The Lonely Goatherd

by Rodgers & Hammerstein
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Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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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’hΓ΄te 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 β€” Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

23 people have learned this song

Learn "The Lonely Goatherd" on piano with easy notes β€” perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of F, 188 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About β€œThe Lonely Goatherd”

Can I play "The Lonely Goatherd" without reading sheet music?
Yes β€” Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "The Lonely Goatherd" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "The Lonely Goatherd" by Rodgers & Hammerstein played in?
The Lonely Goatherd is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Lonely Goatherd"?
The arrangement plays at 188 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Lonely Goatherd" easy to play on piano?
Yes β€” this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "The Lonely Goatherd"?
Yes β€” registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Lonely Goatherd"?
"The Lonely Goatherd" was originally performed by Rodgers & Hammerstein. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein can I play here?
Try "All At Once You Love Her", "An Ordinary Couple", "A Puzzlement". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "The Lonely Goatherd"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard β€” no music reading needed. "The Lonely Goatherd" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "The Lonely Goatherd"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "The Lonely Goatherd" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.