Hi. Here's my explanation mhy no one has given the key for Fields of Athenry the way the play it. I'm not saying that everyone else's tabs are necessarily wrong because with music there really is no right or wrong. You can change songs to fit your personal and nobody should give you crap. BUT Fields of Athenry is NOT a traditional song. It was in the 70s by a Pete St. John, and its ORIGINAL key is F. However, for the song to fit Highland bagpipes, you HAVE to change the song. The bagpipes have a VERY limited scale. learning the pipes and one of the first things I've learned is that you can't play every on the bagpipe. Unless you can change it somehow. And my credibility for knowing I'm talking about should come from the fact that I'm one of the few users of this site plays the guitar with the bagpipes as a second instrument. And the fact that the only two you can fit the notes on the bagpipe are Eb and D. Enough jabberin here it is: Eb By a lonely prison wall Ab Eb Bb I heard a young girl call--ing Eb Ab Bb Micheal they have taken you away Eb Ab For you stole Trevelyn's corn Eb Bb So the young might see the morn Eb Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay. [Chorus] Eb Low Ab Lie Eb The Fields Cm Of Athenry Eb Bb Where once we watched the small free birds fly Eb Ab Our love was on the wing Eb Bb We had dreams and songs to sing Eb Its so lonely round the fields of athenry. [Verse 2] By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling Nothing matters Mary when you're free Against the Famine and the Crown I rebelled they cut me down Now you must raise our child with dignity. [Chorus] [verse 3] By a lonely harbour wall She watched the last star falling As the prison ship sailed out against the sky Sure she'll wait and hope and pray For her love at Botany bay It's so lonely round the fields of athenry. [chorus] So there it is. You can tune your guitar to half-step for easier playing or whatever, im getting any more technical. Sainte!
