Crossing the Foam

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:02 PM

The expression was used in this song from the late 1800's.

Give My Love To Nell

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:06 AM

I'll drink to that!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 07:39 AM

A euphemism for the sea, As in Sir Patrick Spens...To Norroway cross the foam, The queens daughter of Norroway, tis thou must bring her home.

Nothing to do with beer, sorry Beer

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:15 AM

Thanks, Fergie.
Will post the words of 'The Men Whom God Gave Balls' soon (as soon as I can find them. Nothing changes). Slan, Brendan.

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: Beer
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:18 AM

Thanks Fergie for that information. And guest Brendan, thank you for a great great song.
Adrien (from Quebec)

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: Fergie
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 07:40 AM

HI Brendan good too see you here at mudcat. hang around there is great information to be had here. Any chance of you puttin the BALLS song here. Will we see you at the Frank Harte Festival?

Fergus Russell

P.S. to Mudcatters Brendan Phelan is the composer of Dublin In My Tears as well as some other jems.

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: GUEST,Brendan Phelan
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 07:31 AM

Crossing the foam means crossing the ocean/sea.

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: GUEST,AR
Date: 12 May 06 - 02:26 PM

The phenomenon of something being named for a part of the whole is known as 'synecdoche'. The ballad 'Gil Brenton' (Child #5, version A) begins like this:

"Gil Brenton has sent oer the fame,
He's woo'd a wife an brought her hame"

...where, when anglicised, 'fame' is 'foam' (and, of course, 'hame' is 'home'). This is the earliest synecdochic use of 'foam' of which I am aware.

AR

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: Beer
Date: 12 May 06 - 02:11 PM

Refreshing as I would really like to get more feedback.

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: GUEST
Date: 11 May 06 - 02:16 PM

Crossing the foam is a term comonly used in irish emigration songs and refers to crossing the sea.
Nice idea though
J C

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: DMcG
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:23 PM

My daughter tells me that when she served Guiness in a pub they were instructed to 'decorate' the foam with a shamrock. I doubt if that has any relevance at all...

Subject: RE: Crossing the Foam
From: Beer
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:16 PM

I "Kind" of like that idea. Sorry about that.

Subject: Crossing the Foam
From: Beer
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:30 AM

Just finished learning a song called " Dublin in My Tears". Great song and a line in it states the following. "We'll drink one toast before I cross the foam".
Now I was wondering. Does this line mean before I cross the ocean? Or is there an Irish tradition that before one starts to drink that they actually make a cross on the head of the beer? I kink of like this last idea and it would seem to fit with the sentimental Irish.
Beer