Parting Glass

## The Parting Glass

Not to be confused with the similarly-themed Here's a Health to the Company, this traditional song has been performed by numerous folk singers, but was popularized most handily by the Clancy Brothers from their 1959 album *Come Fill Your Glass With Us*. Though commonly thought to be of Irish origin, a recognizable form can be traced back to 18th century Scotland, with roots dating back a century further.

The Longest Johns recorded a version of the song as a collaboration with  Natalie Holmes, released on YouTube in May 2020.

### Factoids

The earliest known precursor to this song is a Scottish tune first printed in the 1620s or 30s, titled "Good Night And God Be With You". Although it includes no lyrics and is not the same as the modern melody, a variant dating to 1700 contains phrases that are beginning to resemble the modern tune.

The text, meanwhile, descends from a poem titled "Neighbours Farewel to his Friends", first published in London in the mid-17th century; though significantly different from the modern lyrics, it includes one couplet that has survived almost completely intact: "What I have done, for want of wit, / To Memory I'll not recall"; it also ends each verse with, "Good Night, and GOD be with you all."

The first written evidence of the song recognizable as a variant of the modern version is found in a Scottish chapbook dating from 1815-1822. It then migrated to England, appearing as a London broadside in the 1820s, and to its modern "home" of Ireland, where it first surfaces as a broadside in Cork, likely from the 1830s.

A comprehensive and well-researched history of the song's origin can be found here.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in various livestreams.

>
> Of all the money that e'er I had
>
> I spent it in good company
>
> And all the harm that e'er I've done
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> Alas, it was to none but me
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> And all I've done for want of wit
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> To memory now I can't recall
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> So fill to me the parting glass
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> Good night, and joy be with you all
>
>
>
> If I had money enough to spend
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> And leisure time to sit awhile
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> There is a fair maid in this town
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> That surely has my heart beguiled
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> Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
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> I own she has my heart in thrall
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Of all the comrades that e'er I had
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> They're sorry for my going away
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> And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
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> They'd wish me one more day to stay
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> But since it falls unto my lot
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> That I should rise and you should not
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>
>
> {Chorus x2}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music
* Amazon Purchase
* Anghami
* Apple Music
* Deezer
* Spotify
* Tidal

#### YouTube Videos

* The Longest Johns & Friends feat. Natalie Holmes
* C-Sides version

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns Streamtember (4 Sep 2019)
* TLJ & Friends! | Natalie Holmes (27 Nov 2019)
* Live Stream, All aboard the Good Ship Valentine(ish) with The Longest Johns (19 Feb 2020)
* 100k Subscriber Thank You Stream (19 Aug 2020)
* (New Merch) I'm Goin' Off the Rails on a Crazy Stream (14 Oct 2020)
* Sweet Streams are Made of This (17 Mar 2020)
* THE SING ALONG! JINGLE JAM 2021 - DAY 6! w/ The Longest Johns (9 Dec 2021)
* Heinz Baked Stream (14 Sep 2022)
* Davestream Beleaver (30 May 2023)
* Stream Lantern (27 Sep 2023)

#### Chill Streams

* The Longest Johns - Andy and JD sing some folk songs and shanties! (2 Jun 2018)
* JD and Andy Chilltime - 03/02/2020
* Welcome to Chilltown with Andy and JD (23 Mar 2020)
* JD & Andy Chilltime - 13/01/2020
* Welcome to the Chilldome! With Andy - 15/03/2020
* Come on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 26/03/2020
* Chillbury Town: Population You! With Andy & JD - 30/03/2020
* Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 04/04/2020
* We all get songs in Chillbury Town! With Andy and JD - 06/04/2020
* It's a beautiful morning in Chillbury Town - 08/05/2020
* Can you survive the chilldome? Playing mostly folk music... - 26/06/2020
* Are you a chill enough dude to defeat the Chilldome? - 10/07/2020
* Bonus music time! GO! - 23/12/2020
* Just one tired man and a banjo... - 17/01/2021

#### Gaming Streams

* Anyone for a Shanty? (Part 1) (23 Sep 2020)
* Sail & Sing! Lets get damp and sing shanties! - 08/06/2020
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity (Part 1) (24 Jun 2020)
* Sea of Sings on a Monday afternoon, oh what a splendid sight to see - 29/06/2020
* Sea of Sings! Let's ride the waves like majestic manatees! - 17/07/2020
* Sea of Sings! Let's get boaty! - 20/07/2020
* I like big boats and I cannot lie - 17/08/2020
* 4 Sloops 4 Furious - 04/09/2020
* Sea of Thieves? Singing? Splendid! - 09/10/2020
* DROPS! Sea of Sings! with BehavingBeardly! SHANT! - 30/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! Welcome to the Shantydome! - 6/11/2020
* Sea of Hijinks with Freyline - 29/11/2020
* Let's do pirate stuff - 12/12/2020
* Let's get splashy - 18/12/2020
* Sea of Sings, ye scurvy dogs! | - 4/01/2021
* Sea of Sings! Pirate malarkey afoot! - 15/01/2021
* Sea of Sings with Azuki and HappyKrakenX - 08/02/2021
* It's time to get in the sea and do a music! - 30/04/2021
* Aga Do Do Do, Eat Pineapples Do A Stream! With KHARITES\_ and Krotukk - 08/10/2021