The Lonely Goatherd

· by Rodgers & Hammerstein

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Lyrics

(F)High on a hill was a lone ly goat herd, (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)lay ee o.

Loud was the voice of the lone ly goat herd, (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

Folks in a town that was quite re mote, heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)lay ee o.

Lust y and clear from the goat herd’s throat heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

(C)O ho, (F)lay dee o dl lee o, (C)o ho, (F)lay dee o dl ay!

(C)O ho, (F)lay dee o dl lee o, (C)hod l o dl (G7)lee o (C)ay!

A (F)prince on the bridge of a cas tle moat, heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)lay ee o.

Men on a road with a load to tote, heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

Men in the midst of a ta ble d’hôte heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)lay ee o.

Men, drink ing beer with the foam a float, heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

(C)O ho, (F)lay dee o dl lee o, (C)o ho, (F)lay dee o dl ay!

(C)O ho, (F)lay dee o dl lee o, (C)hod l o dl (G7)lee o (C)ay!

A (C)ay!

(F)One lit tle girl, in a pale pink coat, heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)lay ee o.

She yo deled back to the lone ly goat herd: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

(F)Soon her ma ma with a gleam ing gloat, heard: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)lay ee o.

What a du et for a girl and goat herd: (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

(C)O ho, (F)lay dee o dl lee o, (C)o ho, (F)lay dee o dl ay!

(C)O ho, (F)lay dee o dl lee o (C)hod l o dl (G7)lee o (C)ay!

(F)Hap py are they, lay ee o lay ee lee o!

(C)O lay lee o lay lee (F)lay ee o.

Soon the du et will be come a tri o, (C)lay ee o dl, lay ee o dl (F)o.

Ho di (C)lay ee

Ho di (F6)lay ee

Ho di (C7)lay ee

O de (F)lay ee o dl lee e o dl lay.

The Lonely Goatherd by Rodgers & Hammerstein — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Lonely Goatherd” by Rodgers & Hammerstein in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Bb at 188 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Lonely Goatherd" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Lonely Goatherd"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
What other Rodgers & Hammerstein songs work for kids?: Try "All At Once You Love Her", "An Ordinary Couple", "A Puzzlement". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.