"Minstrel Boy" - The most-performed song in the world on St. Patrick’s Day
If you've marched on St. Patrick’s Day anywhere in the world, you've likely heard the classic air “The Minstrel Boy” at every one of them, usually performed by a police or firefighter band. The song has become synonymous with Irish America but it has surprising origins. “The Minstrel Boy” by Dublin-born Thomas Moore is one of the greatest Irish airs, beloved in many countries in the world but arguably nowhere more than America. Apart from “Danny Boy”, it might be the best known of all.
It is hugely associated with firefighters and policemen and is played at their fu‐ nerals and wakes. It is fitting because the song commemorates a fallen soldier who gave his all for his country.
It was Count John McCormack, the great Irish tenor who ensured its enduring popularity in America.
The song initially gained widespread popularity and became a favorite of many Irishmen who fought during the American Civil War and gained even more popularity after World War I. It is also associated with the Irish Army and with traditionally Irish regiments in the armies of Britain and the United States as well as other armies of the world. Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), composer of “The Minstrel Boy” which he set to an old Irish air “Moneen,” was one of the first Catholics to attend Trinity College in Dublin, graduating in 1795 just as the French revolutionary fervor was spread‐ ing across Europe.
Moore was a contemporary of Irish rebel
Robert Emmet at Trinity College. Moore would have known Emmet and his family.
In fact, “The Minstrel Boy” is a paean to Emmet and the group of idealistic young revolutionaries who took on the might of the British empire with no hope of suc‐ cess in 1803 and to the United Irishmen, who, led by Wolfe Tone, rebelled in 1798.
Minstrel Boyatfirefighter’s funeral: Though never a revolutionary himself, Moore sympathized greatly with Emmet and Lord Edward FitzGerald, a 1798 martyr as well as Wolfe Tone all of
whom he perceived as Irish patriots. The 1798 rebellion and Emmet’s brave in‐ surrection in 1803 happened soon after Moore graduated from Trinity.
He wrote “The Minstrel Boy” to com‐ memorate them and portrayed them as like a naive and idealistic young soldier going forth armed only with his sword and his harp (symbol of Ireland) to fight a far superior foe.
The Minstrel Boy is defeated, but in his last action, he takes his harp and tears the strings, ensuring that the enemy shall never hear it praise them if cap‐ tured.
“Itssongsweremadeforthepureand free "Theyshallneversoundinslavery” The song is deeply nationalistic but sub‐ tle, reflecting Moore's innermost thoughts at a time when he was a highly celebrated composer and man of letters in London with several important pa‐ trons.
He was even given a colonial office posi‐ tion in Bermuda and, during his time there in 1803, he traveled to the United States and met President Thomas Jef‐ ferson.
The meeting did not go well. Moore was very small in stature and Jefferson al‐ legedly wanted to know why such a young boy was sent to meet him. Moore was not overly popular in Amer‐ ica. He wrote in very negative fashion about slavery which offended many of his hosts, but Moore would not change his opinion.
Moore died in 1852, his "Moore’s Melodies" ensured he will never be for‐ gotten, especially with airs such as “The Minstrel Boy” and “The Last Rose of Summer.”
Minstrel Boy,composed byHansZim‐ mer,inthemovie"Blackhawk Down": The original lyrics are as follows: Theminstrel boytothewarisgone, Intheranksofdeathyou'llfindhim; Hisfather's swordhehasgirded on,
Andhiswildharpslungbehind him; "LandofSong!"saidthewarrior bard, "Thoughalltheworld betrays thee, One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
Onefaithful harpshallpraisethee!" TheMinstrel fell!Butthefoeman's chain Couldnotbringthatproudsoulunder; Theharphelovedne'erspokeagain, Forhetoreitschordsasunder; Andsaid"Nochainsshallsully thee, Thousoulofloveandbravery! Thysongsweremadeforthepureand free Theyshallneversoundinslavery!" During the American Civil War a third verse was written by an unknown au‐ thor, and is sometimes included in ren‐ ditions of the song: TheMinstrel Boywillreturn wepray Whenwehearthenewsweallwillcheer it,
Theminstrel boywillreturn oneday, Tornperhaps inbody,notinspirit. Thenmayheplayonhisharpinpeace, Inaworld suchasheavenintended, Forallthebitterness ofmanmustcease, Andev'rybattle mustbeended.
H/T: Thomas Moore Festival. *Originally published in March 2022. Updated inMarch2024.