G'day Uncle Jaque,

I remember hearing the song to which you refer sung by a UK singer visiting Australia (indeed, I have it on a cassette ... somewhere). It may have been Vin Garbutt that sang it, but don't hold me to it! The song starts:
Here's a health to the company, and 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.
I gather that it was (1960s/70s) a popular song to end UK folk club nights. I can not remember it being used in Australia.

Anyway, I know of at least one Australian collected song that uses the same tune - suggesting that the tune, at least, is 19th century. It was sung by Sally Sloane (~1895 - 1984) in the 1950s/60s and is an English song in the "Wild Rover" class, called I've Been a Wild Boy, with the final refrain "I've been a wild boy, but I'll be so no more". I think I have submitted it to the Digital Tradition, but can not yet find it in the DT. It is published in Folk Songs of Australia and the men and women who sang them, vol.1, 1968 (~), J. Meredith & H. Anderson, Ure Smith, Sydney.

I have also come across an Australian setting (or collected piece?) of the eponymous verses (I'm Donahoe!) credited to the early bushranger (the original Wild Colonial boy) Jack Donahoe - and set to an extended version of The Parting Glass(to accommodate a one line refrain).

Regards,

Bob Bolton