Wind That Shakes The Barley

by Robert Dwyer Joyce

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Lyrics

I (Dm)sat with (Gm)in the (Dm)val ley (Am)green; I (Dm)sat me (Am)with my (Dm)true love.

My sad heart (Gm)strove the (Dm)two be (Am)tween, the (Dm)old love (Am)and the (Dm)new love.

The old for her, the (F)new that made me (Dm)think on Ire land (Am)dear ly, while (Dm)soft the (Gm)wind blew (Dm)down the (Am)glen and (Dm)shook the (Am)gold en (Dm)bar ley.

’Twas (Dm)hard the (Gm)woe ful (Dm)words to (Am)frame to (Dm)break the (Am)ties that (Dm)bound us.

But hard er (Gm)still to (Dm)bear the (Am)shame of (Dm)for eign (Am)chains a (Dm)round us.

And so I said, “The (F)moun tain glen I’ll (Dm)seek at morn ing (Am)ear ly, and (Dm)join the (Gm)bold u (Dm)nit ed (Am)men, while (Dm)soft winds (Am)shake the (Dm)bar ley.

While (Dm)bar ley.

Wind That Shakes The Barley by Robert Dwyer Joyce — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Wind That Shakes The Barley” by Robert Dwyer Joyce 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 150 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 "Wind That Shakes The Barley" 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 "Wind That Shakes The Barley"?
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.