Departing Song

Campbell, Bridgegate Music

Verse one is based on ‘Armstrong’s Goodnight’ printed 1770. Armstrong was a border reiver executed in 1605 for the murder of the Warden of Scottish March. These words were the forerunner to the famous traditional song ‘The Parting Glass’. Verse two is based on an 18th century Glasgow Broadside, and we made up all the rest and the music !
‘So here’s good health and wealth to thee, wherever you may be, and a toast to Caledonia [Scotland], and friends across the seas’.

Dedicated to all the folk we met along the way on this wonderful musical journey including all in Tuscan hill town ‘Barga’, the most Scottish town in Italy and our home from home.

(F) This is  (C7) our de (Bb) par– (Gm) ting (F) song, we can no (C7) longer (F) stay

For there’s (F) not a  (C7) friend or (Bb) foe (Gm) of (F) ours, but (F) wishes (C7) we were (F) away (Bb) (F) 

What (Bb) we have done through (Dm) lack (Am) of  (Dm) wit, we (C7) never can re (F7) ca– (C7)ll

We (F) hope your (C7) all our (Bb) friends (Gm) this (F) night, good (F) night and (C7) joy to you (F) all

So (Bb) here’s good health and (Dm) wealth (Am) to (Dm) thee, wher (C7) ever you may (F) be (C7) 

And a (F) toast to (C7) Cale—(Bb) don—(Gm) i (F) a, and (F) friends (C7) across the (F) seas

So let us hope the future, as the past has been will be

We’ll share with you your sorrows and your your joys with me

Like leaves that fall around us, in autumn’s gentle rain

We can speak of friendship, that time will never change

 So here’s good health and wealth to thee, wherever you may be
And a toast to Caledonia, and friends across the sea

And a toast to Caledonia, and friends across the sea