The Parting Glass

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Parting Glass is a traditional song, often sung at the end of a gathering of friends. It was alegedly the most popular song sung in both Scotland and Ireland before Burns wrote "Auld Lang Syne". It was printed as a broadside in the 1770s, and first appeared in book form in "Scots Songs" by Herd. ref: [1]. Shaun Davey has made an arrangement of the song for soloist, choir and orchestra, though he doesn't use the traditional tune. It appears on the album "May We Never Have to Say Goodbye" (2006). Ronnie Browne, a former member of the Scottish group The Corries sang the song on the album "Scottish Love songs" (1995) though he uses the Irish version of the words rather that the Scots version. An early version of the song is sometimes attributed to Sir Alex Boswell. The Irish version is usually considered more suitable for modern listeners.

"Of all the money that e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit,
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass;
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades that e'er I had,
They are sorry for my going away.
And all the sweethearts that ere I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not;
I'll gently rise and softly call,
Goodnight and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile;
There is a fair maid in this town,
Who sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips,
I alone she has my heart in thrall.
So fill to me the parting glass,
Goodnight... and joy be with you all."

A growing trend for Americans devoted to Irish culture, involves the request that the first two verses of the song be played at their funeral, with a slight change; In the sixth line of the second verse, the word "rise" is replaced with the word "go".