- Joined
- Jan 7, 2013
- Location
- Long Island, NY
In Ireland there is a tradition of singing "parting songs" when an evening of conviviality is ending. These songs would also be sung by Irish immigrant soldiers at the end of a celebration. They are a reminder of the importance of friendship and a call to treasure memories of those we love, since life is mutable.
The Parting Glass is one of the most popular. It dates back to the 1600s and versions of it passed back and forth between Ireland and Scotland so many times that it can only be called a song of mixed origins. As Auld Land Syne became the premier parting song of Scotland before the Civil War, The Parting Glass has come to be identified with the Irish.
The version here is performed by Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem. While I would have dressed Liam differently, his voice holds up well through the whole song.
I was prompted to post this song tonight because word came an hour ago that the head of the Irish Studies Program at Hofstra passed away. Professor Greg Maney was my Irish brother who helped me think through some of my ideas on telling the stories of 19th Century immigrants for 21st Century audiences. I raise my parting glass to Greg. The song reminds me that the leaving of our friends brings us sorrow, but the memories of them are a lasting joy.