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So Here’s to You

[ Roud - ; DT WHENWEMT ; Mudcat 54201 ; Alan Bell]

Alan Ball sang his own song So Here’s to You on his 1982 Traditional Sound album The Band in the Park and on his 2005 Greentrax album The Definitive Collection. He noted:

When friends, old or new, part it is sometimes difficult to express thoughts of feelings at the time, hence this song of leaving.

Niamh Parsons sang So Here’s to You on her 2000 album In My Prime. It was also the title track of her 2001 live recording from Vlissingen, released in 2021 as So Here’s to You. She noted on the first album:

Frank Harte found this song and gave it to a lot of singers. It was taught to me by Karan Casey for the Summer Solstice Concert with Paul Winter in New York in 1999. It’s a great addition to the tradition, written by Englishman Alan Bell.

Cathie Ryan sang So Here’s to You on her 2001 album Somewhere Along the Road. She noted:

The song is for you and for all the people who came to our shows. I learned this song from the singing of Niamh Parsons. My thanks to Phil Cunningham for gracing it with this arrangement.

Bill Jones, Aiofe Clancy and Anne Hills sang So Here’s to You live on their autumn 2002 USA tour, which was recorded on their 2003 EP Faire Winds Live.

Michelle Burke was joined by Cathal McConnell and Maura O’Connell for So Here’s to You on her 2014 CD Step Into My Parlour.

Lyrics

Alan Bell sings So Here’s to You

When first we met, complete total strangers,
We didn’t know if we could be friends.
How soon we’ve come to know each other
So now I know we will meet again.

Chorus (after each verse):
So here’s to you and our time together,
I’ll share with you now a parting glass.
And bid adieu with a smile and laughter,
Our time apart will be short and pass.

We’ve talked of dreams and the good tomorrows,
Of yesterdays with their dark despair.
We’ve had our share of love and sorrow
So now we part as friends who care.

A long, long road now lies before me
And fate will lead me where it will;
All through the valleys and over mountains
I’ll not forget, and remember you still.

Niamh Parsons sings So Here’s to You

When first we met, complete awkward strangers,
We did not know if we could be friends.
How soon we came for to know each other
And now I know we will meet again.

Chorus (after each verse):
So here’s to you and our time together,
I will share with you a parting glass.
And bid adieu with some smile and laughter,
Our time apart will be short and pass.

We’ve talked of dreams and of new tomorrows,
Of yesterday and its dark despair.
We’ve had our share of love and sorrow
And now we part as friends who care.

A long long road well it lies before me
And fate will meet me where it will;
And through the valleys and over mountains
I will not forget but remember you still.