“The Parting Glass” is one of the most popular Irish folk songs (although there is some debate as to whether the song is originally Irish or Scottish). The beloved song has been recorded by various singers over the years, each of whom has brought their own style while singing lyrics, which tell the story of a bittersweet goodbye. The song has a long history, but it was brought back into the world of Irish music by Liam Clancey, and has now been performed by everyone from The Dubliners to Ed Sheeran. From popular songs to pop culture hits, “The Parting Glass” has even appeared in Assassin’s Creed and The Walking Dead.
Song history
The melody that is now associated with the song was not a melody written specifically for “The Parting Glass.” As is often the case in traditional music, the melody was reused and was originally called simply “The Peacock.” It was first featured (without lyrics) in a collection of songs compiled by James Aird and published in 1782. The same song was also used with the lyrics to »Sweet Cootehill Town«, a farewell song for an emigrant who left his town. native in County Cavan. In the United States, the same tune was used as a church hymn for some time and is apparently still popular in the sacred harp tradition.
As for the lyrics to “Parting Glass”, it seems that they first appeared in print around the time of the American Revolutionary War (late 1700s), and the song was included in a collection of “Scottish Songs.” However, at least part of the lyrics dates back to the early 1600s, again with a Scottish background. In 1605, a part of the first verse was used in a farewell letter (now known as the poem “Goodnight from Armstrong”) written by Border Reiver. Reiver was executed for his part in the murder of the warden of the Scottish West March.
Because of this history, “The Parting Glass” has been regarded as a Scottish song that fell out of favor when the famous Auld Lang Syne gained popularity. Today, however, it is widely regarded as ‘Irish’, mainly because many Irish artists released recordings of the popular song.
Lyrics
Oh all the money that I had
I spent it in good company.
And all the damage that I’ve done, for
Unfortunately, it was for no one but me.
And everything I’ve done for lack of wit
to remember now I do not remember;
So fill my goodbye glass for me.
Good evening and joy be with all of you.
Oh all the comrades that I had
They are sorry that I am gone.
And all the boyfriends that I had
They had wished me one more day to stay.
But as it’s my turn
that I get up and that you do not,
I get up softly and call softly:
Good evening and joy be with all of you.
If I had enough money to spend
and free time to sit for a while.
There is a beautiful maiden in this town,
that has deceived me a lot.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I have, she has my heart captivated;
So fill me the goodbye glass,
Good evening and joy be with all of you.
Variations on a theme
While the above letters are generally the most common, it is also possible to find several variations of the words in “The Parting Glass.” This is because song lyrics change over time, especially due to the change in pronunciation of certain words. If you find different lyrics or have been singing a different version, these are just as correct as the previous version. When it comes to traditional Irish music, there is rarely a single definitive version.
This is especially true when so many artists try to bring their own style to a classic song. Modern versions of “The Parting Glass” include the seminal recording of Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, of The Pogues and Steeleye Span, of Sinead O’Connor and Loreena McKennitt. It also appears in popular song collections by, to name a few, High Kings and Celtic Woman. Ed Sheeran released it as a “hidden track” on his + album, and it also appeared on the soundtracks of “The Walking Dead” and “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.”
You never cease to be amazed when looking at the statistics; In any collection of traditional Irish song lyrics, the lyrics to “The Parting Glass” always seem to be one of the main searches of curious music lovers, probably because this is the perfect song to complete an evening with friends.
