Galway Bay

by Arthur Colahan
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Lyrics

(C11)If you (F)ev er go a (Fma7)cross the (G7)sea to (Gm7)Ire (C7)land,

Then (Gm7)may be (C7)at the clos ing of the (F)day

(C11)You will (F)sit and (Am7)watch the (D7)moon rise ov er (G7)Clad dagh

And (C7)see the (Bb6)sun go (Gm6)down on (C13)Gal way (F7)Bay.

(C11)Just to (F)hear a gain the (Fma7)rip ple (G7)of the (Gm7)trout (C7)stream,

The (Gm7)wo men (C7)in the mea dows mak ing (F)hay,

(C11)And to (F)sit be (Am7)side a (D7)turf fire in the (G7)cab in

And (C7)watch the (Bb6)bare foot (Gm6)Gos soons (C13)at their (F7)play!

(C11)For the (F)breez es blow ing (Fma7)o’er (G7)seas from (C7)land

Are (Gm7)per fumed (C7)by hea ther as they (F)blow,

(C11)And the (F)wo men (Am7)in (D7)up lands dig ging (G7)pra ties

Speak a (C7)lan guage (Bb6)that the (Gm6)stran gers (C13)do not (F7)know.

(C11)For the (F)stran gers came and (Fma7)tried to (G7)teach us (Gm7)their (C7)way,

They (Gm7)scorned us (C7)just for be ing what we (F)are.

(C11)But they (F)might as (Am7)well go (D7)chas ing af ter (G7)moon beams,

Or (C7)light a (Bb6)pen ny (Gm6)can dle (C13)from a (F7)play!

(C11)For the (F7)star.

(C11)And if (F)there is (Fma7)going to be a (G7)life here (Gm7)af (C7)ter,

And (Gm7)some how I am (C7)sure there’s going to (F)be,

(C11)I will (F)ask the (Am7)Lord to (D7)let me make my (G7)hea ven

in (C7)that dear (Bb6)land a (Gm6)cross the (C13)I rish (F7)sea.

Galway Bay β€” Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

Classic piano notation for "Galway Bay" by Arthur Colahan as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in Bb β€” sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 80 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Bb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range β€” the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About β€œGalway Bay”

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "Galway Bay" suitable for a pianist?
Yes β€” both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key Bb, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Galway Bay" by Arthur Colahan in?
The backing track is in Bb at 80 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones β€” the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "Galway Bay" with this accompaniment?
Yes β€” that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "Galway Bay"?
Effectively yes β€” it's the piano-only backing for "Galway Bay", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Galway Bay" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work β€” the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "Galway Bay"?
Yes β€” registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Galway Bay"?
"Galway Bay" was originally performed by Arthur Colahan. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode β€” both hands, classic piano notation, key of Bb, real chord symbols β€” but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "Galway Bay" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes β€” treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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