Here is a moment from “Moving On: A Farewell Recital by Nick Huff and Mike Anderle.” I taught Mike and Nick voice lessons not only for four years at Carthage but back in their high school days as well – so we go back quite a long way. After sets devoted to Musical Theater and Gilbert & Sullivan, the two guys ended the recital with a series of Irish songs. The last of them was a poignant old song called “The Kerry Dance.” Nothing could have been more appropriate for this occasion than a song about remembering the happy songs of yesteryear. Whenever I hear this song (or sing it) from now on, I will think of this particular moment and of all the joyous times I enjoyed with these two guys.
“O the days of the Kerry dancing, O the ring of the pipe’s tune! O for one of those hours of gladness,
Gone, alas, like our youth – too soon.
When the boys began to gather in the glen of a summer night, and the Kerry piper’s tuning made us long
with wild delight …
O to think of it, O to dream of it, fills my heart with tears.
Loving voices of old companions, stealing out of the past once more, And the sound of the dear old music
Soft and sweet as in days of yore.
When the boys began to gather in the glen of a summer night, and the Kerry piper’s tuning
made us long with wild delight-
O to think of it, O to dream of it, fills my heart with tears.
O the days of the Kerry dancing, O the ring of the piper’s tune!
O for one of those hours of gladness- gone, alas, like our youth, too soon.”