Fare Thee Well Whiskey
Scottish traditional by
fiddler Neil Gow. Written in 1799, after the British decreed that due to a shortage of
barley that year, none was to be used in making
whiskey. The version that I've heard is a slow
air, which is apparently fairly close to the original, though apparently faster versions have been done, as it was adapted for various forms of dance, and is sometimes used for
Contra dancing today.
Source for historical info:
http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/master/farewelltowhisky3.html
Oh, Johnny my man, do you no think o' risin'
The day is weel spent and the nicht's coming on
Your siller's a' done and the gill stoup is empty
Oh rise up, my Johnny, and come awa' hame
The bairnies at hame are roarin' and greetin'
Nae meal in the barrel tae fill their wee wames
You sit here drinkin' and leave me lamentin'
Oh rise up, my Johnny, and come awa' hame
Wha's that at the door that's speakin' sae kindly
It's the voice o' my ain wifie, Maggie by name
Come in, my dear lassie, and sit doon aside me
Na, rise up, my Johnny, and come awa' hame
Oh Johnny, my man, dae ye mind o' the courtin'
Nae
ale-house or
tavern ere ran in your mind
We spent the lang days mid the
sweet smellin' roses
And ne'er gie'd a thocht towards gaun awa' hame
Oh weel dae I mind the times that ye speak o'
But they days have passed and will ne'er come again
Just think on the present, we'll try for tae mend it
So gie's your hand Maggie, and I'll awa' hame
When Johnny rase up, he banged the door open
Sayin',
cursed be the ale-hoose that e'er let me in
And wae tae the
whiskey that mak's me aye thirsty
So
fare thee well, whiskey, and I'll awa' hame