I’m Just a Hunk, a Hunk of Burnin’ Love!

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Another fun song to perform on the ukulele. One can never go wrong doing an Elvis song, because Elvis performed on an ukulele in at least 3 of his movies, most notably Blue Hawaii.  Burning Love was written by Dennis Linde and originally recorded by country soul artist Arthur Alexander. It was soon covered and brought to fame by Elvis Presley, becoming his biggest hit single in the US since Suspicious Minds in 1969 and his last Top 10 hit in the American Hot 100 or pop charts. It was also his 40th song to become a Number 1 hit in his career.

Many Disney Films fans fell in love with the version sung by Wynona on the soundtrack of the movie, Lilo and Stitch in 2003, so here is the video of that fun, upbeat and modern version.

Burning Love

[C] Lordy, Mama – [F] I feel my [G7]temperature [C] risin’!

Higher, higher, it’s [F] burnin’ [G7]thru to my [C]soul!

[C] Girl, girl, girl! [F] You’re gonna [G7] set me on [C] fire!

[C] My brain is flaming, [F] I don’t know [G7] which way to [C] go.

–

Your [Am]kisses [G7]lift me [F] higher,

Like the [Am]sweet song [G7]of a [F]choir.

You [Am]light my [G7]morning [F]sky

Like [G7]burning [C] love!

–

[C]Ooh, ooh, ooh! [F] I feel my [G7]temperature [C]risin’!

[C]Help me, I’m flaming, I [F]must be a [G7]hundred and [C]nine!

[C]Burning, burning, [F] burning and [G7]nothing can [C]cool me.

[C]I just might turn into [F]smoke, but [G7]I feel [C]fine…..!

–

Your [Am]kisses [G7]lift me [F] higher,

Like the [Am]sweet song [G7]of a [F]choir.

You [Am]light my [G7]morning [F]sky

Like [G7]burning [C] love!

 –

[C]It’s getting closer – the [F]flames are [G7]reaching my [C]body!

[C]Please won’t cha help me? I [F]feel like I’m [G7]slipping a-[C]way!

[C]It’s hard to breathe…[F] and my [G7]chest is a-[C]heavin’.

[C]Lord-a mercy, I’m [F]burnin’ a [G7]hole where I [C] lay!!!

–

Your [Am]kisses [G7]lift me [F] higher,

Like the [Am]sweet song [G7]of a [F]choir.

You [Am]light my [G7]morning [F]sky

Like [G7]burning [C] love!

[C] Burning [F] love!       [C] Burning [F] love!

[C] Burning [F] love!       [C] Burning [F] love!

I’m just a [C] hunk, a hunk of burning [F] love!

I’m just a [C] hunk, a hunk of burning [F] love!

               (Repeat and fade out….)

 

All Shook Up!

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All Shook Up! One of Elvis‘ classic rock’n’ roll songs of the 50’s, composed once again by Otis Blackwell. This was a number one US hit for 8 weeks in 1957.

All Shook Up

A-well-a [C] bless my soul what’s wrong with me,

I’m itching like a man on a fuzzy tree

My friends say I’m acting queer as a bug.       I’m in love, UH! I’m all shook up!

Mm mm [F] mm,   Mm mm [G7] mm,     Oh-[C] woh yeah yeah!

–

[C] My hands are shakey and my knees are weak,

I can’t seem to stand on my own two feet

Who do you thank when you have such luck? I’m in love, UH! I’m all shook up!

Mm mm [F] mm,   Mm mm [G7] mm,     Oh-[C] woh yeah yeah!

CHORUS:

[F] Please don’t ask me what’s on my mind,

I’m a [C] little mixed up but I’m feeling fine.

When I’m [F] near that girl that I love best,

my [G7] heart beats so it scares me to death!

–

When she [C] touched my hand, what a chill I got,

her lips are like a volcano that’s hot!

I’m proud to say that she’s my buttercup.       I’m in love, UH! I’m all shook up!

Mm mm [F] mm,   Mm mm [G7] mm,     Oh-[C] woh yeah yeah!

–

CHORUS:

My [F] tongue gets tied when I try to speak,

my in-[C] sides shake like a leaf on a tree

There’s [F] only one cure for this body of mine,

That’s to [G7] have that girl that I love so fine!

–

When she [C] touched my hand, what a chill I got,

her lips are like a volcano that’s hot!

I’m proud to say that she’s my buttercup.     I’m in love, UH! I’m all shook up!

Mm mm [F] mm,   Mm mm [G7] mm,     Oh-[C] woh yeah yeah!

Mm mm [F] mm,   Mm mm [G7] mm,     Oh-[C] woh yeah yeah!

I’m all shook up!

Let Me Be There

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Let Me Be There was written by John Rostill and was first recorded by Olivia Newton-John in 1973 on her album of the same name. She was already established in the country music setting, but with the release of the 1978 movie Grease, her recorded music exploded into popularity and resurfaced to set record hits. While Let Me Be There occupied the US hits chart for a few weeks in 1973, it was a popular hit in the Top 20 for five years after the release of Grease. Once again, this is one of my favorite songs from my middle school years, 1977-78-79.

LET ME BE THERE – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN

Wherever you [C]go, [C7]wherever you may [F]wander in your [C]life.

Surely you know, I always wanna [G7]be there

Holding your [C]hand, [C7]and standing by to [F]catch you, when you [C]fall

Seeing you through – – [G7]in everything you [C]do.

–

CHORUS

Let me [C]be there in your [C7]morning,

Let me [F]be there in your night,

Let me [C]change whatever’s wrong,

And make it [Dm]right. (make it [G7]right)

Let me [C]take you through that [C7]wonderland

that [F]only two can share,

All I [C]ask you-oo-oo[G7]OO……. is let me be [C]there.

–

Watching you [C]grow, [C7] and going through the [F]changes in your [C]life

That’s how I [C]know, I always wanna [G7]be there

Whenever you [C]feel, [C7] you need a friend to [F]lean on, here I [C]am

Whenever you call – – [G7]you know I’ll be [C]there.

–

CHORUS

Let me [C]be there in your [C7]morning,

Let me [F]be there in your night,

Let me [C]change whatever’s wrong,

And make it [Dm]right. (make it [G7]right)

Let me [C]take you through that [C7]wonderland

that [F]only two can share,

All I [C]ask you-oo-oo[G7]OO……. is let me be [C]there.

 –

KEY CHANGE: D

Let me [D]be there in your [D7]morning,

Let me [G]be there in your night,

Let me [D]change whatever’s wrong,

And make it [Em]right. (make it [A7]right)

Let me [D]take you through that [D7]wonderland

that [G]only two can share,

All I [D]ask you-oo-oo[A7]OO……. is let me be [D]there [G]

All I [D]ask you-oo-oo[A7]OO……. is let me be [D]there.

It’s A Heartache

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This is a song from the “soft country rock” genre song of the 70’s, written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe. Bonnie Tyler recorded it in 1977 and it was a top chart hit that year in the UK and in Canada. For me, this song will forever be associated with the early pangs of love in the middle school years just before starting high school.

It’s a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler

It’s a [C] heartache, nothing but a [Em] heartache

Hits you when it’s [F] too late

Hits you when you’re [C] down [G]

It’s a [C] fool’s game, nothing but a [Em] fool’s game

Standing in the [F] cold rain

Feeling like a [C] clown [G]

It’s a [C] heartache, nothing but a [Em] heartache

Love him till your [F] arms break

Then he lets you [C] down [G]

–

It ain’t [F] right with love to [G] share

When you [Em] find he doesn’t [Am] care for [G] you

It ain’t [F] wise to need some[G]one

As much as [Em] I depended [Am] on [G] you

–

It’s a [C] heartache, nothing but a [Em] heartache

Hits you when it’s [F] too late

Hits you when you’re [C] down [G]

It’s a [C] fool’s game, nothing but a [Em] fool’s game

Standing in the [F] cold rain

Feeling like a [C] clown [G]

It’s a [C] heartache, nothing but a [Em] heartache

Love him till your [F] arms break

Then he lets you [C] down [G]

–

It ain’t [F] right with love to [G] share

When you [Em] find he doesn’t [Am] care for [G] you

It ain’t [F] wise to need some[G]one

As much as [Em] I depended [Am] on [G] you

–

Oh, it’s a [C] heartache, nothing but a [Em] heartache

Love him till your [F] arms break

Then he lets you [C] down [G]

It’s a [C] fool’s game, nothing but a [Em] fool’s game

Standing in the [F] cold rain

Feeling like a [C] clown [G]

It’s a [C] heartache

Ain’t No Sunshine

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This song won a Grammy for Bill Withers as Best R&B Song in 1972. Written in 1971, Withers was a factory worker who was struggling to go pro as a musician. He claimed the inspiration for this song came from viewing the movie, Days of Wine and Roses. The song had a huge resurgence of interest in the UK as well as Canada and the US in 1999 when it was used in a scene montage in the popular Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts movie, Notting Hill.

In Withers’ original recording, every instrument used was acoustic, so this song sounds best when played on an ukulele strung with a Low G string. The chord and strum pattern used are Am (4 strums), C (2 strums) G (2 strums), back to Am.

Ain’t No Sunshine

Intro: Am //// C // G //,  Am //// C // G //

[N.C.]Ain’t no sunshine when she’s [Am]gone [C][G]

[Am]It’s not [C]warm when [G]she’s a- [Am]way [C][G][Am]

Ain’t no [C]sunshine [G]when she’s [Dm7]gone,

and she’s always gone too [Em]long,

anytime she goes a-[Am] way……[C][G][Am]

–

Wonder [C]this time [G]where she’s [Am]gone [C][G][Am]

Wonder [C]if she’s [G]gone to [Am]stay [C][G][Am]

Ain’t no [C]sunshine [G]when she’s [Dm7]gone,

and this house just ain’t no [Em]home,

anytime she goes a-[Am] way……[C][G][Am]

Anytime she goes a-[Am] way…….[C][G][Am]

–

[N.C.] I know, I know, I know, I know, I know…… 26 X’s

I oughta [Dm7]LEAVE the young thing alone [Dm7-Em7-Am]

[Am]But there ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone! [C][G][Am]

–

Ain’t no [C]sunshine [G]when she’s [Am]gone [C][G][Am]

Only [C]dark-ness [G]every [Am]day…[C][G][Am]

Ain’t no [C]sunshine [G]when she’s [Dm7]gone,

and this house just ain’t no [Em]home,

anytime she goes a-[Am] way! [C][G][Am]

Anytime she goes a-[Am] way! [C][G][Am]

Anytime she goes a-[Am] way! [C][G][Am]

 

Gimme One Reason

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Gimme One Reason by Tracey Chapman was a blow-out hit following her 1988 chart topper with Fast Car. It took another 7 years before one of her songs topped the charts and it was this R&B song in 1995.

If you know the song, it will relatively easy for you to navigate the fret board with this easy chord progression, all in 7th’s: G7, C7, D7, C#7.

Gimme One Reason – Tracey Chapman

*Very slow tempo

CHORUS:

[G7]Gimme one reason to stay here

[C7] and I’ll [D7]turn right back a [G7]round.

[C7]Gimme one reason to stay here

       and I’ll [D7]turn right back a [G7]round.

Said, I [D7]don’t wanna leave you [D7]lone-[C#7] ly[C7],

You got to [D7]make me change my [G7]mind.

–

[G7]Baby, I got your number,

[C7]and I [D7]know that you got [G7]mine.

[C7]You know that I called you – I have [D7]called too many [G7]times.

You can [D7]call me, baby

[C#7]You can [C7]call me anytime

[D7]But you got to [G7]call me.

–

CHORUS

–

[G7] I don’t want no one to squeeze me,

[C7]they might [D7]take away my [G7]life.

I don’t [C7]want no one to squeeze me,

they might [D7]take away my [G7]life.

I just [D7]want someone to hold [C#7]me [C7]

and [D7]rock me through the [G7]night.

–

[G7] This youthful heart can love you,

[C7]Yeah, and [D7]give you what you [G7]need.

I said this [C7]youthful heart can love you,

Yeah, and [D7]give you what you [G7]need.

But I’m [D7]too old to go chasing [C#7]you a[C7]round

Wastin’ my [D7]precious ener[G7]gy.

–

CHORUS

–

[G7] Baby! Just give me one reason

[C7] Give me [D7]just one reason [G7]why.

Baby! [C7]Just give me one reason

Give me [D7]just one reason [G7]why I should stay.

Said, I [D7]told you that I loved you, [C#7] [C7]

and there [D7]ain’t no more to [G7]say!

One last interesting tidbit: Tracey Chapman was raised in Cleveland, OH, by her mother who bought her an ukulele at age 3. So, even though she graduated to a guitar by age 8 and remains a stellar player to this day, I like to believe that the uke is still her first love.

Hit the Road, Jack & Stray Cat Strut

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Although the popularity of Hit the Road, Jack is owed to Ray Charles, this song was written by his close friend Percy Mayfield in 1960. The song was not recorded by the singer-pianist until October 1961, but quickly became a smash R&B hit, making Rolling Stone’s list of “the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Although the Stray Cat Strut came out much later, it uses the same chord progression of Am, G, F and E7. It can be played at the same tempo as a medley with Hit the Road, Jack. The bolded-italic words are sung by the back-up singers, “the Rayelles”, so this song goes over really well when played in a group, having the ladies sing the bolded sections while the men sing Ray Charles’ part in plain text.

Stray Cat Strut:  http://www.scorpexuke.com/pdffiles/Stray_Cat_Strut_Am.pdf

These guys had just about the coolest video, topped only by their freaky hairdo’s, which they probably spent more time on than a hairdresser!

Hit the Road, Jack – Percy Mayfield, 1960

Tempo:  2/4 time, which in ukulele is going to be D+DU with an R&B feel.

Intro:           [Am]   [G]   [F]  [E7]

Hit the [Am]road, [G]Jack. [F]Don’t you come [E7]back no [Am]more, no [G]more, no [F]more, no [E7]more.

Hit the [Am]road, [G]Jack and [F]don’t you come [E7]back no [Am]more. [G] 

[F]What’d you [E7]say?

Woah [Am]woman, oh [G]woman, don’t [F]treat me so [E7]mean,

You’re the [Am]meanest old [G]woman that I’ve [F]ever [E7]seen.

I [Am]guess if [G]you say [F]so  [E7]

I’ll have to [Ampack my [G]things and [F]go.  (That’s right!)

CHORUS

*Continue on, following the chord progression Am, G, F, E7:

What’d you say?

Now baby, listen baby, don’t ya treat me this-a way

For I’ll be back on my feet some day.

(Don’t care if you do ’cause it’s understood

You ain’t got no money, you just ain’t no good.)

Well, I guess if you say so

I’d have to pack my things and go. (That’s right!)

CHORUS

Well…. (Don’t you come back no more.)

Uh, what’d you say? (Don’t you come back no more.)

I didn’t understand you. (Don’t you come back no more.)

You can’t mean that. (Don’t you come back no more.)

Oh, now baby, please! (Don’t you come back no more.)

What you tryin’ to do to me? (Don’t you come back no more.)

Oh, don’t treat me like that!  (Don’t you come back no more.)   Fade out……

Pineapple Princess

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Aloha! I found this song in a Jim Beloff songbook called Jumpin’ Jim’s Ukulele Beach Party. According to my research, Richard Sherman wrote this song exclusively for Annette Funicello for her 1962 album, “Hawaiiannette”. If you have an amazingly high voice you would be able to play and sing this song in Annette’s original key of F#, however the version I found in Beloff’s book was in the Key of G, and I found that to be a very favourable key to sing in, at about 2/3 the speed she sings it at! The video below features the song, but the scenes are from Beach Blanket Bingo and possibly other movies as well, so don’t be fooled into thinking this is the video for the song, or that this song was in that movie or any other.

I had the pleasure of meeting both Jim Beloff and his lovely wife Liz Beloff in September 2013, when my ukulele group held a workshop and concert event by them. Liz Beloff told me a charming story about how she and Jim had been invited to a Boxing Day Party in New York one year, and one of the guests expected was Richard Sherman. She decided this would be a wonderful opportunity to perform Pineapple Princess for him so she learned it and memorize it in time for the party. I couldn’t resist singing part of this cute lil’ song with her right then and there, making it a very memorable moment! I have performed this song many times as a solo while playing out with my group at nursing homes and organization dinners, and at Aloha Night at the Waterford Legion. This catchy tune is always an instant hit, especially the third or last verse. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Pineapple Princess – Words & Music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, 1962

Intro: D7 – G7 – C- G7

CHORUS:

Pineapple [C]Princess, he calls me Pineapple [G]Princess, all day

as he [D7]plays his ukulele on the [G]hill a-[C]bove the [G]Bay.

[G7]Pineapple [C]Princess, I love you, you’re the [G]sweetest girl I’ve seen.

Some [D7] day we’re gonna marry, and you’ll [G] be my [C] Pineapple [G] Queen!

Verse 1:

I [C]saw a boy on O[G]ahu Isle,

[D7] Floatin’ down the Bay on a [G]croc-[C]o-[G]dile.[G7]

He [C]waved at me and he [G]swam a-shore

And [D7] I knew he’d be mine forever [G]more.[C] [G]

CHORUS

He [C]sings his song from ba[G]nana trees

He [D7]even sings to me on his [G]wa-[C]ter [G]skiis. [G7]

We [C]went skin divin’ and be[G]neath the blue

He [D7]sang and played his ukulele [G]too. [C] [G]

[G7]Pineapple [C]Princess, I love you, you’re the [G]sweetest girl I’ve seen.

Some [D7] day we’re gonna marry, and you’ll [G]be my [C] Pineapple [G] Queen!

We’ll [C] settle down in a [G]Bamboo Hut.

And [D7] he will be my own little [G]Co[C]co[G]nut. [G7]

Then [C] we’ll be Beach-combin’ [G] Royalty

On [D7] wicky wicky wacky Waiki-[G]ki.[C] [G]

CHORUS

Ending:

Some [D7] day we’re gonna marry, and you’ll [G] be my [C] Pineapple [G] Queen.

*For the song including the chord boxes, the downloadable version is available under the SONGS tab.