Primrose Hill - Loudon Wainwright III - Ukulele Chords

Couldn't resist another one from the great Loudon Wainwright III for ukulele - Primrose Hill.

This is one of my favourite songs of his from the album 'So Damn Happy'. It tells the (true) story of the homeless busker Loudon reportedly saw on his walks through Primrose Hill when he used to live in London. It's a really simple song that works well on ukulele. These chords are a match for the original key, but very easy to transpose!



There are a couple of instrumental interludes between some of the verses, but they use exactly the same chord progression.

PRIMROSE HILL - LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III - for education purposes only


(D) Living on the side of Primrose Hill
Drinking (G) cans of Tennents just can't seem to get my fill
Got a (A) beat up guitar and a dirty old sleeping bag
And this (G) mangy dog whose tail don't wag

(D) Sun's been shining down on my hillside bed
(G) That's not the only reason my face is so red
This (A) nasty cut on my nose is not from no fight
I just fell (G) down yesterday or maybe it was last night

(D) And I used to sing and play down in the underground
(G) But a few years back they started cracking down
Now I'm (A) living on the side of Primrose Hill
I'm no (G) tourist attraction but I give them a thrill

(D) Yeah I see you riding by on your flash new bicycle
Yeah they (G) can do you for that on Primrose Hill
(A) A pretty young mother goes by she's pushing her pram
(G) Her little baby leans out just to see what I am

(D) From the top of the hill there's a hell of a view
(G) Houses of Parliament and London Zoo
Those (A) politicians all chatter they trumpet and roar
That must (G) be what those hyenas all are laughing for

(D) When you come up to London it sure is something to see
(G) It's somewhere to go but it's no place to be
And there's (A) two things keeping me from going 'round the bend
(G) I got my music and this dog for a friend

(D) 'Cause life gets slippery when you're living on the side
Yeah I (G) know I should quit drinking but I haven't even tried
(A) My mutt's licking my fingers and I'm wetting my lips
I got a (G) can of extra strong and a bag of chicken and chips

(D) If I had a little money I'd get a few things
(G) Like a bottle of vodka and a pack of new guitar strings
I guess (A) I could die here on the side of this hill
(G) I'm no tourist attraction but I'd give them a chill

(D) And I'm living on the side Of Primrose Hill
Drinking (G) cans of Tennents Just can't seem to get my fill
Got a (A) beat up guitar And dirty old sleeping bag
(G) This mangy dog..... Whose tail won't wag (A)


  © Barry Maz