Our society is perpetuated by a culture of fear.  Conversations are constantly interrupted by alarmists warning us that disaster is approaching. Many feel this great panic when thinking about endings, like climate change or political futures. This panic, though, calls us to action. Panic becomes a motivator, and encourages humanity to wake up and change their lives. Now, people can unite with others who share their vision and make true change. Rather than wrestling with feelings of doom, everyone should use the concept of endings to come together and change lives. So, what are we so afraid of?

There are countless ways to escape the feelings of endings and their inevitable dread, but there is one approach that dates back to long-ago ancestors: music. Music, through the power of oral tradition, has provided an escape from the worst feelings and has solidified the best feelings. As Philip Bohlman poetically states in his book, The Study of Folk Music in the Modern World, music is a great provider in a “feeling of security for the listener” (Bohlman 2021, chap. 4). Music has shaped history. History can be difficult to preserve, but commonly in Ireland, music is referenced as a historical artifact - like the night song “The Parting Glass” (Britannica 2024). 

Music is undoubtedly relevant in every part of the world, but it takes on unique qualities in Ireland. In certain Irish traditions, night songs, defined as pieces sung at the end of each night to reflect gratitude, have been used to ease the burden of goodbyes (Gilchrist 1924, 184). There are thousands of variations of these songs with some preserved through original sheet music, and some lyrics simply passed down from generation to generation. A.G. Gilchrist, a folk-musicologist describes the relative importance of words of night songs and their uniting powers (Gilchrist 1924, 184). Gilchrist includes both lyrical and notational examples of these songs, allowing each reader to develop a relationship with the words in the most personal way they can. In Irish folk, like “The Parting Glass,” there is a primary focus on developing interpersonal relationships to the themes of the song. Each and every person is encouraged to have a different interaction with the song, either singing it or listening to it. This notion of interpersonal relationships also carries on to the singers. Each singer has a completely different interpretation of the iconic piece. But, in all versions, “The Parting Glass” depicts friends or family singing one final song together before their night ends. In the song, those who are singing are not fearing their departure, but rather enjoying each other’s company. They embrace the end.

This "embrace" is represented in a compilation of songs marking a chronology of a night in Ireland, providing examples of gratitude, friendship, and vulnerability. This hypothetical night-out in an Irish pub, in "Songs of the Night" begins with exciting commonplace American pop songs and concludes with the melodious, simple, and infamous “The Parting Glass.” According to George Farquhar Graham, there is a lack of information regarding night songs, so examining the lyrics of the songs is key to understanding their context (Graham 1789, 178). A close analysis of the lyrics of “The Parting Glass” is done in “The Parting Glass in Context,” in order to fully conceptualize night songs. Even with unknown origins, the traditions and meanings of night songs, like “The Parting Glass” remain strong and represent their overarching purpose: to bring us together.

“The Parting Glass” has had an abundance of small-scale performances in the centuries of its existence. But, in more recent years, multiple popular artists have reprised the song in ways that are recognizable and relatable to current generations. And, these popular artists are majority women. This perfectly aligns with the belief that Irish music was one of the first musical genres that had women participating alongside men (Slomiski 2020, 100). Women actively played instruments, like the fiddle in their bands, and did not simply watch the men create music, like many other cultural counterparts. This paved the way for the popular female artists, like boygenius, Celtic Woman, and The Wailin’ Jennys to perform their modern covers of the piece. All of these versions are remarkable, because a 300-year-old song had the ability to reach millions of new listeners (Kloss 2012). As illustrated in the piece, “Celtic Woman’s ‘The Parting Glass,’” each new performance is incredibly different than the others. Celtic Woman's version is a perfect demonstration of the song's greater purpose. The singers perform in a way that does not have a fearful ending accompanied by a lack of excitement. Rather, the performance serves as a perfect “bow” on a gift of a performance that leaves the audience leaning on loved ones as they exit the venue.

Irish music, night songs, and "The Parting Glass" extend beyond singing. They incorporate movement, feeling, tradition, and require continuous practice to maintain their legacies (ITMA 2023). As noted in “‘The Parting Glass’ in Practice” a series of interviews and stories of those who have interacted with the song, this piece takes the hardest goodbye, and turns it into something special - and something that everyone welcomes. These feelings of sorrow unite us and allow us to hold on to each other for one final moment, taking a mental picture of the people we love surrounding us. There is nothing to be afraid of.