Sheila Stewart: The Parting Glass by FifeSing

<b>THE PARTING GLASS</b>

Sung by <b>Sheila Stewart</b> of Blairgowrie on Autumn Harvest AH 002 <b>Old Songs & Bothy Ballads - <i>Here's a Health to the Company</b></i>

A song of parting, of farewell and of friendship and a fitting song to bring the concert and the CD to a close. The song, which Sheila remembers from her mother Belle’s repertoire, has become one of her often requested songs in the last few years. A similar version is in Robin Morton’s <i>Folksongs Sung in Ulster</i>.

1: Oh kind friends and companions come join me in rhyme,
And lift up your voices in chorus wi mine;
Let's drink and be merry all grief to refrain,
For we may, or might never, all meet here again.

2: Oh now here's to the wee lass that I love so well,
For style and for beauty there's none can excel;
She smiles on me proudly as she sits on my knee,
And there's none in this wide world as happy as me.

<b><i>Chorus:</b></i>
Here's a health to the company, likewise to my lass,
Let's drink and be merry all out of one glass;
Let's drink and be merry all grief to refrain,
For we may, or might never, all meet here again.

3: Oh my ship lies in harbour, she's ready tae sail,
God grant her safe voyage without any gale;
And if we should meet again be it land or on sea,
I will always remember your kindness tae me.

4: Here's a health to the friendships that we hold so dear,
Here's a health to the sweethearts we once held so near;
A health to the true love that fortune bestows,
May the future make friends of all our foes.

<b><i>Chorus:</b></i>
Here's a health to the company and one to my love,
We'll drink and be merry all out of one glass;
Drink and be merry all grief to refrain,
For we may, or might never, all meet here again.

This a track on the album <b>Old Songs & Bothy Ballads 1:</b> <a href="http://www.springthyme.co.uk/ah02/" target="_self"><b>Here's a Health to the Company</b></a>.