Foggy Dew Lyrics

Version1 appeared in the music book: A Collection of Irish Ballads, Vol. 1, 1993, John Ellison, Corballis, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, Ireland):

As Down the Glen one Easter morn,
to a city fair rode I,
There armed lines of marching men,
in a squadron’s passed me by,
No pipes did hum no battle drum, did sound its loud taatoo,
But the Angelus bell o’er the Lifey swell rang out in the Foggy Dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin town they hung out the flag of war,
Twas better to die ‘neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sudelbar
and from the plains of Royal Meath, strong men came hurrying through,
while Britannia’s sons with their great guns, sailed in by the foggy dew.

The night fell back, but the rifles crack, made perfidious albion reel,
Amid leaden rain, seven tongues of flame, did burn o’er the lines of steel.
By each shining blade a prayer was said, that to Ireland, her sons might be true,
And when morning broke still the war flag shook, its folds in the foggy dew.

‘Twas England bade our wide geese go, that small nations might be free,
but their lonely graves are by Suvlas waves, and the fringe of the grey North Sea,
Oh had they died, by Pearse’s side, or fought with de Valera too,
Their place we’d keep, where the fenians sleep, ‘neath the hills of the foggy dew.

Back to the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore,
For I parted then with valiant men, I never would see more,
But to and fro, in my dreams I go, and I kneel and pray for you, For slavery fled, oh rebel dead, when you fell in the foggy dew.

Version2 (appeared at www.contemplator.com/ireland/fogydew.html ):

‘Twas down by the glen one Easter morn,
To a city fair rode I,
When Ireland’s lines of marching men Insquadrons passed me by,
No pipe did hum and no battle drum Didsound its dread tattoo.
But the Angelus bell o’er the Liffey’s swell Rang out in the foggy dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin town Theyhung out a flag of war;
‘Twas better to die ‘neath an Irish sky Thanat Suvla or Sudel Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath Strongmen came hurrying through,
While Brittannia’s sons with their long ranging guns Sailedin from the foggy dew.

‘Twas England bade our wild geese go
That small nations might be free; Their lonely graves are by Suvla’s waves
On the fringe of the grey North Sea. But had they died by Pearse’s side Or fought with Valera true,
Their graves we’d keep where the Fenians sleep, ‘Neath the hills of the foggy dew.

The braves fell, and the solemn bell Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Easter tide In the springing of the year.
And the world did gaze in deep amaze At those fearless men and true
Who bore the fight that freedom’s light Might shine through the foggy dew.

Version3 (as appeared at www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/foggy-dew.html

‘Twas down the glen one Easter morn To a city fair rode I.
When Ireland’s line of marching men In squadron’s passed me by.
No pipe did hum, no battle drum Did sound its dread tattoo
But the Angelus bell o’er the Liffey’s swell Rang out in the foggy dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin town They hung out a flag of war.
‘Twas better to die ‘neath an Irish sky Thanat Suvla or Sud el Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath Strong men came hurrying through;
While Brittania’s sons with their long-range guns Sailedin from the foggy dew.

‘Twas England bade our wild geese go That small nations might be free.
Their lonely graves are by Suvla’s waves Or the fringe of the gray North Sea.
But had they died by Pearse’s side Or fought with Valera true,
Their graves we’d keep where the Fenians sleep ‘Neath the hills of the foggy dew.

The bravest fell, and the solemn bell Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Easter tide In the springing of the year.
And the world did gaze in deep amaze At those fearless men and true
Who bore the fight that freedom’s light Might shine through the foggy dew.

Ah, back through the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men Whom I never shall see more.
But to and from in my dreams I go and I’d kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead, when You fell in the foggy dew.

Version4 (as appeared at www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/FOCH_FORG.htm):

‘Twas down the glen one Easter morn, to a city fair rode I
When Ireland’s lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by.
No pipes did hum, no battle drum did sound its loud tattoo.
But the Angelus bell o’er the Liffey’s swell, rang out in the foggy dew

Right proudly high over Dublin town, they hung out a flag of war.
‘Twas better to die ‘neath an Irish sky than at Suvlaor Sud El Bar;
And from the plains of Royal Meath, strong men came hurrying through,
While Britannia’s huns, with their long range guns, sailed in from the foggy dew.

O, the night fell black and the rifles crack made “ Perfidious Abion” reel
‘Mid the leaden rail, seven tongues of flame did shine o’er the lines of steel
By each shining blade a prayer was said that to Ireland her sons be true,
And when morning broke still the war flag shook out its fold in the foggy dew.

‘Twas England bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free.
But their lonely graves are by Suvla’s waves, on the fringe of the Grey North sea
But had they died by Pearse’s side, or had fought with Cathal Brugha,
Their names we would keep where the fenians sleep, ‘neath the shroud of the foggy dew.

But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell, rang mournfully and clear,
For those who died that Eastertide in the springtime of the year.
And the world did gaze, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but true
Who bore the fight that freedom’ light might shine through the foggy dew

Ah, back through the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men whom I never shall see more
But to and from in my dreams I go, and I’d kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead, when you fell inthe foggy dew.

Appendix 2

Performers:

• John McCormack
• The Wolfe Tones
• Paddy Reilly
• The Clancy Brothers
• The Chieftains and Sinead O’ Connor
• Connie Townsend
• Evergreen
• Cormac Breatnach
• The Dubliners
• Myrdhin
• Hugh Webb
• Pro Sound Brothers
• 3 De Luna C
• 4 Irish Whiskey
• Rickey Lashley Boston
• Blackthorne
• The World Players
• Karie Oberg
• Gabrielle Angelique
• Heart Strings Capall, A Celtic Roger Drawdy
• Blackstone folk
• Norland Wind
• Bukkene Bruse
• Franc Morone
• Cynthia Lynn Douglas
• Maggie Ryan
• Ceili Moss
• Lolly Cross
• Keltik Kharma
• Heart Sounds
• Paul and Brenda Neal
• Hugh Morrison
• The Volunteers
• Penny Kerr
• Wild Mountain Thyme
• Paddy O’Connor
• Ceol Ceili Anril
• Saint Bushmill’s Choir
• Bob Rowe
• Michael Frank Morris
• Christopher Dean
• Will O’ the Wisp
• Sora Keltic Kaleidoscope
• The Potcheen Folk Band
• The Fenian Sons
• Mahones Fathom
• Blarney Pilgrims
• Culann’s Hounds
• Molly Shannon Sequel
• Joanna Mell
• Dermot O’ Brien
• Jim Tozier
• Liam Clancy
• The Stone Soup Band
• Eugene O’ Donnell
• MacTalla Mor
• The Rain Troubadours
• Cairde na Gael
• Connie Wollenhaupt
• Poitin

Appendix 3 Notes for the Data cd

This CD contains different versions of the song “The Foggy Dew”. The music that accompanies the pictures, is “The Foggy Dew” performed by Cherley Kane and Labrini Yioti, at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, on the 9th of January 2007. Performers in the cd: 1. Cherley Kane and Labrini Yioti 2. Luke Kelly and the Dubliners 3. Beck Sian 4. Sinead O’ Connor and the Chieftains 5. Jenny Holohan 6. Sarah McLachlan and the Chieftains - live 7. The Clancy Brothers 8. The Dubliners - live 9. The Wolfe Tones

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