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

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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

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Ukulele album cover. (also to be known as the Loudon Wainwright appreciation post..)

Can't believe I've never posted this uke pic before. I am a HUGE fan of an artist called Loudon Wainwright III. Loudon is also a huge fan of the ukulele! In fact, let's take that a step further... See the name of this blog? That's the first line in Loudon's song called 'The Ukulele Song'... Ok, you get the picture, I love Loudon, Loudon loves ukes.

The man has made many class albums but one of his later ones that I particularly enjoy is called Little Ship, and I would urge you to check it out. Anyway, let's take a look at the album cover..





Enough said!

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More Loudon on Uke

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I need no excuses to post a Loudon Wainwright tune

The brilliant Loudon Wainwright III, with his Ukulele

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Loudon Wainwright III Ukulele Song chords

Well, as some of you may know, I'm a huge fan of Loudon, (and for that matter, Rufus and Martha), and as I have posted, Loud plays the uke.

In fact, the name of this blog takes its name from the opening line of Loudons "Ukulele Song" (Got a ukulele, now I'm not afraidee!)

I posted his vid on this blog earlier (do a search people, its tagged Loudon), and I do get asked from time to time for the chords to the song.

Without wishing to simply steal somebody elses work, I thought it better to give you a link to the great Ukulele Hunt website which has a pdf download for the song (and another link to the video)

Here it is - enjoy - go learn it and lighten up your life!

http://ukulelehunt.com/2008/11/11/loudon-wainwrigtht-iii-the-ukulele-song/

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why the blog name?

in response to a question, "why is the blog simply called 'got a ukulele' ", its the opening line of this song...

oh, and that is a Flea uke he is playing!

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