A DRINKING SONG by Eugene Field: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
A group of friends raises their glasses in a toast, honoring both the great memories they've shared and the wonderful moments yet to come.
The poem
Come, brothers, share the fellowship We celebrate to-night; There's grace of song on every lip And every heart is light! But first, before our mentor chimes The hour of jubilee, Let's drink a health to good old times, And good times yet to be! Clink, clink, clink! Merrily let us drink! There's store of wealth And more of health In every glass, we think. Clink, clink, clink! To fellowship we drink! And from the bowl No genial soul In such an hour can shrink. And you, oh, friends from west and east And other foreign parts, Come share the rapture of our feast, The love of loyal hearts; And in the wassail that suspends All matters burthensome, We'll drink a health to good old friends And good friends yet to come. Clink, clink, clink! To fellowship we drink! And from the bowl No genial soul In such an hour will shrink. Clink, clink, clink! Merrily let us drink! There's fellowship In every sip Of friendship's brew, we think.
A group of friends raises their glasses in a toast, honoring both the great memories they've shared and the wonderful moments yet to come. The poem reads like a lively party song — it captures the pure joy of being with people you enjoy, whether they’re lifelong pals or new acquaintances from distant places. Picture it as a 19th-century "cheers" with a catchy chorus that you’d want to sing along to.
Line-by-line
Come, brothers, share the fellowship / We celebrate to-night;
There's grace of song on every lip / And every heart is light!
But first, before our mentor chimes / The hour of jubilee,
Let's drink a health to good old times, / And good times yet to be!
Clink, clink, clink! / Merrily let us drink!
And you, oh, friends from west and east / And other foreign parts,
Come share the rapture of our feast, / The love of loyal hearts;
And in the wassail that suspends / All matters burthensome,
We'll drink a health to good old friends / And good friends yet to come.
Clink, clink, clink! / To fellowship we drink!
Tone & mood
Warm, lively, and truly loving. This poem is meant to be sung aloud in a bustling space. There's no irony or hint of sadness—Field truly means every word. The tone is welcoming and generous, creating a sense of belonging for everyone present.
Symbols & metaphors
- The raised glass / the clink — The physical act of clinking glasses is the poem's central gesture. It represents mutual recognition — you see me, I see you, we're in this together. The playful "clink, clink, clink" makes the symbol nearly literal, transforming the poem into the sound of fellowship.
- The bowl — A shared bowl (instead of individual glasses) is an older image of communal drinking, reflecting traditions like wassail. It captures the idea that everyone is drawing from the same source — the same goodwill, the same celebration, the same humanity.
- West and east / foreign parts — The compass directions represent the wide variety of human differences. By referring to strangers from faraway places as welcome guests, Field uses geography to symbolize openness — the circle of fellowship has no barriers.
- Good old times / good times yet to be — This paired phrase represents time in balance. The past is respected but not grieved, and the future is looked forward to without fear. Together, they imply that this present moment — this gathering — connects the two.
- The wassail — Wassail is more than just a drink; it embodies centuries of tradition surrounding communal celebration and well-wishes for good health. Field uses it to link his 19th-century gathering to an ancient human practice of coming together to share joy.
Historical context
Eugene Field penned this poem in the late 19th century, a time when American social life thrived with fraternal organizations, literary clubs, and civic banquets—gatherings perfect for performing a drinking song like this rather than just reading it. Field, a journalist and poet from Chicago, is best remembered for his children's verse such as "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," but he also wrote extensively for adult audiences, often with a light and cheerful tone. The wassail tradition he mentions dates back to medieval England, where communal toasts were a key feature of winter celebrations. By referencing this tradition, Field links his American festivities to a much older European concept of community. The poem's catchy refrain and call-and-response format indicate it was meant to be performed out loud, perhaps at a club dinner or reunion, encouraging the audience to join in on the "clink, clink, clink."
FAQ
It's a toast — a celebration of friendship and great company. The speaker brings together a circle of friends, welcomes newcomers from afar, and raises a glass to the wonderful moments they've experienced together and the exciting times yet to come. The entire poem is essentially one extended, joyful "cheers."
Wassail is an old English term for a festive toast or the warm, spiced drink that's traditionally enjoyed during celebrations, particularly during winter holidays. Its origins trace back to an Old Norse phrase that means "be in good health." Field uses this term to evoke a strong sense of age-old tradition in the celebration.
The mentor is probably the master of ceremonies or a senior figure overseeing the event—someone who will formally announce the start of the main celebration. The speaker hopes to slip in a toast *before* that official moment, adding a playful, eager tone to the poem.
Field swaps a few lines between the two refrains — most notably, the first ends with "Merrily let us drink," while the second wraps up with "To fellowship we drink." This variation prevents the chorus from sounding mechanical and highlights a subtle shift in focus: from simply drinking to celebrating human connection.
It's an old-fashioned way to spell "burdensome" — which means heavy, troublesome, or stressful. Field suggests that the celebration takes a break from the weight of everyday life for everyone. It honestly acknowledges that real life can be heavy, and that's precisely why we need moments of joy.
Almost certainly yes. The structure—two verses with a repeated refrain, a driving rhythm, and onomatopoeic sound effects like "clink, clink, clink"—is designed for group performance. Field was writing in a time when poetry was often performed at dinners and club gatherings, and this piece is a perfect match for that environment.
That human connection — being together, sharing a moment, welcoming both old friends and new ones — is one of life's true joys. Field isn't trying to make a big philosophical point; he's simply saying: this, right here, is good. Soak it in.
Field intentionally expands the circle in the second stanza. The first stanza speaks to "brothers," a tight-knit group. In contrast, the second stanza invites outsiders and strangers in. This suggests that fellowship isn't an exclusive club; it's open to anyone willing to participate sincerely.