The Foggy Dew

As down the glen one Easter morn

To a city fair rode I

There armoured lines of marching men

In squadrons passed me by

No pipe did hum, no battle drum

Did sound its loud tattoo

But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffy's swell

Rang out in 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 their long-range guns

Sailed in through the foggy dew

Oh the night fell black and the rifle's crack

Made perfidious Albion reel

Mid the leaded rain seven tongues of flame

Did shine o're the lines of steel

By each shining blade a prayer was said

That to Ireland her sons be true

When the morning broke still the war flag shook

Out its fold on the foggy dew

It was 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 geart North Sea

Oh had they died by Pearse's side

Or fought with Cathal Bruagh

Their names 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

While the world did gaze with deep amaze

At those fearless men but few

Who bore the fight that freedom's light

Might shine through the foggy dew

Then back through that glen I rode again

And my heart with grief was sore

For I parted then with valiant men

Whom I never shall see more

And back to and fro in dreams I'll go

And I'll kneel and pray for you

For slavery fled oh glorious dead

When you fell in the foggy dew