The Harp That Once Through Tara’s Hall

A famous early Irish song, 1821.
Words by Thomas Moore.
Music by Sir J. Stevenson.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. The harp that once, through Tara’s halls,
    ⁠The soul of music shed,
    Now hangs as mute on Tara’s walls
    ⁠As if that soul were fled.—
    So sleeps the pride of former days,
    ⁠So glory’s thrill is o’er,
    Arid hearts, that once beat high for praise,
    ⁠Now feel that pulse no more!
  2. No more to chiefs and ladies bright
    ⁠The harp of Tara swells;
    The chord, alone, that breaks at night,
    ⁠Its tale of ruin tells.
    Thus Freedom now so seldom wakes,
    ⁠The only throb she gives,
    Is when some heart indignant breaks,
    ⁠To shew that still she lives!

Sung here by Fred Feild: