The Dubliners started off in O'Donoghue's pub in Dublin in 1962 under the name of "the Ronnie Drew Folk Group". Then they were four, Ronnie Drew (vocals and guitar), Luke Kelly (vocals and 5-string banjo), Barney McKenna (tenor banjo, mandolin, melodeon and vocals) and Ciarán Bourke (vocals, guitar, tin whistle and harmonica). In 1963, they played at the Edinburgh festival where they met the head of Transatlantic Records, Nathan Joseph, for whom they started recording. In 1964, Luke Kelly left, and Bobby Lynch (vocals and guitar) and John Sheahan (fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin, concertina, guitar and vocals) were added. When Luke Kelly returned and Bobby Lynch left in 1965, we have what is considered as the original Dubliners, five individualists, five men whose talents were mixed together in a superb blend and just wanted to play and have a good craic. If they only knew what was awaiting them!
In 1967 their major breakthrough came as a result of a coincidence. Their song, "Seven Drunken Nights" which was recorded in one take, was snapped up by a pirate radio station which started playing it along with the Beatles, the Mamas & the Papas, the Who, the Kinks and Jimi Hendrix. Suddenly, The Dubliners was a major band, playing all over the world, getting into the charts, and receiving gold discs. Not what you expected from a bunch of hairy people who "looked like they'd just been dragged out of a seedy bar via a hedge(backwards) and dropped on London from a very great height".(Colin Irwin in the reissue of "Live at the Albert Hall")
The seventies started like the sixties ended; wild touring, drinking, playing. They started doing regular tours, and they were still recording, of course. Then, in 1974, Ciarán Bourke collapsed on stage with a brain haemmorrage, which eventually led to his death. He first, though, recovered remarkably , and was back on stage with The Dubliners, but collapsed again. At the same time, Ronnie decided to take a break, and Jim McCann took his and Ciaráns place in the group.
In 1979, Ronnie decided to make a comeback as a member of the group, although he probably never really left it. In the five years, he had recorded two solo albums, and The Dubliners three albums. With Ronnie returning, Jim left, and The Dubs were almost back where they started. Then Luke Kelly became ill, he collapsed on stage with a brain tumour, for which he received surgery several times. He too, made remarkable recoveries, and went on touring with the Dubliners, at the same time continuing his wild and unhealthy lifestyle. Seán Cannon, a long time friend, stepped in for Luke, when he couldn't be on stage. Seáns appearence wasn't that well received by the audiences at the beginning, but he has later turned out to be an important addition to The Dubliners, and their repertoir. In 1984, Luke Kelly died, but The Dubliners, now with Seán Cannon as a member, decided to keep on.
1987 turned out to be one of the best - and busiest - years for the Dubliners. Their long time friend, and guest musician, Eamonn Campbell (29 November 1946 – 18 October 2017), brought the group together with the Pogues on the hit single the Irish Rover. This single took the Dubliners back to the charts, and also gave them a completely new audience; people who weren't even born when The Dubliners started off. And with Dublin celebrating its milennium in 1988, The Dubliners also received more attention than for years. Eamonn Campbell joined them on regular basis, a move which has turned out to be one of the most important in their history. In 1988 Ciarán Bourke died, after years of pain and difficulties. He always was, and still is very much remembered by The Dubliners, just like Luke Kelly is.
The eighties finished off with rumours that The Dubliners were to retire, probably something that's always been following the group. However, they didn't, and celebrated their 30th anniversary in 1992, with a double cd and extensive tour. The nineties have later brought a tour video from the German tour 1995, and the "shock" news that Ronnie Drew was leaving. He left in December 1995, after releasing a superb album, "Dirty Rotten Shame" a few months earlier.
Now, even the most optimistic Dubliners fans thought it was the end, but the remaindours decided to convince Paddy Reilly to join them, and they continued their busy touring and recording schedule. This move has also turned out to be excellent. Paddy, not very well known in Europe, had never been touring there, so he too enjoyed the experience, as well as being part of a band. He still, though, does tours in the USA in the winter and summermonths.
2002, they temporarily reunited with Ronnie Drew and Jim McCann, for their 40th anniversary tour. They made a string of appearances on Irish television throughout this time, including a memorable appearance with Phil Coulter and George Murphy on RTÉ 1.
After the tour, Jim McCann was diagnosed with throat cancer and, though he fully recovered, his voice was severely damaged, and he has not been able to sing since his illness
In 2005, Paddy Reilly moved to the United States, and Patsy Watchorn joined the group. Watchorn made a name for himself with The Dublin City Ramblers; like Kelly, he accompanies his songs on the five-string banjo.
The band toured Europe every year. A planned tour of Denmark two weeks after the death of McKenna on 5 April 2012 went ahead as planned. From the first show in Copenhagen on 18 April onwards he was replaced by the Irish banjo player Gerry O'Connor.
The band celebrated their 50th anniversary with an extensive year-long European tour and the release of a live DVD recorded live at Dublin's Vicar Street.
In the fall of 2012 the band announced their retirement, effective after their 50th anniversary shows at the end of the year. The Dubliners played the final shows at Vicar Street in Dublin on 28/29/30 December 2012 the band were joined by former band member Jim McCann.
The band made their final TV appearence in the UK on the BBC's New Year's Eve edition of Jools Holland Annual Hootenanny' on 31 December. Their last public appearance as the Dubliners was on 27 January 2013 in memory of Barney McKenna. The remaining members Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn and Gerry O'Connor continue to tour Europe in 2013/14.
People probably don't recognize what The Dubliners have meant to the world of music. By the way, not only the world of music, but the world as a whole. They have first of all paved the way for dozens of bands from Ireland and Scotland, like the Chieftains, the Pogues, U2, Ossian, the Fureys and so on. The number of artists that list The Dubliners as one of their major influences and idols, is endless. They have brought folk music to millions of people all over the world, people who never would have been interested at all. That isn't only because of the folk music, the instrumentals alone, it's because of The Dubliners, their astonishing voices, their undescribable instrumentals, the wild life style and drinking, late sessions, their enormous beards, their extensive touring, their charisma and characters. It was, and still is to a certain extent, a blend the world will never see again.
The Dubliners have brought Ireland to the world in a way that no emigration has, they have brought the world to Ireland, and they have brought people all over the world closer together. Whenever it ends, the world will never be the same again.
The Foggy Dew
The Dubliners Lyrics
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To a city fair rode I
There armed lines of marching men
In squadrons passed me by
No fife did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its dred tattoo
But the Angelus bells 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 Brittania's huns with theirlong-range guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew
'Twas Brittania bade our wild geese go
That small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves
On the shore of the gray North Sea
But had they died by Pearse's side
Or 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 springing of the year
And the world did gaze in deep amaze
At those fearless men, but few
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
Might shine through the foggy dew
The Dubliners’ song ‘Foggy Dew’ is a poignant and powerful ode to the men who fought and lost their lives for Irish independence. The song opens with a description of Easter morning, when the singer rides down a glen towards a city fair. There, he sees lines of marching men armed for battle, but with no fife or battle drum playing. Instead, the Angelus bells ring out over the city, creating a somber, eerie atmosphere. The song then continues to describe the conflict that these men were involved in- fighting for Irish independence against the British. The men who proudly hung out the flag of war are compared to those who died at Suvla and Sud el Bar, their names lost to the waves of the gray North Sea. If only they had died alongside Pearse or Cathal Brugha, their names would have been kept alive by the Irish people, ‘neath the shroud of the foggy dew.
The final verse of the song is perhaps the most powerful, as it describes those who died in the fight for freedom, and the impact that their sacrifice had on the world. The ‘world did gaze in deep amaze’ at these fearless men who fought valiantly ‘in the springing of the year’. The song ends with a sense of pride in the struggle for Irish independence and the bravery of those who fought for it. Overall, ‘Foggy Dew’ is a beautiful and poignant tribute to those who lost their lives for a noble cause.
Line by Line Meaning
As down the glen one Easter morn
On an Easter morning, I was riding through a glen.
To a city fair rode I
I was journeying to a fair in the city.
There armed lines of marching men
I saw groups of armed men marching.
In squadrons passed me by
They passed me in groups, in formation.
No fife did hum, no battle drum
There was no music of war.
Did sound its dred tattoo
No drumbeat of war was heard.
But the Angelus bells o'er the Liffey's swell
Instead, the ringing of Angelus bells was heard.
Rang out through the foggy dew
The bells could be heard ringing through the foggy mist.
Right proudly high over Dublin town
Over the city of Dublin, a flag of war was raised.
They hung out the flag of war
The flag of war was displayed with pride.
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky
It was considered better to die under the Irish sky.
Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar
Than to die at Suvla or Sud el Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath
Men from Royal Meath came hurrying over.
Strong men came hurrying through
They came urgently, ready for battle.
While Brittania's huns with their long-range guns
Meanwhile, Britain's soldiers with their long-range guns were approaching.
Sailed in through the foggy dew
The soldiers advanced through the mist.
'Twas Brittania bade our wild geese go
Britain sent away our people to fight for their cause.
That small nations might be free
Britain claimed that they were fighting for the freedom of smaller countries.
But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves
But the people who were sent away died and were buried by Suvla's shore.
On the shore of the gray North Sea
It was on the shore of the gray North Sea where they perished.
But had they died by Pearse's side
Had they died together with Pearse,
Or fought with Cathal Brugha
Or if they fought with Cathal Brugha,
Their names we would keep where the Fenians sleep
Their memories would be enshrined alongside those of the Fenians.
'Neath the shroud of the foggy dew
The memories of those fallen fighters would live on and be honored through the foggy mist.
But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell
The bravest soldiers died, and the bell that marked their passing was mournful and clear.
Rang mournfully and clear
The bell rang in a mournful and clear tone.
For those who died that Eastertide
It was in remembrance of all those who died that Easter.
In the springing of the year
When the year was just beginning.
And the world did gaze in deep amaze
The world watched in awe and amazement.
At those fearless men, but few
These brave men, though few in number, were truly fearless.
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
These warriors fought to bring the light of freedom to their people.
Might shine through the foggy dew
Their sacrifice would be remembered, and the light of freedom would shine through the foggy mist.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind