Drink The Night Away

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.

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."

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!