I like my songs clean and simple, and one of the least-complicated versions is the one sung so often by the Clancy Brothers:

THE PARTING GLASS

Oh, all the money that e'er I spent,
I spent it in good company,
And all the harm that e'er I've 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 with you all.

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had,
Are sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call,
"Good night, and joy be with you all."

Source: The Irish Songbook, by the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem (1979, Oak Publications), pp 182-183.

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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Parting Glass, The

DESCRIPTION: The singer has done some ills and foolish things, but never with ill purpose and only to himself. He misses his girl. He would spend money on good company if he had it. Conclusion: "So fill to me the parting glass, Goodnight and joy be with you all."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1900 (broadside, Bodleian 2806 c.15(114))
KEYWORDS: drink farewell nonballad
FOUND IN: Ireland Canada(Newf) Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (7 citations):
GreigDuncan8 1531, "The Parting Glass" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
SHenry H769, p. 65, "The Parting Glass" (1 text, 1 tune)
Graham/Holmes 59, "The Parting Glass" (1 text, 1 tune)
OLochlainn 69, "The Parting Glass" (1 text, 1 tune)
Peacock, pp. 573-574, "The Parting Glass" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, PARTGLAS*
ADDITIONAL: Bell/O Conchubhair, Traditional Songs of the North of Ireland, pp. 82-83, "The Parting Glass" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3004
RECORDINGS:
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "The Parting Glass" (on IRClancyMakem01)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.15(114), "The Parting Glass," J.F. Nugent & Co. (Dublin) , 1850-1899; also Harding B 26(498), Harding B 26(499), 2806 c.15(13), Harding B 19(89), "The Parting Glass"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Over the Hills to My Nanny, O" (tune, per broadsides Bodleian 2806 c.15(114), Bodleian 2806 c.15(13), Bodleian Harding B 19(89))
cf. "Johnie Armstrong" [Child 169] (lyrics)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Good Nicht an' Joy Be Wi' You A'
NOTES [261 words]: This song is lyric enough that it can import elements from almost anywhere; the Sam Henry version, for instance, starts with a verse best known from "The Barnyards o' Delgaty" ("I can drink and no be drunk..."), and also includes a bit of "My Dearest Dear." A bit of the chorus also drifted into (or out of) a version of "Johnie Armstrong" [Child 169]/ I suspect there are versions which elaborate on the girl the singer can't have. - RBW
An argument could easily be made that "Guid Nicht an' Joy Be Wi' You A'" and "The Parting Glass" are the same song. Two verses often show up in both songs: "All the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company, And all the harm that e'er I did, I hope excused I will be, And what I've done for want of wit, to my memory I cann't recall, So fill us up a parting glass -- good night and joy be with you all," and "If I had money for to spend, And leisure time to set a while, There is a fair maid in this town, that surely has me heart beguile: Her rosy cheeks - and her ruby lips I own she has my heart enthrall'd; Then fill to me the parting glass, Good night - and joy be with you all." The difference is in the remaining verses. "The Parting Glass" is concerned with a lover missed; "Guid Night, and Joy Be With You all" is about leaving a party, or emigrating, or dying, and leaving good friends behind.
Description from Peacock's version: She hopes he won't go far away. He intends to leave her "when and where all stormy winds blow." She dreams he has been "pressed ... gone on board ... to serve his royal majesty." - BS
Last updated in version 3.5
File: HHH769

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