This is the very last song that the great Irish folk singer Liam Clancy ever performed in public, before his death a few short months later. The wonderful person who uploaded this video had the honor and privilege to be in the audience and witness this agonizingly beautiful and haunting moment. The music begins at 6:20.
This is the voice of a man who knows his life is drawing to a close. Liam Clancy knew his time was short, and he called this concert as a final farewell to the fans who had listened to his music for more than 40 years. He originally scheduled a full 2-hour concert; but he had pulmonary fibrosis, and his weakened heart and lungs could only hold out for about 40 minutes before he had to call it a day. I have listened to other recordings of Liam singing sad songs with great feeling - angry rebellion songs, moving love songs, songs about dementia and war and starvation. But I have never heard him - never heard anyone - sing like this before.
"The Parting Glass" is a traditional Irish song of parting - it talks lightheartedly about getting up and heading out into a cold storm while the others remain behind; but it is normally sung slowly, with the understanding that the parties might never see each other again. This was Liam Clancy's last goodbye, before he did step out into the cold storm of death with an unknown destination.
This isn't the kind of video that I could post up on Facebook, and few of my other friends enjoy Irish or folk music and would understand the significance of this video. It likely won't interest everyone who sees it here. But I think everyone, whether they know or care about Liam Clancy or not, should listen to the voice of a man walking toward the edge of the grave, and remember that our own time to go is coming faster than we think.
I gently rise, and I softly call:
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.
