The Parting Glass

The fire is out and the moon is down
The parting glass is dry and done
And I must go and leave this town
Before the rising of the sun

But long is the road and many is the mile
Before I rest my soul again
With girls that weep and girls that smile
At all the words and ways of men

Of all the friends who joined the song
I'm sorry for their going away
The parting that's forever long
Leaves but their lasting memory

But finer men have raised the glass
In chorus with the company
And all too soon their time has passed
Lost voices in the harmony

For some there are who may not bide
But wander 'till the journey's end
Nor take a girl to be a bride
Nor keep a man to be a friend

But when I'm done with wandering
I will sit beside the road and weep
For all the songs I did not sing
And the purposes I did not keep