https://soundcloud.com/user-427542889/hill-of-tara

This song describes a battle that took place on May 26, 1798 at Tara Hill, Co. Meath, Ireland between United Irishmen and forces loyal to the British Crown.

BIAB Tracks _BLUEGRSM.STY ev 16
~427Bass, Acoustic, Bluegrass Ev 130
~426:Banjo, Bluegrass Ev 130 Rhythm
~431:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Bluegrass Ev 130
~432:Mandolin, Rhythm Bluegrass Ev 130
3191:Mandolin, Soloist, CelticReelAndy Ev 16 110
~428:Fiddle, Rhythm Bluegrass Ev 130
RealDrums=Folk8ths

Like most folk tunes of this type the chord progression very simple (perhaps too much so) but the melody and the instruments (particularly the mandolin solo by Andy Leftwich) add light and shade.

Hill Of Tara (lyrics by Brian Raynor)

In Seventeen-Ninety-Eight there was rebellion
When men of Meath came marching through the night
At Tara’s Hill, five-thousand strong, we gathered
United in our cause, we came to fight
Too many years of quiet desperation
With no escape from grinding poverty
Praying to the Lord for our deliverance
How we longed for life and liberty
How we longed for life and liberty

Knowing not of treachery in Dublin
Our leaders were by worthless men betrayed
We took our stand, prepared ourselves for battle
We stared death in the face, yet unafraid
At dawn we spied the enemy approaching
The yeomen and the fencibles as well
Our muskets were no match for their artillery
And so before their shot and grape we fell
And so before their shot and grape we fell

They pushed us up the hill into the churchyard
Our last stand came at dusk, among the graves
We’d rather spill our blood for life and freedom
Than live another day as someone’s slave.
Too many years of quiet desperation
With no escape from grinding poverty
Praying to the Lord for our deliverance
How we longed for life and liberty

Though freedom was denied us there at Tara
United Irishmen will rise again
They’ll fight for what is right and be victorious
And see our sacrifice was not in vain
And see our sacrifice was not in vain


My music may not set the world on fire but if it causes a glow in just one person's heart, it has all been worthwhile smile