Lyr Req: The Foggy Dew: 'Over the hills I went...'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Foggy Dew: 'Over the hills I went...'
From: Lighter
Date: 26 Apr 21 - 07:03 PM

The now classic form of the tune, essentially note for note, was first titled “The Foggy Dew” in C. Milligan Fox’s "Songs of the Irish Harpers (1909), with lyrics by E. H. Milligan.

Of the tune itself, a note tells us: "This beautiful air was taken down from the singing of Mr. M'Garvey, of Dublin.

Presumably that was the well-known Dublin singer Cahal M’Garvey (who appears to have written the lyrics – not the melody – of “The Star of the County Down”).

Presumably Fr. Charles O’Neill, who wrote the “Easter Rising” words in 1919, learned the tune from this readily accessible publication.

But just what words M'Garvey may have sung to the air is not known.

The now classic “rebel” tune is very close to “Poor Old Granua Weal,” No. 790 in the Complete Petrie Collection (1902), p. 197, “From J. McCloskey, Dungiven [Co. Londonderry]."

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: GUEST,Jiggers
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 05:16 PM

I have learnt this song but have erred and have learnt it to the tune of Roddy McCorleys instead of the Foggy Dew. However, its been a good error as it works absolutely brilliantly.

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Alice
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 06:48 PM

Mudcat 1997 - I posted the three verses similar to what Malcolm posted as I transcribed from an old 1913 recording of John McCormack.
Should be "sighed in my arms" not "spied" in the last verse (my mistake in hearing it).
Click here for more of past
discussion of this song.
alice

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:59 AM

Any fresh thoughts on this lovely song?

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 04:25 AM

This does have the feel of a complete, consistant, composed song which is not surprising because that's what it is.

No complaints, but it isn't eaxctly the same as the one in Folk Songs and New Songs that I foolishly lent to a friend. I don't think the 3rd verse that I found in Ceil Sharpe House was the same either. Could this be the oral tradition or opportunistic editing by some 1960's folkie?

Anyway very much for the thanks for the song.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOGGY DEW (E H Milligan, 1910)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 01:14 AM

THE FOGGY DEW

(E H Milligan, 1910)

A-down the hill I went one morn,
A lovely maid I spied,
Her hair was bright as the dew that wets
Sweet Anner's verdant side.
"And where go ye, sweet maid?" said I,
She raised her eyes of blue,
And smiled and said, "The boy I wed
I'm to meet in the foggy dew."

Go hide your blooms, ye roses red,
And droop, ye lilies rare,
Or you must pale for very shame,
Before a maid so fair.
Said I, "Dear maid, will you be my bride?"
Beneath her eyes of blue,
She smiled and said, "The boy I wed
I'm to meet in the foggy dew."

A-down the hill I went at morn,
A-singing I did go,
A-down the hill I went at morn,
She answered soft and low,
"Yes! I will be your own dear bride
And I know that you'll be true,"
Then sighed in my arms, and all her charms
Were hid in the foggy dew.


Written by E H Milligan for the book Songs of the Irish Harpers, 1910; here quoted from Kenneth Peacock, Songs of the Newfoundland Outports (Ottawa: National Museum of Canada, 1965, II, 521). The tune is the well-known Irish one.

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 12:14 PM

Thanks again to you all, to Mudcat and especially to Malcolm.

I suppose it is the power of old songs that we sing them, forget them and re-discover them when they have been in a list for so long.

I once sang it in a singaround at Whitby Festival about 30 years ago to find Dave Burland listening, he asked me about it but as far as I know he doesn't sing it.

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 12:05 PM

I believe George Edwards of New York State sang a traditional version of the Milligan song to collectors in the '30s or '40s. A text (his ?) appeared in _Sing Out !_ in the early '60s.

The melody of "The Foggy Dew" (either song) is entirely different from that of "The Foggy, Foggy Dew," but you can swap one for the other with some success. (Aesthetic, not popular.)

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 11:30 AM

Ah, but it's mostly other peoples' knowledge!

There are indeed three verses to this song. Kenneth Peacock (Songs of the Newfoundland Outports, II, 520-1) prints a version from tradition and also quotes the original text, written by E H Milligan for the book Songs of the Irish Harpers (1910). Father O'Neill's militant verses, written a few years later, have rather eclipsed Milligan's in the popular imagination; they get quoted here at the slightest mention of the word "foggy". The well-known tune, of course, is older (though Grattan Flood's assertion, made without evidence -as usual- that it is "certainly" as old as the year 1595" is probably mere wishful thinking).

I don't think that Milligan's song has ever been quoted here in full, so I'll do that as soon as time allows; unless someone who has it to hand would like to do it sooner.

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Peace
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 10:27 AM

You should give Malcolm a message with specific questions you might have, Les. He is amazing--his depth of knowledge is remarkable.

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 09:53 AM

Thanks to you both that is the song I was after. I had a third verse from a search at Cecil Sharp House but sadly I cannot find it.

Anybody any ideas?

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Peace
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 10:49 PM

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ARFoX5qCQWIJ:ingeb.org/songs/twasdown.html+I+said+fair+maid+will+you+marry+me,+She+lifted+up+

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 05:48 PM

The Foggy Dew

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 05:38 PM

I had a trawl there without any luck. I will have another. Anyone else?

Subject: RE: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 03:56 PM

Look in the DT for the Foggy Dew (not the English one). This predates the rebel one.

Subject: Over the Hills - Foggy Dew
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 12:52 PM

I had 3 verses of a song to the same tune as the Irish song 'The Foggy Dew'- As down the glen one Easter morn etc.

Over the Hills I went one day
and a fair, pretty maid I spied
With her long black hair and her mantle so green
.....
I said fair maid will you marry me
She lifted up her eyes of blue,
She said smiled and she said young man I'm to wed
and I'll meet him in the foggy dew

I think 2 verses came from a book called Folk songs and new songs, possibly edited by Alisdair Clare.

Anybody know the song and have more complete verses?