Ned Devine’s Parting Glass

Take a drink and remember the man.

And raise your spirits to the sky. Raise them to Ned Devine. God bless you Ned, and may we be forever in your debt.

My Patheos confrère, Kate O’Hare, posted this great Tullamore Dew ad over the weekend. It’s not new, as she mentions. But it’s always welcome, for a couple of reasons. First, because it’s so wonderfully made. And second, because it always makes me think of Waking Ned Devine (and the fantastic role “The Parting Glass” plays in its final, cathartic frames.)

No, I’m not posting the actual scene because you need to see it for yourself. It’s so much better in context, really. A great song underscoring a great moment in a great-and-hilariously-quirky film (with a great, great soundtrack):

It still makes me weepy. Just a wee bit. And while it’s not available from any of the regular subscription services, it can be rented from a number of places (including YOUTUBE). Hunt it down if you’ve got the time (and means). It’s good, good stuff.

This particular permutation of the song is credited to the film’s composer, Shaun Davey (though sung by one Liam Ó Maonlaí). And while there are millions (literally, almost) of other versions to be found on YouTube — Ed Sheeran (forevermore tainted by PJ’s Hobbit), The Wailin’ Jennys (because tight harmonies are the best), Sinéad O’Connor (in an oddly-chipper setting that seems to miss the song’s melancholy), Loreena McKennitt (an almost impossibly long and languid version), Firkin (Did you know “Hungarian Celtic Punk” was even a thing? I sure didn’t.), Makem and Clancy (but of course), “Beth and Maggie Green” (for Katrina, mostly) and The High Kings (with a particularly wonderful rendition) — Devine’s is still my favorite.

BONUS TIDBIT: The film is set in Tulaigh Mhór (aka…wait for it…Tullymore).

All the money that e’er I had
I spent it in good company
And all the harm I’ve ever 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 be to you all!

Fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate’er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

Of all the comrades that e’er I had
They’re sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I had
They’d wish me one more day to stay.
Since it fell into my lot
that I should rise, and you should not
I’ll gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I’ll gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate’er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

Attribution(s): All posters, publicity images, and stills are the property of Fox Searchlight Pictures and other respective production studios and distributors.