The Wind That Shakes The Barley Lyrics Chords And Music
By Robert Dwyer Joyce. An Irish love song. The guitar chords are in the key of Dm in chordpro. This one goes back to the 1860s an commemorates the 1798 rising. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included. Boolavogue song is also written about the events that took place during the 1798 rebellion in Ireland. The wind that shakes the barley harmonica tab included, 10 hole in D.
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY
A song that falls very definitely into the category of caoine, this ballad serves as both a love song and, more subtly, as a rebel song. The singer's quandary is the timeless one of Irish resistance: how to leave all he holds dear to march out and sacrifice his life for what probably is a hopeless Cause. In this case, the singer's problem is solved by a British bullet, and another young man sets off to join the Boys of Wexford at Oulart Hill.
The lyrics to this beautiful lament were written by Robert Dwyer Joyce, professor of English Literature at Dublin's Catholic University in the nineteenth century. Himself a rebel, Dr. Joyce was forced to flee to America due to his Fenian activities. After a successful career publishing Irish songs and ballads in the United States, he returned to Dublin to die in 1883.
A song that falls very definitely into the category of caoine, this ballad serves as both a love song and, more subtly, as a rebel song. The singer's quandary is the timeless one of Irish resistance: how to leave all he holds dear to march out and sacrifice his life for what probably is a hopeless Cause. In this case, the singer's problem is solved by a British bullet, and another young man sets off to join the Boys of Wexford at Oulart Hill.
The lyrics to this beautiful lament were written by Robert Dwyer Joyce, professor of English Literature at Dublin's Catholic University in the nineteenth century. Himself a rebel, Dr. Joyce was forced to flee to America due to his Fenian activities. After a successful career publishing Irish songs and ballads in the United States, he returned to Dublin to die in 1883.
[Dm]I sat with[Gm]in a[Dm] valley[Am green
[Dm]Sat there[C] with my[Dm] true love
And my fond heart[Gm] strove to[Dm] choose be[Am]tween
The[Dm] old love[C] and the[Dm] new love
The old for her, the[C] new that made
Me[Bb] think on Ireland[Am] dearly
While[Dm] soft the[Gm] wind blew[Dm] down the[Am] glade
And[Dm] shook the[C] golden[Dm] barley
Twas hard the mournful words to frame
To break the ties that bound us
Ah, but harder still to bear the shame
Of foreign chains around us
And so I said, "The mountain glen
I'll seek at morning early
And join the brave united men"
While soft wind shook the barley
Twas sad I kissed away her tears
Her arms around me clinging
When to my ears that fateful shot
Come out the wildwood ringing
The bullet pierced my true love's breast
In life's young spring so early
And there upon my breast she died
While soft wind shook the barley
I bore her to some mountain stream
And many's the summer blossom
I placed with branches soft and green
About her gore-stained bosom
I wept and kissed her clay-cold corpse
Then rushed o'er vale and valley
My vengeance on the foe to wreak
While soft wind shook the barley
Twas blood for blood without remorse
I took at Oulart Hollow
I placed my true love's clay-cold corpse
Where mine full soon may follow
Around her grave I wondered drear
Noon, night and morning early
With aching heart when e'er I hear
The wind that shakes the barley.
[Dm]Sat there[C] with my[Dm] true love
And my fond heart[Gm] strove to[Dm] choose be[Am]tween
The[Dm] old love[C] and the[Dm] new love
The old for her, the[C] new that made
Me[Bb] think on Ireland[Am] dearly
While[Dm] soft the[Gm] wind blew[Dm] down the[Am] glade
And[Dm] shook the[C] golden[Dm] barley
Twas hard the mournful words to frame
To break the ties that bound us
Ah, but harder still to bear the shame
Of foreign chains around us
And so I said, "The mountain glen
I'll seek at morning early
And join the brave united men"
While soft wind shook the barley
Twas sad I kissed away her tears
Her arms around me clinging
When to my ears that fateful shot
Come out the wildwood ringing
The bullet pierced my true love's breast
In life's young spring so early
And there upon my breast she died
While soft wind shook the barley
I bore her to some mountain stream
And many's the summer blossom
I placed with branches soft and green
About her gore-stained bosom
I wept and kissed her clay-cold corpse
Then rushed o'er vale and valley
My vengeance on the foe to wreak
While soft wind shook the barley
Twas blood for blood without remorse
I took at Oulart Hollow
I placed my true love's clay-cold corpse
Where mine full soon may follow
Around her grave I wondered drear
Noon, night and morning early
With aching heart when e'er I hear
The wind that shakes the barley.
Guitar chords to all the verses.
🎵 The Wind That Shakes the Barley
(Key: Dm — slow ballad / march feel)
[Verse 1]
[Dm]I sat within a [Gm]valley [Dm]green, [Am]
[Dm]Sat there [C]with my [Dm]true love,
And my fond heart [Gm]strove to [Dm]choose be[Am]tween,
The[Dm] old love [C]and the [Dm]new love.
The old for [C]her, the [Dm]new that made
Me [Bb]think on Ire[Am]land dearly,
While [Dm]soft the [Gm]wind [Dm]blew down the [Am]glade,
And [Dm]shook the [C]golden [Dm]barley.
[Verse 2]
'Twas hard the mournful words to [Gm]frame,
To [Dm]break the ties that [Am]bound us;
Ah, but harder still to [Gm]bear the [Dm]shame
Of [Dm]foreign [C]chains a[Dm]round us.
And so I [Gm]said, "The [Dm]mountain glen
I'll [Bb]seek at [Am]morning [Dm]early,
And [Gm]join the brave [Dm]united [Am]men,"
While [Dm]soft the [C]wind that [Dm]shakes the barley.
[Verse 3]
'Twas sad I kissed away her [Gm]tears,
Her [Dm]arms about me [Am]clinging;
When to my ears that fateful [Gm]shot
Came [Dm]out the wildwood [Am]ringing.
The [Dm]bullet [C]pierced my [Dm]true love's breast
In [Bb]life's young [Am]spring so early,
And [Dm]there upon my [Gm]breast she [Dm]died,
While [Dm]soft the [C]wind that [Dm]shakes the barley.
[Verse 4]
I [Gm]bore her to some [Dm]mountain stream,
And [Am]many's the summer [Dm]blossom,
I [Gm]placed with branches [Dm]soft and green
About her [Dm]gore-stained [C]bosom.
I [Gm]wept and [Dm]kissed her [Am]clay-cold corpse,
Then [Bb]rushed o'er [Am]vale and [Dm]valley,
My [Gm]vengeance on the [Dm]foe to [Am]wreak,
While [Dm]soft the [C]wind that [Dm]shakes the barley.
[Verse 5]
'Twas [Gm]blood for [Dm]blood with[Am]out re[Dm]morse,
I [Gm]took at [Dm]Oulart [Am]Hollow;
I [Gm]placed my [Dm]true love's [Am]clay-cold corpse,
Where [Dm]mine full [C]soon may [Dm]follow.
Around her [Gm]grave I [Dm]wandered [Am]drear,
Noon, [Bb]night and [Am]morn-ing [Dm]early,
With [Gm]aching [Dm]heart when [Am]e'er I hear
The [Dm]wind that [C]shakes the [Dm]barley.
🎸 Playing notes
Chords: Dm (i), Gm (iv), Am (v), C (VII), Bb (VI) — gives a modal D minor feel.
Strumming: Slow march / swing — try D D U D U (bass on 1 then light upstrokes) or gentle arpeggio picking (thumb for bass, fingers for trebles).
Tempo: ~72–84 BPM; take rubato for phrasing, especially on the story lines.
Capo: Not necessary — capo 2 or 3 can help fit vocal range; transpose if you want more major-sounding variants (e.g., capo 2 and play in C shapes).
🎵 The Wind That Shakes the Barley
(Key: Dm — slow ballad / march feel)
[Verse 1]
[Dm]I sat within a [Gm]valley [Dm]green, [Am]
[Dm]Sat there [C]with my [Dm]true love,
And my fond heart [Gm]strove to [Dm]choose be[Am]tween,
The[Dm] old love [C]and the [Dm]new love.
The old for [C]her, the [Dm]new that made
Me [Bb]think on Ire[Am]land dearly,
While [Dm]soft the [Gm]wind [Dm]blew down the [Am]glade,
And [Dm]shook the [C]golden [Dm]barley.
[Verse 2]
'Twas hard the mournful words to [Gm]frame,
To [Dm]break the ties that [Am]bound us;
Ah, but harder still to [Gm]bear the [Dm]shame
Of [Dm]foreign [C]chains a[Dm]round us.
And so I [Gm]said, "The [Dm]mountain glen
I'll [Bb]seek at [Am]morning [Dm]early,
And [Gm]join the brave [Dm]united [Am]men,"
While [Dm]soft the [C]wind that [Dm]shakes the barley.
[Verse 3]
'Twas sad I kissed away her [Gm]tears,
Her [Dm]arms about me [Am]clinging;
When to my ears that fateful [Gm]shot
Came [Dm]out the wildwood [Am]ringing.
The [Dm]bullet [C]pierced my [Dm]true love's breast
In [Bb]life's young [Am]spring so early,
And [Dm]there upon my [Gm]breast she [Dm]died,
While [Dm]soft the [C]wind that [Dm]shakes the barley.
[Verse 4]
I [Gm]bore her to some [Dm]mountain stream,
And [Am]many's the summer [Dm]blossom,
I [Gm]placed with branches [Dm]soft and green
About her [Dm]gore-stained [C]bosom.
I [Gm]wept and [Dm]kissed her [Am]clay-cold corpse,
Then [Bb]rushed o'er [Am]vale and [Dm]valley,
My [Gm]vengeance on the [Dm]foe to [Am]wreak,
While [Dm]soft the [C]wind that [Dm]shakes the barley.
[Verse 5]
'Twas [Gm]blood for [Dm]blood with[Am]out re[Dm]morse,
I [Gm]took at [Dm]Oulart [Am]Hollow;
I [Gm]placed my [Dm]true love's [Am]clay-cold corpse,
Where [Dm]mine full [C]soon may [Dm]follow.
Around her [Gm]grave I [Dm]wandered [Am]drear,
Noon, [Bb]night and [Am]morn-ing [Dm]early,
With [Gm]aching [Dm]heart when [Am]e'er I hear
The [Dm]wind that [C]shakes the [Dm]barley.
🎸 Playing notes
Chords: Dm (i), Gm (iv), Am (v), C (VII), Bb (VI) — gives a modal D minor feel.
Strumming: Slow march / swing — try D D U D U (bass on 1 then light upstrokes) or gentle arpeggio picking (thumb for bass, fingers for trebles).
Tempo: ~72–84 BPM; take rubato for phrasing, especially on the story lines.
Capo: Not necessary — capo 2 or 3 can help fit vocal range; transpose if you want more major-sounding variants (e.g., capo 2 and play in C shapes).
Guitar chords in Am.
[Am]I sat within a [Dm]valley [Am]green, [Em]
[Am]Sat there [G]with my [Am]true love,
And my fond heart [Dm]strove to [Am]choose be[Em]tween,
The[Am] old love [G]and the [Am]new love.
The old for [G]her, the [Am]new that made
Me [F]think on Ire[Em]land dearly,
While [Am]soft the [Dm]wind [Am]blew down the [Em]glade,
And [Am]shook the [G]golden [Am]barley.
'Twas hard the mournful words to [Dm]frame,
To [Am]break the ties that [Em]bound us;
Ah, but harder still to [Dm]bear the [Am]shame
Of [Am]foreign [G]chains a[Am]round us.
And so I [Dm]said, "The [Am]mountain glen
I'll [F]seek at [Em]morning [Am]early,
And [Dm]join the brave [Am]united [Em]men,"
While [Am]soft the [G]wind that [Am]shakes the barley.
'Twas sad I kissed away her [Dm]tears,
Her [Am]arms about me [Em]clinging;
When to my ears that fateful [Dm]shot
Came [Am]out the wildwood [Em]ringing.
The [Am]bullet [G]pierced my [Am]true love's breast
In [F]life's young [Em]spring so early,
And [Am]there upon my [Dm]breast she [Am]died,
While [Am]soft the [G]wind that [Am]shakes the barley.
I [Dm]bore her to some [Am]mountain stream,
And [Em]many's the summer [Am]blossom,
I [Dm]placed with branches [Am]soft and green
About her [Am]gore-stained [G]bosom.
I [Dm]wept and [Am]kissed her [Em]clay-cold corpse,
Then [F]rushed o'er [Em]vale and [Am]valley,
My [Dm]vengeance on the [Am]foe to [Em]wreak,
While [Am]soft the [G]wind that [Am]shakes the barley.
'Twas [Dm]blood for [Am]blood with[Em]out re[Am]morse,
I [Dm]took at [Am]Oulart [Em]Hollow;
I [Dm]placed my [Am]true love's [Em]clay-cold corpse,
Where [Am]mine full [G]soon may [Am]follow.
Around her [Dm]grave I [Am]wandered [Em]drear,
Noon, [F]night and [Em]morn-ing [Am]early,
With [Dm]aching [Am]heart when [Em]e'er I hear
The [Am]wind that [G]shakes the [Am]barley.
[Am]I sat within a [Dm]valley [Am]green, [Em]
[Am]Sat there [G]with my [Am]true love,
And my fond heart [Dm]strove to [Am]choose be[Em]tween,
The[Am] old love [G]and the [Am]new love.
The old for [G]her, the [Am]new that made
Me [F]think on Ire[Em]land dearly,
While [Am]soft the [Dm]wind [Am]blew down the [Em]glade,
And [Am]shook the [G]golden [Am]barley.
'Twas hard the mournful words to [Dm]frame,
To [Am]break the ties that [Em]bound us;
Ah, but harder still to [Dm]bear the [Am]shame
Of [Am]foreign [G]chains a[Am]round us.
And so I [Dm]said, "The [Am]mountain glen
I'll [F]seek at [Em]morning [Am]early,
And [Dm]join the brave [Am]united [Em]men,"
While [Am]soft the [G]wind that [Am]shakes the barley.
'Twas sad I kissed away her [Dm]tears,
Her [Am]arms about me [Em]clinging;
When to my ears that fateful [Dm]shot
Came [Am]out the wildwood [Em]ringing.
The [Am]bullet [G]pierced my [Am]true love's breast
In [F]life's young [Em]spring so early,
And [Am]there upon my [Dm]breast she [Am]died,
While [Am]soft the [G]wind that [Am]shakes the barley.
I [Dm]bore her to some [Am]mountain stream,
And [Em]many's the summer [Am]blossom,
I [Dm]placed with branches [Am]soft and green
About her [Am]gore-stained [G]bosom.
I [Dm]wept and [Am]kissed her [Em]clay-cold corpse,
Then [F]rushed o'er [Em]vale and [Am]valley,
My [Dm]vengeance on the [Am]foe to [Em]wreak,
While [Am]soft the [G]wind that [Am]shakes the barley.
'Twas [Dm]blood for [Am]blood with[Em]out re[Am]morse,
I [Dm]took at [Am]Oulart [Em]Hollow;
I [Dm]placed my [Am]true love's [Em]clay-cold corpse,
Where [Am]mine full [G]soon may [Am]follow.
Around her [Dm]grave I [Am]wandered [Em]drear,
Noon, [F]night and [Em]morn-ing [Am]early,
With [Dm]aching [Am]heart when [Em]e'er I hear
The [Am]wind that [G]shakes the [Am]barley.
The wind that shakes the barley harmonica tab
Included below is a PDF for the sheet music of The Wind That Shakes The Barley.
