I have taken these words from my PARTING SONGS thread.

FAREWELL, BUT WHENEVER
words by Irish poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852), music traditional: Moll Roone

Farewell, but whenever you welcome the hour,
That awakens the night-song of mirth in your bower,
Then think of the friend who once welcomed it too,
And forgot his own griefs to be happy with you.
His griefs may return, not a hope may remain,
Of the few that had brightened his pathway of pain,
But he ne'er will forget the short vision that threw
It's enchantment around him while lingering with you.

And still on that evening when pleasure fills up
To the highest top sparkle each heart and each cup,
Where 'ere my path lies, be it gloomy or bright,
My soul, happy friends, shall be with you that night,
Shall join in your revels, your sports, and your wiles,
And return to me beaming, all, all with your smiles.
Too, blessed if it tells me that 'mid the gay cheer,
Some kind voice had murmered, "I wish he were here!"

Let fate do her worst, there are relics of joy,
Bright dreams of the past, which she cannot destroy,
Which come in the night time of sorrow and care,
And bring back the features that joy used to wear.
Long, long be my heart with such memories filled,
Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled.
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang 'round it still.

Recorded by Mary O'Hara (with the odd word change here and there) in 1960 on her Down By The Glenside: Songs Of Ireland, reissued on Tradition CD in 1997.