May the road bring us together (Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen) by Markus Pytlik

Short messages or toasts of kinship, good luck, honour and good cheer to share with friends and family at home or in a pub are hallmarks of Irish gatherings. German teacher, songwriter and composer Markus Pytlik (born 5 August 1966) composed this Irish blessing, Möge die Straße uns zusammenführen" (May the road bring us together) after returning from a vacation in Ireland in 1988 with fond memories and a booklet of Irish toasts among them the Irish travel blessing "May the road rise to meet you,” which he tried to set to music. The text was however too long for a round and too short for a song. Using the first stanza and the end of the blessing as a refrain he blended it with other toasts to produce an Irish blessing that has since become very popular even here in South Africa. A firm favourite of the Genadendal Brass Band (est. 1838) who recorded this version in June 2022 in the Moravian Church, Genadendal, South Africa. The descant is played by Shaun Cloete.

Lyrics
1. May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always in your back;
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rain fall soft upon your fields.

(Refrain)
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand;
and until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

2. May you have the road you walk
downhill all the way to your door;
have warm words on a cold evening,
and a full moon on a dark night.

3. May you have food and raiment
and a soft pillow for your head,
may you be forty years in heaven,
before the devil knows that you are dead.

4. Until we will meet again
God, I hope will bless you day and night;
may the Lord keep you in His hand,
and never close His fist too tight.