Londonderry Air is a popular Irish folk song. It is sung amongst Irish people all around the world, and many different lyrics have been set to the tune. The composer of the melody is not known, but the most famous set of lyrics were written by the English Lawyer Frank Weatherly. In his version “Londonderry Air” is known as “Danny Boy”.  The most common lyrics for “Londonderry Air” are probably those written by Katherine Tynan Hinkson. She set her poem “Irish Love Song” to the tune in 1894:

Would God I were the tender apple blossom
That floats and falls from off the twisted bough
To lie and faint within your silken bosom
Within your silken bosom as that does now.
Or would I were a little burnish'd apple
For you to pluck me, gliding by so cold
While sun and shade you robe of lawn will dapple
Your robe of lawn, and you hair's spun gold.

Yea, would to God I were among the roses
That lean to kiss you as you float between
While on the lowest branch a bud uncloses
A bud uncloses, to touch you, queen.
Nay, since you will not love, would I were growing
A happy daisy, in the garden path
That so your silver foot might press me going
Might press me going even unto death.

The first publication of the melody of “Londonderry Air” appears to have been made in 1855 in a book entitled “The Ancient Music of Ireland”