GALWAY  BAY

​                                       Dr. Arthur Colahan (1884 - 1952)
Accordion Notation
Buttons 5 to 8  plus i1*
Play on outside row
Verse 1 of 5:

 
“5   “6      “7   “7      “7  “7      “7      “7      “7*  “6     .6    :6*   
 If   you     ev - er     go   a - cross   the    sea   to    Ire-land      

   .5      “8  “8      “8  “8       “8  “7*     “7   “8*      .:7 
Then  may-be     at  the    clos-ing    of  your   day,

 “5   “6     “7  “7       “7     “7        “7     “8     “8*  “7     .7*    :5*   
You will   sit and   watch the   moon rise    o - ver  Clad-dagh,     

  .7*     “7*   “i1*      “7*   “7      “8*    “6*      “7   “7*      .:6  
 And   see   the      sun  go    down  on     Gal-way    Bay


Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Six videos in keys of:    A=1    C=1     D=2     D,D#=1        G=1
​
​Key:  A

Group:  CODSKIFF
Accordionist:  Harold Bath

Posted by:  codskiff04

​INSTRUMENTAL - excellent!

This video may seem very fast for beginners.  You may need to reduce the play-back speed to 75% or even 50% for playing along.
Key:  C

​Tempo: ~ 80 bpm

Singer:  Bing Crosby

Posted by:  nicoley133
Key:   D

Singer:  John Whitehead

Posted by:  John Whitehead
​Key:  D

​Tempo:  ~ 110 bpm

Players:  Hector Awol & our very own Mary ?  (with many accordion postings by labradornl), in a "virtural" accordion duet.  Lovely!

Posted by:  Hector Awol
Key:  D  from time 0 to 2:12 (for most of
                the song),
                and then raises the
                key by a semi-tone for the
                last verse.
         D# from 2:13 to End (last verse)

Singer:  Joni James

Posted by: CalangofCorona
​
Key:  G   for two tunes:

        from time 0 to 1:30 (Galway Bay)

        from 1:31 to End (If those lips ...) 

Players:  Bob Hornet & Hector Awol
​               of Australia

Posted by:  bertosvids

​INSTRUMENTAL

I normally don't embed multiple-song videos, but this was the only rendition I was able to identify in the key of G.

​BACKGROUND MATERIALS, INFORMATION & LINKS

Lyrics:
​
If you ever go across the sea to Ireland,
Then maybe at the closing of your day,
You will sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh,
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.

Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream,
And the women in the meadows making hay,
To sit beside the turf fire in the cabin,
And watch the barefoot gossoons at their play.

For the breezes blowing across the sea from Ireland
Are perfumed by the heather as they blow,
And the women in the upland diggin' praties
Speak a language that the strangers do not know.

For the strangers came and tried to teach us their way.
They scorned us just for being what we are.
But they might as well go chasing after moon beams,
Or light a penny candle from a star.

And if there's to be a life in the hereafter,
And somehow I'm sure there's going to be,
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven,
In that dear land across the Irish sea.
​
Background Links:
This song was written in 1947, and recorded by Bing Crosby, who used the word "strangers" in verses 3 and 4, to replace the original word "English".

Click HERE for Wikipedia biography of Dr. Arthur Colahan

​Click HERE for information on songs named Galway Bay.