The Foggy Dew
The Young Dubliners Lyrics

As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
I rode to a city fair on an Easter morning, down a glen.

There Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
I saw armed men marching in formation pass me by.

No fife did hum nor battle drum did sound it's dread tattoo
There was no music from the fife or battle drums to be heard.

But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey swell rang out through the foggy dew
The Angelus bell rang out over the swell of the Liffey river, through the foggy dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin Town they hung out the flag of war
The flag of war was hung high over Dublin with pride.

'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
It was better to die under the Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud El Bar.

And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through
Strong men hurriedly came from the plains of Royal Meath.

While Britannia's Huns, with their long-range guns sailed in through the foggy dew
Britannia's Huns sailed in through the foggy dew with their long-range guns.

'Twas Britannia bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free
Britannia sent our Wild Geese to help small nations become free.

But their lonely graves are by Sulva's waves or the shore of the Great North Sea
Their graves are on the shore of the Great North Sea or by Sulva's waves.

Oh, had they died by Pearse's side or fought with Cathal Brugha
If they had died fighting with Pearse or Cathal Brugha.

Their names we will keep where the Fenians sleep 'neath the shroud of the foggy dew
We will keep their names where the Fenians sleep, under the shroud of the foggy dew.

But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear
The bravest men fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear.

For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year
For those who died during that Easter season in the springtime.

And the world did gaze in deep amaze at those fearless men, but few
The world was amazed at the few fearless men who fought.

Who bore the fight that freedom's light might shine through the foggy dew
Those who fought to bring freedom's light through the foggy dew.

Oh, back through the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore
I rode back through the glen with a heavy heart full of sorrow.

For I parted then with valiant men whom I never shall see more
I parted with brave men who I will never see again.

But to and fro in my dreams, I go and I'd kneel and pray for you
In my dreams, I go back and forth and kneel to pray for you.

For slavery fled, O glorious dead, when you fell in the foggy dew.
You fell in the foggy dew but ended slavery, O glorious dead.