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 dread tattoo But the Angelus' bells o'er the Liffey swell Rang out of the foggy dew.
Right proudly high over Dublin town They hung 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 out of the foggy dew.
'Twas England bade our Wild Geese go That small nations might be free But their lonely graves are by Sulva's waves On the fringe 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 Easter-tide In the spring time of the year. And the world did gaze with deep amaze At those fearless men but few Who bore the fight so 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 will see no more But to and fro In my dreams I go And I'd kneel and pray for you For slavery fled Oh, glorious dead When you fell in the foggy dew