The Parting Glass
A Traditional Farewell Song
The Parting Glass is sometimes sung when friends part.
The Parting Glass
Farewell Song
Of all the money 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 mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.
Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er 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,
Good night 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,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall,
Then fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.
Notes
There's a Scottish version of this song too, an early version of which appeared in print in the 1770's. According to Wikipedia, "The song is doubtless older than its 1770 appearance in broadside, as it was recorded in the Skene Manuscript, a collection of Scottish airs written at various dates between 1615 and 1635. It was known at least as early as 1605, when a portion of the first stanza was written in a farewell letter, as a poem now known as 'Armstrong's Goodnight', by one of the Border Reivers [raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border] executed that year for the murder in 1600 of Sir John Carmichael, Warden of the Scottish West March."
Here's "Armstrong's Goodnight":
This night is my departing night,
For here nae langer must I stay;
There's neither friend nor foe o' mine,
But wishes me away.
What I have done thro' lack of wit,
I never, never can recall;
I hope ye're a' my friends as yet;
Good night and joy be with you all.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Image from "Collecting Old Glass, English and Irish" (1918) by Sir James Henry Yoxall, graphically edited by Mama Lisa.
