Annotation:Foggy Dew (3) (The)
X:1 T:The Foggy Dew [3] R:song H: I learned this air when I was a child. Compare it with "Air thaobh na H:carraige b\'aine": Petrie, Ancient Music of Ireland, p. 143. H:Bunting, in his 1840 volume, gives a different air with the same name. B:Joyce, P. W.; "Old Irish Folk Music and Songs" M:C L:1/8 W:When I was a bachelor airy and young, W: I followed the bachelor's trade, W:And all the harm that ever I done W: Was courting a pretty maid. W:I courted her for the long summer season, W: And part of the winter too, W:Till at length we were married--myself and my darling, W: All over the foggy dew. K:Bb Bc|d dc B2 fd|c2 BG F2 GA|BGcB G2 G2|G6 Bc| d2 dc B2 fd|c2 BG F2 GA|BGcB G2 G2|g6||GA| B2 BG Bcd=e|f2 gf d2 cB|c2 Bc d=e f2|g6 gf| e2 e2 d2 fd|c2 BG F2 GA|BGcB G2 G2|G6||
FOGGY DEW [3], THE. Irish, Air (4/4 time). G Minor (Joyce): D Dorian/Mixolydian (Scanlon). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. A minor key rendition of the famous song air. Joyce learned this air as a child in Limerick, c. 1840's. He begs comparison with the melody "Air thaobh na carraige baine" in Petrie's Ancient Music of Ireland (p. 143). He prints the following lyrics, typical of many versions of the song:
When I was a bachelor airy and young,
I followed the bachelor's trade,
And all the harm that ever I done
Was courting a pretty maid.
I courted her for the long summer season,
And part of the winter too,
Till at length we were married--myself and my darling,
All over the foggy dew.
See also the close tune variant "Poor Old Granua Weal," collected by George Petrie. Musicologist Alan Jabbour believes Joyce's melody is a precursor for some American "Shady Grove" variants (see Henry Reed's "Shady Grove (3)").
