was singing,Her halcyon song oer land and sea,Though joy and hope to others bringing,She only brought new tears to thee.Then who can ask for notes of pleasure,My drooping harp, from chords like thine?Alas, the larks gay morning measureAs ill would suit the swans decline.Or how shall I, who love, who bless thee,Invoke thy breath for freedoms strains,When een the wreaths in which I dress thee,Are sadly mixed, half flours, half chains.其實中文填詞還有一首寫得非常棒的,名為秋夜吟。其歌詞如下:
月亮當空,照射大地明亮如鏡,
雲淡風輕,秋高又氣爽。
在這個優美撩人的秋夜裡,
想起了遙遠的故鄉,家鄉的母親。
啊!母親呀!我最愛的母親,
您愛家鄉,卻更愛著我們,
為了我們明天有光榮的前程,
引導著我們奔向旅程。