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STING
FIELDS OF GOLD

Guitar 1: Nylon String Guitar
Format
 

SV-TABS

Intensity
  

INTERMEDIATE

About the Track

The song unfolds as a chronological story—beginning with courtship, moving into marriage, and eventually, ending with death. It follows two people who meet and fall deeply in love. As their bond grows, the narrator admits that he's never made such a meaningful promise before, but now feels ready to commit. They build a life together, symbolized by the line “see the children run,” referring to their children. The “jealous sky” alludes to the heavens, suggesting that even celestial forces envy the depth of their love. Over time, death enters the picture. In his parting words, the narrator assures his beloved that their love will endure, and whenever she remembers him, he wants her to picture him forever walking in fields of gold—barley fields, glowing with memory and devotion.

Performance Notes

Sting first came up with "Fields of Gold" on his guitar, then brought it to the band he was working with on Ten Summoner’s Tales—Dominic Miller on guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, and David Sancious on keyboards. In a Songfacts interview, Sancious—who once lived on E Street in Belmar, New Jersey, the street that gave Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band its name—shared that the song was actually recorded live in the studio, with no overdubs at all.

There's a lot more fingerpicking going on in this tune than the mix reveals. But when you give it a solid listen, fingerpicking abounds, and it's a blast to play once you learn it, so buckle up, grab a cup of joe and let's get busy learning this Sting classic!

About the Lyrics

This song captures a sense of joy tempered by the awareness that it won’t last forever. Sting was inspired to write it after purchasing a home near a barley field, where the vivid sunsets and golden hues of the landscape influenced the lyrics. His relationship with Trudie Styler, who later became his wife in 1992, also played a role in shaping the song. Styler has mentioned that it remains one of her favorites.

Funny Sidenotes

In Lyrics By Sting, the singer described the view from his 16th-century manor house: "In England, our house is surrounded by barley fields, and in the summer it's fascinating to watch the wind moving over the shimmering surface, like waves on an ocean of gold. There's something inherently sexy about the sight, something primal, as if the wind were making love to the barley. Lovers have made promises here, I'm sure, their bonds strengthened by the comforting cycle of the seasons."
Patrick Jones - Course author
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR

STAYCE ROBERTS

Electric, Acoustic and 12-String Guitars
With over 40 years of dedication to the instrument, Stayce has taken his love of songwriting, guitar playing and producing that allows him to bring a fresh, professional style to his Online Instructional Videos, making him a top tier instructor in song and lesson tutorials.