"Danny Boy" ...a little ditty of a tune that's only sung at funerals and St. Patrick's Day functions.
(Johnny Cash sings this one.)
A song for the bars...and for toasting the Jameson..Bushmill's...to those departed from us.
And what's the harm? None, I tell ya!
The little people will smile on you and you'll feel good anyway!
Do that today..wear the green..pinch those not wearing it..buy a round and toast the ones you remember fondly.
Keep looking for that 4 leaf clover and the pot-o-gold at the end of that elusive rainbow!
You see, I'm only 2 minutes from being sprung on St. Patty's day....and although to most it isn't that big a deal today..to me it is...this day. I'm 51 on Saturday. Cheers!
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
But if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I will know, tho' soft you tread above me
And then my grave will rich and sweeter be
And you'll bend down and tell me that you love me
And I'll rest in peace until you come to me.
Happy St. Patrick's Day and happy birthday, as well.
My fondness for the annual event goes deeper than just chugging green beer and having a leg of lamb (although this year there is no meat on St. Patty's Day because it is on a Friday - psst, the whole Lent thing). St. Patrick is the patron saint for both of my boys upon their baptisms. So, I have a great admiration for St. Patrick.
He was an incredibly wonderful person. He was a crazy kid -as many of us are - but he saw where that got him: slavery. He prayed and listened for God and eventually escaped. But, even after all of that, he returned to Ireland to spread his faith.
Remarkable man, he was - said in my best Yoda voice.
But, I digress. Enjoy the day, enjoy some libations and praise God that we live in the USA!
Happy early birthday.
Posted by: Army of Mom | March 17, 2006 at 12:40 AM
Happy birthday and have a drink. The Billy Goat Irish will be singing today in Savannah Ga.
Posted by: Catfish | March 17, 2006 at 12:44 AM
Dearest Marcus...
One of my first readers...and certainly one of the most loyal, thank you for always being there.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you...
And a wonderful birthday as well (on Saturday).
I offer you *swak* a shared kiss between Irish folk!
Posted by: Dana | March 17, 2006 at 01:52 AM
Happy Birthday, Sweetie!
I've got corned beef and cabbage in the fridge, waiting to be made.
All I hafta do now is get through cleaning two barns worth of stalls without dropping and cook it when I get home.
(That'd be the cb & c I need to cook, not all the stuff I remove from the stalls...)
Now to go find something green to wear...
And, my ever so mouthy parrot is named Murphy. Does that count?
Hugs on ya,
me
Posted by: Stevie | March 17, 2006 at 05:09 AM
Happy St Paddy's day and welcome to the AARP age group. Just don't let being 51 effect your fishin'
Posted by: GUYK | March 17, 2006 at 05:59 AM
Birthday boy, indeed. Now that you're 51 you'll find the years go by in like 300 days instead of 365. May your birthday be filled with hot babes in tiny green thongs fishing beside you. Make that in front of you.
Posted by: Deliverance | March 17, 2006 at 06:54 AM
Happiest days to you..my big day is Monday, a spring baby through and through.
Posted by: hoosierboy | March 17, 2006 at 08:03 AM
Hmmm maybe it's the Irish in me that finds men in their 50's so damn sexy. Give me a 50 something Irish man and I'm a happy little leprechaun!
Remind me to give you a big ol' Irish birthday kiss in Austin next month will ya hun?
Posted by: livey | March 17, 2006 at 08:56 AM
Happy Birthday and a good St. Pat's to boot!
May the sea lay down as you launch your boat, and may there be just enough cloud so your lure tricks the fish.
I'm raising one to ye, son o' the sod!
Posted by: Rivrdog | March 17, 2006 at 11:14 AM
Happy St. Patrick's and birthday, Marcus. I'll toast ya' on Saturday at the Willie concert at The Backyard. Looking forward to tippin' one with you next month in Austin, too. Don't forget to bring a couple of smokes.
Posted by: Dash | March 17, 2006 at 11:29 AM
Many Happy Returns of the Day to you! :)
Posted by: Misty | March 17, 2006 at 11:33 AM
.. rock on, Marcus... happy birthday!..
Posted by: Eric | March 17, 2006 at 06:20 PM
Old enough to know better, and too young to resist. That's not so bad.
Happy Birthday Mofo. I'll be doing a shot for you. Hell, make that two for the minutes.
Posted by: Yabu | March 18, 2006 at 05:31 AM
Happy Birthday. A little Irish blessing for the occassion.
When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.
So, let's all get drunk, and go to heaven!
Posted by: libby | March 18, 2006 at 08:50 AM
Happy Boitday from da Garden State, Young Fella.
Posted by: Jim - PRS | March 18, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Many happy returns, Chief.
Posted by: bitterman | March 18, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Happy Birthday, ya funk drucker. I hit the five-one next month myself, unless I can manage to piss someone off badly enough to put a stop to it.
If I'da known old age was gonna be like this, I would have been more reckless in my youth.
Posted by: Bane | March 18, 2006 at 11:41 AM
Happy Birthday! I hope it was a happy one. My dad turned 70 today too. Which reminds me that I'll be 40 in June. Yikes...
Posted by: Becky | March 18, 2006 at 09:09 PM
Happy Birthday. Hope you had a great one.
Posted by: Sticks | March 19, 2006 at 09:38 AM