For any Celts - "The Foggy Dew"

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Jul 30, 2004
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This classic Irish song of rebellion is one I never forget, on March 17th, or any other day. The price paid for freedom has always been high. Remember Pearse & Connolly, and what they died for. Ad Astra.


'Twas down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I.
When Ireland's line of marching men
In squadrons 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 flung out a 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 sons with their long-range guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew.

Oh, the night fell black and the rifles crack
Made "Perfidious Albion" 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
or the fringe of the grey North Sea
Oh had they died by Pearse's side,
or had fought with Cathal Brugha
Their graves we'd 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 springing of the year
And the world did gaze, with 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 fro 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.
 
Ah, another armed Irishman heard from. Thanks, Jake. It is a beautiful song, I think done best by The Wolfetones.

If the Irish rebels had khuks... they still would've lost. It's no fun being shelled.

But in losing, they won 5 years later politically by uniting world opinion in their favor.

A story worth remembering at least once a year, while wearing O' the green.

BTW, St. Pat didn't drive the snakes out of Ireland- geologic record indicates there never were any. He did drive the Druids out, though.



Ad Astra
 
Kismet said:
He drove the geologic records out TOO !

Well... O'Course!

Seriously, this song sends chills, and brings history alive like few do. Hear it.

No, they don't eat corned beef & cabbage there on March 17th. It's a personal/religious holiday with none-ayer merry-makin'.



Ad Astra :footinmou :D
 
Thank you! It is indeed a rousing song. I almost broke up when the Irish Tenors sang it a few nights ago on a PBS special. I turned it up so loud, the wife left the room. Somewhere, somehow, I must be part Irish ;)
 
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