What does The Parting Glass mean?

Ed Sheeran: The Parting Glass Meaning

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Album cover for The Parting Glass album cover
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The Parting Glass Lyrics

Of all the money that e'er I had, I spent it in good company
And of 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. Goodnight and joy...

  1. anonymous
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    Oct 11th 2019 !⃝

    The Parting Glass is NOT an Ed Sheehan song, although his cover version is very popular.
    The song is a Scottish traditional song and a section of the first stanza appeared in a farewell letter as a poem. The poem is now known as Armstrong’s Goodnight and was written by a Border Reivers (raiders thieves etc) who was hung for murder in 1605. In 1770s a printed version appeared in the book “Scots Songs” by Herd. The song is attributed to Sir Alex Boswell and recorded in the “Skene Manuscript” 1615 to 1635.

  2. anonymous
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    Mar 21st 2017 !⃝

    When I travelled to Ireland in 2016 to visit family, they held a gathering in my honor a couple of nights before I left to come home.Lots of music, drink, laughs, etc.At the very end, they all sang this song, and I cried and sniffled through the whole thing!!

  3. anonymous
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    Nov 24th 2015 !⃝

    This is a really old irish song and ed just coverd it it is NOT his song. It's one of the most famous old songs so ed probably just coverd it as it relates to him and he has close irish relations. He covers it brilliantly but it's not his song.

  4. anonymous
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    Apr 28th 2015 !⃝

    This not a fucking ed sheeran song. this song is at least 100 years older than ed sheeran. Get your shit together people!!!

  5. anonymous
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    Oct 10th 2014 !⃝

    I think he wrote this song about leaving Fralingham to go to London to pursue his musical career. His "comrades" could just be his friends. "But since it falls into my lot, that I should WRITE and you should not". That he should write songs, perhaps? He is wishing joy to his friends he is leaving behind.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  6. anonymous
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    Sep 5th 2014 !⃝

    This song, Judging by lyrics and style, Could possibly date back to the 1640's, Maybe later But around the golden age of piracy. Possibly a shanty, Sung commonly amongst pirates who come together for a social gathering in an Inn or other group establishment. However, It is classed as an Irish song, Often sung at the end of a gathering amongst friends and family. A beautiful piece of music nonetheless.

  7. anonymous
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    Aug 19th 2014 !⃝

    i think it is about someone going to war or being drafted: "so fill to me the parting glass and drink a health to what'ere befalls"
    and also "of all the comrades ere I had there sorry for my going away, and all the sweetharts that ere i had they'd wish me one more day to stay" and if he were drafted to war but not his friends then he will simply exept it and wish them luck with there lives cause he's not planning on coming back "but since it fell into my lot that i should RISE and YOU should not i'll gently rise and softly call good night and joy be to you all"

  8. anonymous
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    Feb 19th 2014 !⃝

    My interpretation was that a person is saying goodbye as they move on (death). The person explains how their loved ones wish he had more time. This person is greeting death (accepting death). Also this person has no regrets. He is happy for having a chance to love and live the life he could. If only we all could do this.

  9. anonymous
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    Mar 5th 2013 !⃝

    I agree with all this about the Irish song and saying goodbye, but there's still one part that gets me. To me this is a modern advancement of that Irish version. However i wonder if this is a younger man who has lost his love. I get this by the (But since it falls unto my lot,
    That I should rise and you should not,
    I'll gently rise and I'll softly call,
    Good night and joy be with you all.) I wonder if in fact he is taking his own life and telling his friends not to worry and reminding them of the good times they have had together. But this is just my interpretation.

  10. anonymous
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    Feb 19th 2013 !⃝

    the man almost celebrates death as he falls into it

  11. anonymous
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    Feb 3rd 2013 !⃝

    The lyrics of the song are very old and can be traced to Scotland in the early 1600s. It was the song that was sung at the end of any get together until it was supplanted by Auld Lang Syne. The lyrics mean exactly what they say. The people leaving the gathering are saying goodnight.

    The melody to which the song is sung has changed many times over the last four hundred years but the lyrics have, surprisingly, remained fairly constant.

  12. anonymous
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    Dec 2nd 2012 !⃝

    it a traditional irsih song about friends gathering

  13. anonymous
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    Nov 6th 2012 !⃝

    The song is an old Irish folk song that would be sung at the end of get-togethers, much like Old Lang Syne. It is about an aold man who is on his death bed, retelling all of his great times with family and friends.

  14. anonymous
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    Aug 19th 2012 !⃝

    I believe that this is about a guy who is passing away. and he is reminissing (bad speller sorry) on the old memories he's had. he's saying how he's had great friends and how he's glad he had them. he is just wanting to say goodbye. and he's talking about how everyone is sad that he is dying and that they don't want him to die. [*i tried i was looking for an explaination myself as i typed this.so please if you know what it really id DO tell!(:*]


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