Performer - Deanna Durbin Lyrics - Frederick Weatherly The famous ballad "Danny Boy", ironically, was written by a man who never set foot in Ireland. Weatherly, an English barrister who was also a prolific poet, had originally set "Danny Boy" to music he had composed. The song was not successful. When he heard the "Londonderry Air", he realized that "Danny Boy" would fit nicely to that tune. Over 100 songs have been set to "Londonderry Air", but "Danny Boy" is the most famous. Band and ...