Jamie Foyers
Encyclopedia
Jamie Foyers is a well-known song by the folk singer and songwriter Ewan MacColl
.
It tells the story of a shipyard worker from the Clyde who goes to fight with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War
. He fights at the Battle of Belchite (1937)
, and is killed at Gandesa
during the Battle of the Ebro
.
MacColl adapted it from a traditional Scottish song about a soldier who fought in the Peninsular War
, only retaining the first verse. By some accounts, Jamie Foyers was an actual person who was killed at Burgos
in 1812, but by other accounts it was originally a generic Perthshire
term for a soldier.
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
.
It tells the story of a shipyard worker from the Clyde who goes to fight with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. He fights at the Battle of Belchite (1937)
Battle of Belchite (1937)
Battle of Belchite was a group of military operations that took place in the Spanish Civil War between 24 August and 7 September 1937 nearby the town of Belchite, in Aragon.-Prelude:...
, and is killed at Gandesa
Gandesa
Gandesa is the capital of the comarca of Terra Alta, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.-History:In the place known as Coll del Moro there is an ancient Iberian archaeological site belonging to the Ilercavones tribe that lived in this area before Roman times.Gandesa has a church with...
during the Battle of the Ebro
Battle of the Ebro
The Battle of the Ebro was the longest and bloodiest battle of the Spanish Civil War...
.
MacColl adapted it from a traditional Scottish song about a soldier who fought in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, only retaining the first verse. By some accounts, Jamie Foyers was an actual person who was killed at Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
in 1812, but by other accounts it was originally a generic Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
term for a soldier.