> Folk Music > Songs > Tak a Dram (Afor Ye Go)

Tak a Dram (Afor Ye Go)

[ Roud - ; Ian Sinclair]

Mirk sang Tak a Dram (Afore Ye Go), written by band member Ian Sinclair from Caithness, as the title track of their 1982 Springthyme album Tak a Dram Afore Ye Go. They noted:

A song that celebrates the Scots custom of offering a visitor the hospitality of the house before he leaves. Words and music are by Ian Sinclair. From most parts of Scotland it is a long road north to Caithness. So, after a night of good music, when we have to face a long road home, we like to finish the night with this song.

Siobhan Miller often finishes her gigs with this song, here at Folkpack, Kulturhaus Lüdenscheid, Germany, on 7 November 2021, accompanied by Innes White on guitar and John Lowrie on accordion:

Lyrics

Mirk sing Tak a Dram (Afore Ye Go)

Well the time has passed sae quickly
An the music’s almost done,
Heard the fiddler an the piper,
The singer an the song;
The time has come for us tae leave you,
One more song before we go;
Sae button up an aye be cheery
An tak a dram afore ye go.
    Sae button up an aye be cheery
    An tak a dram afore ye go.

For this night we will remember,
For the music’s been just fine,
But the cauld, grey land o Caithness
Can be cruel and unkind;
Sae we must bid fareweel an leave you
Traivel through the ice an snaw;
Sae button up an aye be cheery
An tak a dram afore ye go.
    Sae button up an aye be cheery
    An tak a dram afore ye go.

So goodnight and God go with you
An watch over you until
We can aa meet here thegither
An oor glasses we will fill;
We will drink a toast tae absent friens
An let the beer an whisky flow;
Sae button up an aye be cheery
An tak a dram afore ye go.
    Sae button up an aye be cheery
    An tak a dram afore ye go.
    Sae button up an aye be cheery
    An tak a dram afore ye go.