The Foggy Dew

The Foggy Dew

sung unaccompanied by Harry Cox

Recorded on “The Barley Mow” Songs from the Village Inn collected by Peter Kennedy, HMV E.M.I. 7EG 8288 Side 1, Track 3.

Duration: 2 min. 52 sec.

Recorded under the auspices of the EFDSS.

Numerous versions of The Foggy Dew have been collected, published and recorded in Britain and the United States, and versions similar to this particular one have been collected both in Somerset and in America. Also, Ye Banks and Braes of Bonny Doon, by Robert Burns, used a variant of the tune. Harry Cox had a tremendous repertoire and recorded more songs for the BBC Library archives than any other traditional folksinger during the 1950s. Cf. Reeve Idiom 111 (no. 33); see intro., 45-57; Kennedy 400 [no. 174]; note, 428.

  1. When I was an old bachelor, I followed a roving trade,
    And all the harm that ever I done I courted the serving maid,
    I courted her one summer season and part of the winter too,
    And many a time I rolled my love all over the foggy dew.

  2. One night when I laid in my bed a-taking my balm of sleep,
    This pretty fair maid came to me and how bitterly she did weep,
    She wept, she mourned, she tore her hair, saying: Alas what shall I do?
    For this night I resolved to sleep with you, for fear of the foggy dew.

  3. So all the first part of the night how we did sport and play,
    And all the later part of the night, she in my arms did lay,
    And when broad daylight did appear, she cried: I am undone,
    Oh hold your tongue, you silly young girl, for the foggy dew is gone.

  4. Supposing that you should have one child it would make you laugh and smile,
    Supposing that you should have another, it would make you think a while,
    Supposing that you should have another, another, another one too,
    It would make you leave off these foolish young tricks and think of the foggy dew.

  5. I loved that girl with all my heart, loved her as I loved my life,
    And in the other part of the year I made her my lawful wife,
    I never told her of her faults, yet never intend to do,
    Yet many a time as she winks and smiles, I think of the foggy dew.

Recorded at “The Windmill” Sutton, in Norfolk, on October the 9th 1953. Harry Fred Cox was born on October the 10th, 1885 at Barton Turf, near Yarmouth, Norfolk.