Fearless men … Who bore the fight that freedom's light, Might shine through the foggy dew.

Sinead O'Connor / The Chieftains – “The Foggy Dew”

Some of the greatest Irish musicians of our time came together to record this haunting version of the traditional ballad “The Foggy Dew.”  Sinead O’Connor, with her resonating voice, and The Chieftains, with their consummate musicianship, produced a sound that is sure to prick up our ears.   

The Fight for Freedom

This Irish folk song has existed in various versions since the mid-1800s. In 1916, a priest named Charles O’Neill wrote these lyrics in response to the Easter Rebellion. It laments that not only did Irish soldiers die, but they died while fighting not for the freedom of Ireland, but for the freedom of another country. One has to ask “Why?”

Sinead O’Connor

Sinead O’Connor is an Irish musician who came to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She is a bold and brave woman who has the courage to stand up for human rights and to speak out against such horrors as the sexual abuse of chidren in the Catholic church.    

She was one of the first people on earth to speak out about such abuse, most notably on national TV, during her 1992 appearance on Saturday Night Live. At the end of her performance, she tore up a photo of John Paul II and proclaimed “Fight the real enemy.”  

What’s in a Name? 

Near the end of the millennium, Sinead was ordained as a priest, by a bishop in an independent Catholic church (that is, not the Roman Catholic church). At that time, she stated that she wanted to be known as Mother Bernadette Marie (from her middle given names).

She changed her legal name, in 2017, to Magda Davitt.  Then, after converting to Islam in 2018, she again changed her name, to Shuhada Davitt.

A Request for Freedom 

In 2018, in an open letter, she asked the pope to excommunicate her. She had previously requested the same from 2 previous popes, including Pope John Paul II. _{(Image source)}

The Chieftains

For over half a century, The Chieftains have been one of the pre-eminent Irish bands, and definitely one of the most popular. To a great extent, it was The Chieftains that brought Celtic music to the world. 

Opera, Reggae, Celtic … it’s All Music

While they are known as the quintessential Irish music band, The Chieftains have collaborated with dozens of artists in various genres – ranging from Luciano Pavarotti to Ziggy Marley.

The band has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards, and has won 6 of them.

In 1979, The Chieftains performed for the aforementioned Pope John Paul II at a concert in Dublin. It’s not known whether Sinead was in attendance.   _{(Image source)}

As down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I,
There armed lines of marching men
In squadrons passed me by.
No pipe did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its loud tattoo
But the Angelus' bells o'er the Liffey swells
Rang out in the foggy dew.

Right proudly high in Dublin town
Hung they out a 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.

The bravest fell, and the requiem bell
Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Easter-tide
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.

And 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 kneel and pray for you
For slavery fled
Oh, glorious dead
When you fell in the foggy dew
Lyrics by Charles O’Neill, courtesy of – Genius.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Genius.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"  

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"