My cover of the traditional Irish song, this is one that I often like to save for the end of the evening.
There's a tradition that I was introduced to by a good friend of mine that is referenced to in the chorus of the song. It refers to the passing of a quaich, which is a special Scottish drinking cup. The vessel is shallow, with two handles (which make it easier to pass from person to person). At the end of the evening, the host of the gathering fills the quaich with their finest drink (traditionally this is scotch, though my personal favourite invocation of this tradition involves Stag's Breath, which is a honeyed scotch liquer), and all those gathered there pass the quaich about in a circle, each taking a sip from it.
One of my favourite experiences in one of the pubs at Pennsic is to close out an evening with this particular song as the noisy crowd hushes and then everyone sings along to the chorus as the quaich is being passed to everyone present. It's a moment that is pure magic.
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"HEALTH TO THE COMPANY" - Traditional
[CHORUS:]
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again
Good friends and companions, come join me in rhyme
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Come lift up your glasses, all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again
[Chorus]
Here's a health to the wee lass that I love so well
In style and in beauty, there's none can excel
There's a smile on her countenance as she sits upon my knee
There's no man in in this wide world as happy as me
[Chorus]
My footsteps might falter, my wit, it may fail
My course may be challenged by November gale
But should fortune betide me, prove friend or prove foe
You will always be with me, wherever I go
[Chorus]
Our ship lies at harbor, she's ready to dock
I wish her safe landing without any shock
And if ever we meet again, by land or by sea
I will always remember your kindness to me
[Chorus]