Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Joy Be Wi' Ye

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

JOY BE WI' YE (R5x32) 5C set Romaine Butterfield Morison's Bush Collection

1- 8 1s and 3s turn RH, cast 1 place, turn LH to give RH to 1st corner
9-16 1s and 3s Balance-in-Line with 1st corners, ¾ turn LH to Balance-in-Line with 4th corners and turn LH to face own sides for...
17-24 1s and 3s dance Double Triangles ending in middle for...
25-32 1s+4s also 3s+5s dance Poussette

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Joy Be Wi' Ye - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

The title of this dance, Joy Be Wi' Ye, is a refrain shared by many poems and songs traditional to Scotland.
  • Good Night, An' Joy Be Wi Ye A' - By James Hogg

Good Night, An' Joy Be Wi Ye A' - Poem written by James Hogg (1770 - 1835), a Scottish poet, novelist and essayist who wrote in both Scots and English.

The year is wearin' to the wane,
An' day is fadin' west awa',
Loud raves the torrent an' the rain,
An' dark the cloud comes down the shaw
But let the tempest tout an' blaw,
Upon his loudest winter horn,
Good night an' joy be wi' you a',
We'll maybe meet again the morn.

Good Night, An' Joy Be Wi Ye A' Poem - Information Video


  • Good Night, And Joy Be Wi' Ye A' - By Alexander Boswell
Good Night, And Joy Be Wi' Ye A' - Song by Alexander Boswell (1775-1822) antiquary and poet, eldest son of James Boswell the biographer.

Good night, and joy be wi ye a'
Your harmless mirth has cheer'd my heart;
May life's fell blasts out-o'er ye blaw!
In sorrow may ye never part!
My spirit lives, but strength is gone.
The mountain fires now blaze in vain:
Remember, sons, the deeds I've done.
And in your deeds I'll live again!

Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' Song - Information Video


  • The Parting Glass - Anonymous
The Parting Glass - Song a Scottish traditional song sometimes attributed to Sir Alex Boswell (but doubtless older), often sung at the end of a gathering of friends. It was purportedly the most popular parting song sung in Scotland before Robert Burns wrote "Auld Lang Syne".

Of all the money e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm e'er I've done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.

The Parting Glass Song - Information Video


  • Goodnight And Joy - By Robert Tannahill
Goodnight And Joy - Song by Robert Tannahill sung to the old air of "Good Night And Joy Be Wi' You A'"

Chorus
Good night and joy, good night and joy,
Good night and joy be wi' you a';
For since it's so that I must go,
Good night and joy be wi' you a'!


Good Night, An' Joy Be Wi Ye A'
Good Night, An' Joy Be Wi Ye A', From Glen Collection Of Printed Music, Scotish minstrel, Volumes 4-6, Page 104, c. 1820-1824


Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Good Night, An' Joy article on Wikisource.
Text from this original Good Night, And Joy Be Wi Ye A' article on Digital National Library Of Scotland.
Text from this original The Parting Glass article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Farewell To Nova Scotia article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright (cropped) https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/91347497 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.

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