Welcome to the third installment of Speeches and Stories, Lyrics and Letters. This time we are looking at one of my favorite songs ever, The Parting Glass. My favorite rendition is by The High Kings, whose video I have linked below for your enjoyment. There are many, many good versions of the song. It's in the public domain, so you can find lots of covers and all the ones I have seen are really good.
The Parting Glass by The High Kings
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-Dylan Tucker
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Music Credit: New Hero In Town by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5742-new-hero-in-town
The Lyrics:
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 Good night and joy be to you all So fill to me the parting glass And drink a health whate'er befalls Then gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Of all the comrades that e'er I had They're sorry for my going away And all the sweethearts that e'er I had They'd wish me one more day to stay But since it fell into my lot That I should rise and you should not I'll gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Fill to me the parting glass And drink a health whate'er befalls Then gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all But since it fell into my lot That I should rise and you should not I'll gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all So fill to me the parting glass And drink a health whate'er befalls Then gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Good night and joy be to you all
Transcript:
In March of 2022, my wife and I were able to go see The High Kings in concert in Breckenridge, CO. We drove up after work, got dinner at an Irish pub, and then went to the venue. Krystal had been to a few concerts before, I haven't really gone to that many, and we had no idea what to expect, so we got there about an hour before the show. And we were the only ones there. Slowly, the venue started filling up. And soon we realized we were the youngest ones there by at least 3 decades, and probably more. The older couple sitting next to us even said, "Aren't you a little young to be enjoying a band like this?" We laughed and Krystal made fun of me for watching them so much. But man did those old people know how to dance!
Anyway, the concert ended with this song and it's a moment I try to re-live as often as possible.
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
Good night and joy be to you all
So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all
Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all
Fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all
But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all
So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all
Good night and joy be to you all
This is a popular wake song in Scotland and Ireland. It seems as if the singer is the person who has passed on. To me, this song tells the story of someone who has good, close friends. But for some reason, the singer is leaving on a quest or death(which is another quest in and of itself). He must engage in his quest. Instead of letting it be a bitter goodbye, he tells his friends: I have enjoyed my time with you & my leaving is not bitter. It's one to be cherished. Yes, I will miss you and you will miss me. Life moves on, that's the joy and beauty of it.
This reminds me of a quote from Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He says, "A thing is not beautiful because it lasts. It's a privilege to be among [humans]." Our time together does not last indefinitely. It is short. And that can be sad and tragic, but it needs to be a reminder to spend your time together well. And when people move on, celebrate the change instead of dreading it.
"Of all the money that e'er I had, I spent it in good company" Financial responsibility is a necessary thing, and simultaneously it's a good thing to spend money and time in the effort of making good memories with people who matter.
"And all the harm I've ever done. Alas it was to none but me" Sometimes we hurt people - and they do get hurt. But that pushes people away and it hurts us even more, really. It's a sign that we are the broken ones. We tell kids all the time, "people bully you because they're jealous." "hurt people hurt people" all those kinds of things.
"and all I've done for want of wit to memory now I can't recall" The phrase "Want-wit" apparently means to do silly, ridiculous, and stupid things. But now, engaging in the quest - those things don't matter so much anymore. They make funny memories, but now there are more important things to consider - that's why we can't recall them now.
"So fill to me the parting glass, good night and joy be to you all!" So, out of the way I have lived, raise a glass to my parting. And do not mourn my leaving/passing - joy to you!!
"So fill to me the parting glass And drink a health whate'er befalls" I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how to interpret this properly, but for me, it means Whatever happens, look to the bright side of things. Difficult things are good things to process and learn from.
"Then gently rise and softly call. Good night and joy be to you all" As before, when difficulties arise, look to the bright side and embrace lessons learned with humility. Pass the torch on when the time comes.
"Of all the comrades that e'er I had, they're sorry for my going away" Friends are sad to no longer be with us. And vice-versa.
"And all the sweethearts that e'er I had, they'd wish me one more day to stay" A more appropriate way of looking at this is to think of my wife - if I were to go on a quest, or pass on in life, then Krystal would give anything to have me back for one more day.
"But since it fell into my lot, that I should rise and you should not" This is looking at the next chapter, be that death or a new quest, as a blessing and an honor.
"I'll gently rise and softly call. Good night and joy be to you all" I'll take this next step with humility and send reminders. I'm saying goodbye with joy.
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