The Foggy Dew

'Twas down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I. There armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by No fife did hum nor battle drum did sound it's dread tattoo But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey 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 Britannia's Huns, with their long range guns sailed in through the foggy dew O' the night fell black and the rifles' crack Made "Perfidious Albion" reel. 'Neath 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 Britannia bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves or the shore of the Great North Sea Oh, had they died by Pearse's side or fought with Cathal Brugha Their names we will 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 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.