"The Parting Glass" is an Irish traditional song, often sung at the end of a gathering of friends. It was allegedly the most popular song sung in both Scotland andIreland before Robert Burns wrote "Auld Lang Syne".
The song should not be confused with the Scottish song of the same name, which is based on Irish folk song, Here's A Health.
The celebrated Irish folk song collector, Colm O Lochlainn,[1] pointed out that The Parting Glass shares its melody with Sweet Cootehill Town. This is another traditional farewell song, this time involving a man leaving Ireland to go to America.
However, the lyrics are quite different from The Parting Glass. One of the strengths of the Parting Glass is that it is never made clear why the person singing has to leave. He may be leaving the area or the country. It may even be that he fears he does not have long to live. The vagueness leaves each listener free to interpret the song in their own way..
+Info + Lyrics -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parting_Glass
