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Help: The Foggy Dew: perfidious Albion?

16 Feb 01 - 12:41 PM (#399480)
Subject: Foggy Dew
From: GUEST,Diva

In the song "The Foggy Dew" could anyone clarify the phrase made "Perfidious Abion" reel? Also on another tack - I was told that the ancient Irish flag was a harp on a blue background. Any information on that one?

Thanks Diva


16 Feb 01 - 01:11 PM (#399517)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: Sorcha

"perfidious Albion reel" refers to the fact that faithless England could not believe the Irish were actually shooting back. England kept very few promises made to Ireland, therefore "perfidious" Albion is an old name for England. Reel as in stagger, not dance.

The ancient Irish flag was a gold harp on a GREEN backgroud.


16 Feb 01 - 05:29 PM (#399700)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: MartinRyan

The Irish were not the first to label Albion as perfidious - and are unlikely to be the last!

Regards


16 Feb 01 - 07:06 PM (#399758)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: GUEST,Sara

Here's a great site on flags:

Click here

They give loads of info on Irish flags.

Enjoy!


16 Feb 01 - 10:34 PM (#399893)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: Fergie

Spot on Sorcha


17 Feb 01 - 11:18 AM (#400158)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: GUEST,JTT

"Perfidious Albion", or rather "Albion perfide" was what the French used to call England, which they regarded as an innately treacherous nation.


17 Feb 01 - 12:00 PM (#400195)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: Malcolm Douglas

Certainly, Napoleon used the term Albion Perfide; a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.  Due to long-standing rivalry, each nation considered the other to be treacherous.  I don't know if the expression pre-dates him, but it became a fairly standard jibe; rather out of fashion nowadays.

Malcolm


17 Feb 01 - 12:28 PM (#400206)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: GUEST

And to tie it all in -

There was a certain support of Napoleon in Ireland during his, at first, successful fights against European countrys. I beleive that Napoleon even made overtures to the Irish in that he would grant them independence if he defeated Britain. To that point, quite a few Irish boys went off to fight with Napoleon's armies.

Of course that wasn't the first time Ireland's boys were lured into other people's fights and it certainly wasn't the last time.

Anyone who knows more - please feel free to correct me or add more info.

pax yall


17 Feb 01 - 12:31 PM (#400207)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: Blackcatter

Sorry, my "cookie" must of expired? The last note was from me.

pax yall


17 Feb 01 - 01:53 PM (#400239)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: MartinRyan

Blackcatter

We Irish rarely needed much inducement to go and fight for someone else! The overtures, in Napoleon's case, would hve been from the Irish side - helped, no doubt, by the presence of anumber of Irish in high ranks in the French Army.

Regards


17 Feb 01 - 05:12 PM (#400381)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Foggy Dew
From: Sorcha

PS--another sort of Irish flag is the Starry Plough. It is a blue field, with the Big Dipper/Ursa Major in white stars. Do check out the Flag Site clickied above, lots and lots of stuff about different Irish flags. Good site, Sara! I learned some stuff there.