An Irish Harvest Day Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords With Tin Whistle Notes
"An Irish Harvest Day" is a traditional Irish folk song that celebrates the hard work, community spirit, and joy surrounding the harvest season in rural Ireland. Although versions and lyrics may vary slightly depending on the performer or tradition, the song typically conveys themes of gratitude, labor, and rural life.
Meaning and Themes:
Meaning and Themes:
- Celebration of Labor:
The song highlights the pride taken in the hard work of harvesting crops. It honors the physical effort and determination of the farmers, which is central to traditional Irish rural life. - Community and Togetherness:
Irish harvest celebrations were often communal events where neighbors and families worked side by side. The song reflects the joy of coming together to reap the rewards of collective effort. - Nature and the Land:
The song often references the beauty of the Irish countryside during the harvest season, emphasizing the deep connection between people and the land. The fertile earth and the changing seasons play a symbolic role in the Irish cultural identity. - Gratitude and Abundance:
Harvest time is a moment of thankfulness for the blessings of a successful season. The song often expresses a sense of gratitude for the food, prosperity, and camaraderie that come from the earth’s bounty. - Festivity and Joy:
After the hard work of harvesting, there’s often a celebratory tone in the song, reflecting the traditional harvest feasts and dances that were common in Irish rural communities.
An Irish Harvest Day Folk Song lyrics and chords about harvest time in Ireland long ago. Recorded by John Hogan who later went on to record My Father's House Song Also sang by Irish country singer Farmer Dan and John Hogan. The sheet music is included. Words and music by Michael Maloney. The youtube video is by Roisin Crawley and friends. There's a key change in her version, it starts in the key of C Major and the final verse and chorus is played in D Major. This is an optional key change. Chords by Angela who also provided the tin whistle sheet music notes.
C / F – C – G / F – C
1. As (C) I walk round (F) London (C) city 'neath the (F) skies so dark and (C) grey,
I cannot (F) hear fa(C)miliar sounds; my (F) mind is (C) drifting a(G)way
A(C)cross the (F) deep blue (C) ocean and (F) down that old road(C)way
To see a(F)gain that (C) threshing mill on an (G) Irish (F) harvest (C) day.
It's An Irish (F) harvest (C) day now (F) long past a(C)way,
Beau(F)tiful (C) memories (F) will ne(C)ver de(G)cay.
And no (C) matter (F) where I (C)wander and no (F) matter where I (C) stray,
I tread a(F)gain my (C) footsteps on an (G) Irish (F) harvest (C) day.
C / F – C – G / F – C
I can see my (F) dear old (C) mother out(F)side our cabin (C)door
Singing (F) some old (C) Irish song I (F) long to (C) hear once (G) more,
And I (C) wonder (F) if she's (C)waiting with those (F) kind word she might (G) say.
God (C) bless you (F) all and (C) welcome home on this (G) Irish (F) harvest (C) day.
It's An Irish (F) harvest (C) day now (F) long past a(C)way,
Beau(F)tiful (C) memories (F) will ne(C)ver de(G)cay.
And no (C) matter (F) where I (C) wander and no (F) matter where I (C) stray,
I tread a(F)gain my (C) footsteps on an (G) Irish (F) harvest (C) day.
(D) Every(G)thing has (D) changed now; there's (G) no one there no (D) more.
The roses (G) they’re all (D) dead and gone a(G)round that (D) homestead (A) door.
The (D) young folks (G) are all (D) scattered and the (G) old ones passed a(D)way.
There's no one (G) left to (D) greet me on this (A) Irish (G) harvest (D) day.
It's An Irish (G) harvest (D) day now (G) long past a(D)way,
Beau(G)tiful (D) memories (G) will ne(D)ver de(A)cay.
And no (D) matter (G) where I (D)wander and no (G) matter where I (D) stray,
I tread a(G)gain my (D) footsteps on an (A) Irish (G) harvest (D) day
I tread a(G)gain my (D) footsteps on an (A) Irish (G) harvest (D) day
The original version is in a key that wasn't suitable for the whistle. I have included the letter notes below for those who don't read music. The notes in CAPITAL LETTERS are the ones up as far as middle B and the lower case letters are the higher ones. I have listened to a couple of version of this song and they all included a key change near the end, it's not necessary to change the key of most songs and it's usually only done to make the tune more interesting to listen to. The letter notes above are the same way I do it in The Tin Whistle Book that's for sale on the site.
John Hogan song an Irish harvest day
Country music in Ireland didn't start until the 1970s. This was well after it became popular in America and elsewhere. Country music in general is a spin-off from Folk music, that's why when you have a good listen to a country song and it's timing you'll notice that it's very close to the beat of a folk song. At times it's hard to distinguish between the two. Country music in Ireland has really taken off in the last 20 years. There are now more bands playing country songs than folk
An Irish harvest day in the fields
Sheet Music For An Irish Harvest Day in the key of G Major.
