Composer: Pete St. John, circa 1888
This version is the modern lyrics - they differ from
the original
Time: 4/4, key: G
INTRO: 1, 57, 1, 57
1
*
4
1
5
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl call-ing
1
4 57
*
Michael they are taking you a-way____
1
4
1
5
For you stole Trevelyn's corn, so the young might see
the morn
5
57
1 *
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay____
CHORUS:
1 4
1
6m
Low lie the fields of Athen-ry
1
*
5
*
Where once we watched the small free birds fly____
1
4
1
5
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to
sing
*
57
1
*
It's so lonely round the fields of Athen-ry____
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man call-ing
Nothing matters, Mary, when your're free
Against the Famine and the Crown, I re-belled, they
ran me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity
By a lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star
fall-ing
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray, for her love in
Botany Bay
Its so lonely round the fields of Athenry
Symbols:
- Asterisk (*) = new measure, play same chord
- Period (.) = 1/8 note rest at start of a measure
- Underline(_) = sustain note into next measure
Chords: (Number System):
- The numbers are the notes of the diatonic scale (do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do)
- The system allows you to play a song in any key from
the same chart
Keys 1
2 3 4 5
6 7
Key of C C D E
F G A B
Key of D D E F#
G A B C#
Key of G G A B
C D E F#
Key of A A B C#
D E F# G#
Submitted by: Barrie McCombs (bmccombs@.ucalgary.ca)