The Ukulele Song - Loudon Wainwright III - CHORDS

You might not know it, but this website takes its name from this song by Loudon Wainwright III.

I've been a fan of Loudon for many, many years and consider him one of the best singer songwriters around. I've also had had the pleasure of seeing him perform which is a delight. You should check out his work, and also realise he's the father of Rufus and Martha Wainwright (two other stellar performers too!) and was married to their mother, the late Kate McGarrigle who was a folk legend. Musical royalty you might say..  Oh, and as well as guitar.. he plays uke.

Oh, and I am happy to stand corrected, but that line he says in the opening to the video about  every baby being issued a ukulele? I've seen a lot of memes crediting that to Jake Shimabukuro - but to the best of my knowledge, Loudon got there first..

Just check that opening line! So I figured I was overdue putting the chords up on here considering that fact! I owe him a debt! When I started the site I was starting out on ukulele and knew this song. It just fit. And Loudon's pronunciation making the 'Got A' bit work with the way Ukulele is pronounced as 'yook' (as we do in the UK) made sense for me.. at least. This is the reason it's not 'Got An Ukulele'...

Quite a tricky one on the bridge bit, but am sure you can master it.  Those Eb chords are:

Eb6 - 3333
EbM7 - 3335
Eb - 3336

So you kind of do it best with a full barre  at the thired and use your little finger to get the upper notes on the A string. The rest of it is a kind of skiffle between  Bb, C and F7

Video to assist you (and you'll see Loudon doing that barre), and chords and lyrics below for educational purposes.




THE UKULELE SONG - by - Loudon Wainwright III


[Bb] Got a ukulele, [C] now i'm not afraidee
[F7] Cat in case I get a bout of [Bb] blues [F7]
[Bb] In the event I get 'em, [C] there's no way i'll let 'em
[F7] bring me down, no way, I will [Bb] refuse..  [F7] believe me

[Bb] Cos a ukulele [C] is like a little baby
[F7] you cradle it in your arms and you just [Bb] sing [F7]
A [Bb] lullaby or ditty, [C] when you're feeling shitty
[F7] it will cheer you up it's just the [Bb] thing.

(Chorus)

Life [Eb6]could [EbM7] be [Eb] bright [EbM7] and [Eb6] breezy
[Bb] when it should be nice and easy
[F7] there's nothing hard or heavy about a [Bb] uke [Bb7]
[Eb6]I [EbM7] dont [Eb] play [EbM7] bull [Eb6] fiddle
[Bb] no mystery, no riddle
[C7] shlepping that thing make you look like a [F7] kook

[Bb] Four strings made of nylon [C] always put a smile on
[F7] anybodys face who's feeling [Bb] blue [F7]
[Bb] When your mind starts slumming [C] start a little strumming
[F7] on your uke and your gonna feel brand [Bb] new [F7]

(SCAT VERSE - over same chords as other verses)

[Bb] Even though it's raining [C] quit all your complaining
[F7] your roof's not leaking, nothings getting [Bb] in [F7]
[Bb] This axe is a hatchet, [C] there's magic you can catch it
[F7] on your uke you can't lose you just [Bb] win

Life [Eb6]could [EbM7] be [Eb] bright [EbM7] and [Eb6] breezy
[Bb] when it should be nice and easy
[F7] there's nothing hard or heavy about a [Bb] uke [Bb7]
[Eb6]I [EbM7] dont [Eb] play [EbM7] the [Eb6] tuba
[Bb] tubas do it to ya
[C7] just the thought of tubas makes me [F7] puke (you gotta believe me)

Kind [Bb] sirs and gentle ladies, [C] grab your ukuleles
[F7] I suspect by now you know my [Bb] song [F7]
[Bb] The next time that I do it [C] get down and get in to it
[F7] I trust you all will sing and strum a [Bb]long [F7] believe me

I [Bb] Got a ukulele, [C] now i'm not afraidee
[F7] Cat in case I get a bout of [Bb] blues [F7]
[Bb] In the event I get 'em, [C] there's no way i'll let 'em
[F7] bring me down, no way, I will [Bb] refuse..

[Bb]Be [C7] lee [F7]eeve [Bb7]me....



© Barry Maz