We set sail at half-past morn,
Looking for a new tomorrow,
Don't know when we're coming home,
So we'll drink, and we'll dance,
And we'll drown our sorrow!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

Now, I don't know what there lies in store,
But it's better than this
That's why I'm willing ,
To stake my claim on a foreign shore,
Whit me spoons, and me fiddle,
And half a shlling!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

I dreamt a place,
I know it's true
Where the dolphins play and it's always sunny.
The girls are brown and the ocean blue,
Less work to do,
But you make more money!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

I must be off by morning's light,
I can hear our bo'sun's whistle blowing,
So its one more kiss,
And one more fight,
And one more song while the beer is flowing!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

When the sky is grey,
Look out to sea.
When the waves are high and the light is dying,
Well raise a glass and think of me...
When I'm home again,
Boys, I'll be buying!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!

Weigh-hey! Hey Laddie Hey!
Weigh, hey, hey!
We'll drink the night away!


Lyrics submitted by mulhermujer

Drink the Night Away Lyrics as written by Stephen Wehmeyer Stephen Twigger

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Drink The Night Away song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

3 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    In Ireland, before friends left for America, or another far away place, friends would throw an all-night party for those who were leaving. There would be plenty of drinking, dancing, and fun. It was a way for everyone to try to forget that people they loved were leaving. That's what this song is about: having fun before you go.

    Lissaon September 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Something that Lissa forgets is the darker side to this story. These "all night parties" were actually called "American Wakes." The meaning of the party was that, to the people that stayed behind, a lot of these people were dead. They were losing them, and in a very real sense: there was no phone, the post wasn't nearly what it is today (and, considering that it isn't very good now, thats saying a lot). These people were dying. Hence the line in the song "We'll drink and we'll dance / and we'll drown our sorrow."

    TaddyTeddyon April 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wonderful song, with one stanza that is all to common and True for Sailors, hell anyone in the military:

    I must be off by morning's light, I can hear our boatswain's whistle blowing, so its one more kiss, and one more fight, and one more song while the beer is flowing!

    NavySkowon December 29, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.