The Foggy Dew Lyrics
Version 1 - The Wolfe TonesVersion 2 -Sinead O'Conner with The Chieftans
Music Video
The Foggy Dew
As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
Their Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
No pipes did hum, no battle drum did sound its dread tattoo
But the Angelus Bell o'er the Liffey's swell rang out through 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 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 through the foggy dew
Oh the night fell black, and the rifles' crack made perfidious Albion reel
In the leaden rain, 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
But when morning broke, still the war flag shook out its folds 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 great North Sea
Oh, had they died by Pearse's side or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their graves we will keep where the Fenians sleep, 'neath the shroud of the foggy dew
Oh the bravest fell, and the Requiem bell rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide in the spring time of the year
While the world did gaze, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few,
Who bore the fight that the freedom's light might shine through the foggy dew
As 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 fro in my dreams I go and I kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead, When you fell in the foggy dew.
The Foggy Dew - Sinead O'Connor & The Chieftains
The Foggy Dew - Sinead O'Connor
This version doesn't include all the original lyrics, and you will find some lyrics are slightly altered, which often happens with older songs in order to reflect modern times. This version only includes verses 1, 2, and 5 of the original song
Music Video
As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
Their Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
No pipe did hum, no battle drum did sound it's loud tatoo
But the Angelus Bells o'er the Liffey swells rang out in the foggy dew
Right proudly high in Dublin Town hung they out the flag of war
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or 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 through the foggy dew
The bravest fell, and the Requiem bell rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year
While the world did gaze, with deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few,
Who bore the fight, the freedom's light might shine through the foggy dew
Song Details
🎶 Music:
Traditional arrangement by Paddy Maloney
✍️ Lyricist:
Canon Charles O'Neill (1919) - parish priest from Kilco, and later Newcastle in County Down... read more at Wikipedia
📝 Song Brief:
The song is about the Easter Rising of 1916. At the time many Irishmen were fighting for the British during World War I. The song reflects the thoughts of many Irish nationalists who believed that Irishmen should have stayed home and fought for Irish Independence (from British rule), rather than fighting for Britain.
- Angelus Bell
A bell rung in Roman Catholic churches to mark the times when the Angelus prayer is traditionally recited. - Angelus
A devotional prayer in the Roman Catholic tradition, recited morning, midday, and evening, recalling the Annunciation and the Incarnation. - Liffey
The River Liffey, which flows through the centre of Dublin and is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. - Suvla
A bay on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey, known for the Suvla Bay landings during the First World War. - Sud-El-Bar (Sedd el Bahr)
A village and former fort at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsula, associated with major landings and heavy fighting during the First World War. - Britannia’s Huns
A phrase comparing British soldiers to “Huns,” a wartime slur used during World War I to describe German forces. In the song, it reflects the belief among some Irish nationalists that Irishmen fighting for Britain were being sent to die in a foreign war that was not their own. - Albion
A traditional expression referring to Britain, especially in political or historical contexts. - Perfidious Albion
“Perfidious” means treacherous or deceitful. The line “the rifles’ crack made perfidious Albion reel” suggests that British power was shaken by the Easter Rising. - Wild Geese
A historical term for Irish soldiers who left Ireland to serve in continental European armies, especially after the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. In the song, “’Twas England bade our Wild Geese go” refers to Irishmen being sent abroad to fight in foreign wars instead of defending Ireland. - Pearse
Patrick Pearse (1879–1916), one of the leaders of the Easter Rising. The line “had they died by Pearse’s side?” reflects the idea that Irishmen who died in World War I might instead have died fighting for Irish independence had they stayed at home. - Cathal Brugha
An Irish revolutionary and political leader who took part in the Easter Rising, served as a prominent figure during the War of Independence, and was killed in the early days of the Civil War. - Royal Meath
County Meath, often called the “Royal County” because of its association with the ancient High Kings of Ireland. It is located in the province of Leinster. - Fenian
A member or supporter of the 19th‑century Irish republican organisations known as the Fenian Brotherhood and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, both dedicated to achieving Irish independence.
🍀 Genre: Irish Ballad / Irish Rebel Song
👥 Covers by Irish Artists: The Wolfe Tones (featured), Luke Kelly, The Dubliners, Damien Dempsey, The Young Dubliners, The Irish Brigade, Sinéad O’Connor with The Chieftains (featured).
💿 Album - The Wolfe Tones: 25th Anniversary (Compilation)
Released: 1989
Country: Ireland
Format: 2×CD
Label: Harmac Records
💿 Album - Sinead O'Connor & The Chieftans: The Spirit Of Ireland (Compilation - Various Artists)
Released: 2013
Country: US
Format: CD
Label: Universal Music Special Markets
🎸 If you'd like to play this song on guitar, you can view the chord version on our sister site, BellandCoMusic.com.
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