The Wind Is Singing Freedom Lyrics And Chords
Written by Tommy Makem and recorded by The Clancys. The video is of The Barleycorn. Also recorded by the ballad group Athenry along with The Makem And Spain Brothers.The sheet music is included.The Barleycorn also sang My Last Farewell Song which is about Patrick Pearse's brother Willie.
The sheet music / tin whistle notes to The Winds Are Singing Freedom are in the ebook of rebel songs for tin whistle here .
In the [G] battered [D] streets of [G] Belfast
You can hear the [D] people [G] cry
For [C] justice [D] long [G] denied [Em] them
And their [C] cry will [Am] fill the [D] sky
But the [G] winds of [D] change are [G] blowing
Bringing hope from [D] dark [G] despair
A [C] new [D] day is [G] dawn[Em]ing
You can [C] feel it [D] in the [G] air.
[chorus]
The winds are singing freedom
They sing it everywhere
They sing it on the mountainside
And in the city square
They sing of a new day dawning
When our people shall be free
Come and join the song of freedom
Let it ring from sea to sea.
Too long our people suffered
In misery and tears
And foreign rulers used our land
For about eight hundred years
It's a long road has no turning
And I know that soon will be
A day of justice dawning
When our people shall be free.
There's a time laid out for laughing
And there's a time laid aout to weep
There's a time laid out for sowing
And a time laid out to reap
There's a time to love your brother
There's a time for hate to cease
If you sow the seeds of justice
Then you'll reap the fruits of peace.
You can hear the [D] people [G] cry
For [C] justice [D] long [G] denied [Em] them
And their [C] cry will [Am] fill the [D] sky
But the [G] winds of [D] change are [G] blowing
Bringing hope from [D] dark [G] despair
A [C] new [D] day is [G] dawn[Em]ing
You can [C] feel it [D] in the [G] air.
[chorus]
The winds are singing freedom
They sing it everywhere
They sing it on the mountainside
And in the city square
They sing of a new day dawning
When our people shall be free
Come and join the song of freedom
Let it ring from sea to sea.
Too long our people suffered
In misery and tears
And foreign rulers used our land
For about eight hundred years
It's a long road has no turning
And I know that soon will be
A day of justice dawning
When our people shall be free.
There's a time laid out for laughing
And there's a time laid aout to weep
There's a time laid out for sowing
And a time laid out to reap
There's a time to love your brother
There's a time for hate to cease
If you sow the seeds of justice
Then you'll reap the fruits of peace.
Below you’ll find:
✅ Full chords for all verses in G Major
✅ A strumming pattern (folk march style)
✅ A fingerstyle tab for the first verse and chorus
🎵 1. Full Song with Chords (in G Major)
[Verse 1]
In the [G]battered [D]streets of [G]Belfast
You can hear the [D]people [G]cry,
For [C]justice [D]long [G]denied [Em]them,
And their [C]cry will [Am]fill the [D]sky.
But the [G]winds of [D]change are [G]blowing,
Bringing hope from [D]dark [G]despair,
A [C]new [D]day is [G]dawn[Em]ing,
You can [C]feel it [D]in the [G]air.
[Chorus]
The [C]winds are singing [G]freedom,
They [C]sing it every[G]where,
They [C]sing it on the [G]mountainside,
And [Am]in the city [D]square.
They [G]sing of a [D]new day [G]dawning,
When our [C]people [Am]shall be [D]free,
Come and [G]join the [D]song of [G]freedom,
Let it [C]ring from [D]sea to [G]sea.
[Verse 2]
Too [G]long our [D]people [G]suffered,
In misery and [D]tears,
And [C]foreign [D]rulers [G]used our [Em]land,
For a[C]bout eight hundred [Am]years.
It’s a [G]long road [D]has no [G]turning,
And I [C]know that [D]soon will [G]be,
A [C]day of [D]justice [G]dawn[Em]ing,
When our [C]people [D]shall be [G]free.
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
There’s a [G]time laid [D]out for [G]laughing,
And a [C]time laid [D]out to [G]weep,
There’s a [G]time laid [D]out for [G]sowing,
And a [C]time laid [D]out to [G]reap.
There’s a [G]time to [D]love your [G]brother,
There’s a [C]time for [D]hate to [G]cease,
If you [C]sow the [D]seeds of [G]justice,
You’ll [C]reap the [D]fruits of [G]peace.
[Final Chorus]
The [C]winds are singing [G]freedom,
They [C]sing it every[G]where,
They [C]sing it on the [G]mountainside,
And [Am]in the city [D]square.
They [G]sing of a [D]new day [G]dawning,
When our [C]people [Am]shall be [D]free,
Come and [G]join the [D]song of [G]freedom,
Let it [C]ring from [D]sea to [G]sea.
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 4/4 (slow folk march)
Tempo: ~85–90 BPM
➤ Strumming pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& &4&
Emphasize the downbeat (1 and 3) for a proud march feel.
Keep it steady and resolute, like a walking rhythm through the song’s message.
Alternative (folk ballad):
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
Use thumb for the bass note (root of each chord) to give the feel of movement and gravity.
🎶 3. FINGERSTYLE GUITAR TAB
(First verse and chorus in G Major)
Right-hand pattern (per measure):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
Thumb = E/A/D strings
Index = G string
Middle = B string
Ring = high E string
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
In the [G]battered [D]streets of [G]Belfast,
You can hear the [D]people [G]cry,
For [C]justice [D]long [G]denied [Em]them,
And their [C]cry will [Am]fill the [D]sky.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
CHORUS TAB
Lyrics:
The [C]winds are singing [G]freedom,
They [C]sing it every[G]where,
They [C]sing it on the [G]mountainside,
And [Am]in the city [D]square.
They [G]sing of a [D]new day [G]dawning,
When our [C]people [Am]shall be [D]free,
Come and [G]join the [D]song of [G]freedom,
Let it [C]ring from [D]sea to [G]sea.
(Same picking pattern throughout — one measure per chord.)
💡 Playing Tips
Keep the bass steady — it represents the strength of the people.
Let melody strings ring into each other for that open, resonant folk sound.
Use fingerpicking on verses, and soft strumming on the chorus to lift it emotionally.
On the line “Let it ring from sea to sea”, slow slightly and let the final G chord ring out fully.
✅ Full chords for all verses in G Major
✅ A strumming pattern (folk march style)
✅ A fingerstyle tab for the first verse and chorus
🎵 1. Full Song with Chords (in G Major)
[Verse 1]
In the [G]battered [D]streets of [G]Belfast
You can hear the [D]people [G]cry,
For [C]justice [D]long [G]denied [Em]them,
And their [C]cry will [Am]fill the [D]sky.
But the [G]winds of [D]change are [G]blowing,
Bringing hope from [D]dark [G]despair,
A [C]new [D]day is [G]dawn[Em]ing,
You can [C]feel it [D]in the [G]air.
[Chorus]
The [C]winds are singing [G]freedom,
They [C]sing it every[G]where,
They [C]sing it on the [G]mountainside,
And [Am]in the city [D]square.
They [G]sing of a [D]new day [G]dawning,
When our [C]people [Am]shall be [D]free,
Come and [G]join the [D]song of [G]freedom,
Let it [C]ring from [D]sea to [G]sea.
[Verse 2]
Too [G]long our [D]people [G]suffered,
In misery and [D]tears,
And [C]foreign [D]rulers [G]used our [Em]land,
For a[C]bout eight hundred [Am]years.
It’s a [G]long road [D]has no [G]turning,
And I [C]know that [D]soon will [G]be,
A [C]day of [D]justice [G]dawn[Em]ing,
When our [C]people [D]shall be [G]free.
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
There’s a [G]time laid [D]out for [G]laughing,
And a [C]time laid [D]out to [G]weep,
There’s a [G]time laid [D]out for [G]sowing,
And a [C]time laid [D]out to [G]reap.
There’s a [G]time to [D]love your [G]brother,
There’s a [C]time for [D]hate to [G]cease,
If you [C]sow the [D]seeds of [G]justice,
You’ll [C]reap the [D]fruits of [G]peace.
[Final Chorus]
The [C]winds are singing [G]freedom,
They [C]sing it every[G]where,
They [C]sing it on the [G]mountainside,
And [Am]in the city [D]square.
They [G]sing of a [D]new day [G]dawning,
When our [C]people [Am]shall be [D]free,
Come and [G]join the [D]song of [G]freedom,
Let it [C]ring from [D]sea to [G]sea.
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 4/4 (slow folk march)
Tempo: ~85–90 BPM
➤ Strumming pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2& &4&
Emphasize the downbeat (1 and 3) for a proud march feel.
Keep it steady and resolute, like a walking rhythm through the song’s message.
Alternative (folk ballad):
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
Use thumb for the bass note (root of each chord) to give the feel of movement and gravity.
🎶 3. FINGERSTYLE GUITAR TAB
(First verse and chorus in G Major)
Right-hand pattern (per measure):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
Thumb = E/A/D strings
Index = G string
Middle = B string
Ring = high E string
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
In the [G]battered [D]streets of [G]Belfast,
You can hear the [D]people [G]cry,
For [C]justice [D]long [G]denied [Em]them,
And their [C]cry will [Am]fill the [D]sky.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
D
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|0-----------------0-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|0-----------------0-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
CHORUS TAB
Lyrics:
The [C]winds are singing [G]freedom,
They [C]sing it every[G]where,
They [C]sing it on the [G]mountainside,
And [Am]in the city [D]square.
They [G]sing of a [D]new day [G]dawning,
When our [C]people [Am]shall be [D]free,
Come and [G]join the [D]song of [G]freedom,
Let it [C]ring from [D]sea to [G]sea.
(Same picking pattern throughout — one measure per chord.)
💡 Playing Tips
Keep the bass steady — it represents the strength of the people.
Let melody strings ring into each other for that open, resonant folk sound.
Use fingerpicking on verses, and soft strumming on the chorus to lift it emotionally.
On the line “Let it ring from sea to sea”, slow slightly and let the final G chord ring out fully.
Here's the chords in the key of D Major
In the [D] battered [A] streets of [D] Belfast
You can hear the [A] people [D] cry
For [G] justice [A] long [D] denied [Bm] them
And their [G] cry will [Em] fill the [A] sky
But the [D] winds of [A] change are [D] blowing
Bringing hope from [A] dark [D] despair
A [G] new [A] day is [D] dawn[Bm]ing
You can [G] feel it [A] in the [D] air.
In the [D] battered [A] streets of [D] Belfast
You can hear the [A] people [D] cry
For [G] justice [A] long [D] denied [Bm] them
And their [G] cry will [Em] fill the [A] sky
But the [D] winds of [A] change are [D] blowing
Bringing hope from [A] dark [D] despair
A [G] new [A] day is [D] dawn[Bm]ing
You can [G] feel it [A] in the [D] air.
Chords for the key of C
In the [C] battered [G] streets of [C] Belfast
You can hear the [G] people [C] cry
For [F] justice [G] long [C] denied [Am] them
And their [F] cry will [Dm] fill the [G] sky
But the [C] winds of [G] change are [C] blowing
Bringing hope from [G] dark [C] despair
A [F] new [G] day is [C] dawn[Am]ing
You can [F] feel it [G] in the [C] air.
In the [C] battered [G] streets of [C] Belfast
You can hear the [G] people [C] cry
For [F] justice [G] long [C] denied [Am] them
And their [F] cry will [Dm] fill the [G] sky
But the [C] winds of [G] change are [C] blowing
Bringing hope from [G] dark [C] despair
A [F] new [G] day is [C] dawn[Am]ing
You can [F] feel it [G] in the [C] air.
Below is the sheet music for THe Wind Is Singing Freedom
