Seven Lucky Songs for St. Patrick's Day

March 17 marks the annual observance of St. Patrick's Day, a good time to be familiar with some St. Patrick's Day songs and music. While several of these songs are just for fun, one of these St. Patrick's Day songs is attributed to Saint Patrick himself, and another hymn has old and historic ties to Saint Patrick. Here are seven lucky songs for St. Patrick's Day!

Seven Lucky Songs for St. Patrick's Day

7. "It's a Great Day for the Irish"

"It's a Great Day for the Irish," written in 1940 by Roger Edens, is a lighthearted American song made famous by Judy Garland who was a quarter Irish through her Fitzpatrick grandmother. See the "It's a Great Day for the Irish" video here.

It's a Great Day for the Irish,
It's a great day for the fair!
The sidewalks of New York are thick with blarney,
For sure you'd think of New York was ol' Killarney!

6. "When Irish Eyes are Smiling"

First published in the U.S. in 1912, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" is another lighthearted song written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr. in tribute to Ireland for Olcott's production of The Isle O' Dreams. The song has been recorded on over 200 singles and albums and by many famous singers, and is perhaps best known as recorded by Bing Crosby.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.

5. "Isle of Inisfree"

First published in 1950, "The Isle of Inisfree" was composed by Irish poet and songwriter Dick Farrelly and became a hit for Bing Crosby in 1952. The song is about an Irish emigrant who longs for his home.

And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city wondrous though it be
I scarcely feel it's wonder or it's laughter
I'm again back home in Inisfree

4. "Danny Boy"

Written in 1910 by an English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly, "Danny Boy" has become closely associated with Ireland and St. Patrick's Day. This was a favorite song of pop/rock and gospel artist Elvis Presley. According to Wikipedia, a frequently missing third verse of the song reads in part "But say a prayer to God for our dear Sireland That He may hear and help to set her free" referring to Ireland. See Celtic Woman perform "Danny Boy" here.

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 flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

3. "In a Lifetime"

"In a Lifetime" is a haunting Celtic song written by Clannad's brother duo Pól Brennan and Ciarán Brennan and released in 1986 performed by Clannad with U2's Bono. Clannad's female vocalist, Moya Brennan (Máire Ní Bhraonáin), is also a Christian artist, and Clannad and Bono both have roots in Christianity. See the "In a Lifetime" video here.

2. "Be Thou My Vision"

The Irish poet Dallan Forgaill is said to have written the original Old Irish poem, Rop tú mo Baile, in the 6th century. The words were used in Irish monasteries for centuries before it became a hymn. In the 1927 edition of the Church of Scotland's Church Hymnary, the text was combined with the Irish folk song, "Slane." That song was inspired by events in A.D. 433 when St. Patrick defied the pagan High King Lóegaire of Tara by lighting candles on Easter Eve on Slane Hill.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

1. "St. Patrick's Breastplate"

The traditional hymn "St. Patrick's Breastplate" is closely based on "The Shield of Saint Patrick" or "The Prayer of Saint Patrick" which is said to have been written by Saint Patrick during his Irish ministry in the 5th century. This was one of my favorite songs as a child growing up in the Episcopal Church and remains one of my favorite hymns today.

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Related:

Top 3 faith-based songs for St. Patrick's Day: Saint Patrick's Day music
Who Was the Man Known as St. Patrick?
Strange and Weird Facts About Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
Irish Quotes for St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick Acrostic - a Poem for Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick the Shepherd - a Poem
Ireland Acrostic: An Acrostic Poem About the Emerald Isle