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Foggy Dew

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In 1919, three years before partial Irish Independence, Canon O'Neill attended the first sitting of the new
Parliament known as the Dáil. The names of the elected were called out but many were absent and answered by
others with a reply of "faoi ghlas ag na Gaill" meaning "locked up by the foreigner". Some time later he wrote
the Foggy Dew, a song that tells the story of the Easter Rising but more importantly, reflecting the thoughts
of many Irish nationalists at the time who had come to believe that the Irishmen who fought for Britain during
the war should have stayed at home and fought for Irish independence instead.  O'Neill sums up this feeling in
the lines: ‘Twas far better to die ‘neath an Irish sky, Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar." (Sulva Bay, is in
modern Turkey, where the Dublin Fusiliers landed in 1915.
For Am and C use hammer ons and pull off in sync with your strumming. For my G I use the three finger version
as I feel is sounds more traditional and rougher for Irish songs. A four finger G is too rich IMO but to each
their own.
[Verse 1]
As dAmown the glen one GEaster Emmorn to a Ccity Ffair Grode AmI,
TherAme armed lines of Gmarching Emmen in sCquadrons Fpassed Gme Amby;
No Cpipe did hum, nor Gbattle dEmrum did sCound it's Floud GtattooAm,
But the AnAmgelus bell o'er the LiGffey's sEmwell rang out thCrough the FFoggGy DAmew.Am  G  Em  C  F  G  Am  
[Verse 2]
RighAmt proudly high o'er GDublin EmTown they Chung out the Fflag Gof Amwar,
Twas Ambetter die neath an GIrish Emsky than at CSuvla or SFud GEl AmBar;
And Cfrom the plains of GRoyal EmMeath strong Cmen came FhurryiGng tAmhrough,
While BritAmtania's sons, with their Glong range guEmns, sailed Cin through the FFoggGy Dew.Am  Am  G  Em  C  G  Am  
[Verse 3]
O, tAmhe night fell black, and the rGifles cEmrack made C"Perfidious FAlbiGon" rAmeel,
'Mid Amthe leaden rain, seven tongGues of flEmame did sChine o'er the Flines Gof sAmteel;
By Ceach shinning blade a prayeGr was saEmid that to CIreland her Fsons Gbe Amtrue,
And when mAmorning broke still the Gwar flag Emshook out it's Cfolds in the FFoggGy AmDew.
[Verse 4]
'TwaAms England bade our GWild Geese Emgo, Cthat small nations Fmight Gbe Amfree,
But Amtheir lonely graves are by GSuvla's Emwaves or the fCringe of the FGreat GNorth AmSea.
Oh Chad they died by PeGarse's sidEme or had Cfought with FCathal GBrughAma,
Their nameAms we'd keep where the GFenians Emsleep, C'neath the shroud of the FFogGgy AmDewAm  G  Em  C  G  Am  
[Verse 5]
But Amthe bravest fell, and the Grequiem Embell rCang mournfFullGy and cAmlear,
For Amthose who died the GEastertide Emin tChe springtime Fof thGe yAmear.
WhiCle the world did gaze with Gdeep amEmaze at thCose fearless Fmen bGut feAmw,
Who bore tAmhe fight that Gfreedom's ligEmht might Cshine through the FFogGgy DeAmw,
[Verse 6]
Back Amthrough the glen I rGode againEm, and my hCeart with gFrief Gwas Amsore,
For AmI parted then with vGaliant mEmen who I Cnever shall Fsee GmoreAm;
But Cto and from in my dGreams I Emgo, and CI'd kneel and FpraGy for Amyou,
For Amslavery fled, O Gglorious dEmead when you Cfell in the FFogGgy AmDew.

All chords in this song (5)

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Foggy Dew

by The Dubliners

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

In 1919, three years before partial Irish Independence, Canon O'Neill attended the first sitting of the new

Parliament known as the Dáil. The names of the elected were called out but many were absent and answered by

others with a reply of "faoi ghlas ag na Gaill" meaning "locked up by the foreigner". Some time later he wrote

the Foggy Dew, a song that tells the story of the Easter Rising but more importantly, reflecting the thoughts

of many Irish nationalists at the time who had come to believe that the Irishmen who fought for Britain during

the war should have stayed at home and fought for Irish independence instead. O'Neill sums up this feeling in

the lines: ‘Twas far better to die ‘neath an Irish sky, Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar." (Sulva Bay, is in

modern Turkey, where the Dublin Fusiliers landed in 1915.

For Am and C use hammer ons and pull off in sync with your strumming. For my G I use the three finger version

as I feel is sounds more traditional and rougher for Irish songs. A four finger G is too rich IMO but to each

their own.

[Verse 1]

Am G Em C F G Am

As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I,

Am G Em C F G Am

There armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by;

C G Em C F G Am

No pipe did hum, nor battle drum did sound it's loud tattoo,

Am G Em C F G Am Am G Em C F G Am

But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey's swell rang out through the Foggy Dew.

[Verse 2]

Am G Em C F G Am

Right proudly high o'er Dublin Town they hung out the flag of war,

Am G Em C F G Am

Twas better die neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sud El Bar;

C G Em C F G Am

And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through,

Am G Em C F G Am Am G Em C G Am

While Brittania's sons, with their long range guns, sailed in through the Foggy Dew.

[Verse 3]

Am G Em C F G Am

O, the night fell black, and the rifles crack made "Perfidious Albion" reel,

Am G Em C F G Am

'Mid the leaden rain, seven tongues of flame did shine o'er the lines of steel;

C G Em C F G Am

By each shinning blade a prayer was said that to Ireland her sons be true,

Am G Em C F G Am

And when morning broke still the war flag shook out it's folds in the Foggy Dew.

[Verse 4]

Am G Em C F G Am

'Twas England bade our Wild Geese go, that small nations might be free,

Am G Em C F G Am

But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves or the fringe of the Great North Sea.

C G Em C F G Am

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

Am G Em C F G Am Am G Em C G Am

Their names we'd keep where the Fenians sleep, 'neath the shroud of the Foggy Dew

[Verse 5]

Am G Em C F G Am

But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear,

Am G Em C F G Am

For those who died the Eastertide in the springtime of the year.

C G Em C F G Am

While the world did gaze with deep amaze at those fearless men but few,

Am G Em C F G Am

Who bore the fight that freedom's light might shine through the Foggy Dew,

[Verse 6]

Am G Em C F G Am

Back through the glen I rode again, and my heart with grief was sore,

Am G Em C F G Am

For I parted then with valiant men who I never shall see more;

C G Em C F G Am

But to and from in my dreams I go, and I'd kneel and pray for you,

Am G Em C F G Am

For slavery fled, O glorious dead when you fell in the Foggy Dew.

About Foggy Dew Chords by The Dubliners

Learn how to play Foggy Dew by The Dubliners with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Foggy Dew chords”, “Foggy Dew guitar chords”, or “The Dubliners Foggy Dew chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Foggy Dew chords and for experienced players who want accurate Foggy Dew lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Am, C, G, A, Em.

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