Down At The Old Bull And Bush Song Lyrics And Guitar Chords
The Easy ukulele chords are included for version in D plus the 5 string banjo chords in the same key of D Major. Music composed by Harry von Tilzer; lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling sung by Florrie Forde. Also recorded for The Muppet Show. An English music hall song written around 1905. Guitar chords are suitable for the mandolin / banjo. My Old Man Said Follow The Van Song is also is also in the same tradition as being a music hall song.Down at the old bull and bush sheet music with tin whistle notes included.
Easy Guitar Chords Key of D Major
[D]Talk about the shade of the [G]sheltering palm
[A]Praise the bamboo tree
with it's [D]wide spreading charm,
[D]There's a little nook
down near [G]old Hampstead Town,
You [A]know the place it has one great renown,
[D]Often with my sweetheart on a [G]bright Summers day,
To [A]the little pub there my [D]footsteps will stray,
[D]If she hesitates when she [G]looks at the [A]sign,
Promptly I whisper, [A7]"Now do not decline."
[D]Come, come, come and make eyes at me
[A]down at the Old Bull and Bush,
Da, da, da, da, da,
[A]Come, come, drink some port wine with me,
[G]Down at the Old Bull and [D]Bush,
[D]Hear the little German Band,
Da, da, da, da, da,
Just let me[G] hold your hand [D]dear,
[D]Do, do come and have a drink or two
[A]down at the Old Bull and [D]Bush.
[D]Talk about the shade of the [G]sheltering palm
[A]Praise the bamboo tree
with it's [D]wide spreading charm,
[D]There's a little nook
down near [G]old Hampstead Town,
You [A]know the place it has one great renown,
[D]Often with my sweetheart on a [G]bright Summers day,
To [A]the little pub there my [D]footsteps will stray,
[D]If she hesitates when she [G]looks at the [A]sign,
Promptly I whisper, [A7]"Now do not decline."
[D]Come, come, come and make eyes at me
[A]down at the Old Bull and Bush,
Da, da, da, da, da,
[A]Come, come, drink some port wine with me,
[G]Down at the Old Bull and [D]Bush,
[D]Hear the little German Band,
Da, da, da, da, da,
Just let me[G] hold your hand [D]dear,
[D]Do, do come and have a drink or two
[A]down at the Old Bull and [D]Bush.
Here’s the full transposition, all verses and chorus, plus a fitting strumming pattern for that jaunty pub feel 🍻
🎵 Down at the Old Bull and Bush
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~100 BPM (medium lively)
Time Signature: 3/4 or 6/8 swing (pub waltz feel)
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Try a waltz-style (3/4) pattern — one strong beat, two lighter ones:
↓ – ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 – 2 &)
or, for a brisk 6/8 “pub swing” feel:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ (repeat each bar)
This gives a cheerful bounce — perfect for singalongs.
🎶 Verse
[G]Talk about the shade of the [C]sheltering palm,
[D]Praise the bamboo tree with its [G]wide-spreading charm,
[G]There's a little nook down near [C]old Hampstead Town,
You [D]know the place, it has one great renown.
[G]Often with my sweetheart on a [C]bright summer’s day,
To [D]the little pub there my [G]footsteps will stray,
[G]If she hesitates when she [C]looks at the [D]sign,
Promptly I whisper, [D7]"Now do not decline."
🎵 Chorus
[G]Come, come, come and make eyes at me
[D]Down at the Old Bull and Bush,
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
[D]Come, come, drink some port wine with me,
[C]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush.
[G]Hear the little German band,
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
Just let me [C]hold your hand, [G]dear,
[G]Do, do come and have a drink or two
[D]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush!
💡 Performance Tips
Strum lightly through the verses, stronger on each “Come, come” in the chorus.
For the final chorus, you can slow slightly on the last line and give a big finish on the final G chord.
Add a walking bass run (G–A–B) between chords for a bit of that merry pub flair.
🎵 Down at the Old Bull and Bush
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~100 BPM (medium lively)
Time Signature: 3/4 or 6/8 swing (pub waltz feel)
🎸 Strumming Pattern
Try a waltz-style (3/4) pattern — one strong beat, two lighter ones:
↓ – ↓ ↑
(Count: 1 – 2 &)
or, for a brisk 6/8 “pub swing” feel:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ (repeat each bar)
This gives a cheerful bounce — perfect for singalongs.
🎶 Verse
[G]Talk about the shade of the [C]sheltering palm,
[D]Praise the bamboo tree with its [G]wide-spreading charm,
[G]There's a little nook down near [C]old Hampstead Town,
You [D]know the place, it has one great renown.
[G]Often with my sweetheart on a [C]bright summer’s day,
To [D]the little pub there my [G]footsteps will stray,
[G]If she hesitates when she [C]looks at the [D]sign,
Promptly I whisper, [D7]"Now do not decline."
🎵 Chorus
[G]Come, come, come and make eyes at me
[D]Down at the Old Bull and Bush,
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
[D]Come, come, drink some port wine with me,
[C]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush.
[G]Hear the little German band,
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
Just let me [C]hold your hand, [G]dear,
[G]Do, do come and have a drink or two
[D]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush!
💡 Performance Tips
Strum lightly through the verses, stronger on each “Come, come” in the chorus.
For the final chorus, you can slow slightly on the last line and give a big finish on the final G chord.
Add a walking bass run (G–A–B) between chords for a bit of that merry pub flair.
🎵 Down at the Old Bull and Bush (G Major with Walking Bass)
Style: Pub Waltz / 6⁄8 Swing
Strumming Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
or
↓ – ↓ ↑ (for slower 3/4 feel)
Tip: Accent the first beat in each bar, keep beats 2 and 3 light.
🎶 Verse (with runs)
[G]Talk about the shade of the [C]sheltering palm,
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[D]Praise the bamboo tree with its [G]wide-spreading charm,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]There's a little nook down near [C]old Hampstead Town,
(C Bass run: C–B–A–G)
You [D]know the place, it has one great re[G]nown.
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[G]Often with my sweetheart on a [C]bright summer’s day,
(C Bass run: C–B–A–G)
To [D]the little pub there my [G]footsteps will stray,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]If she hesitates when she [C]looks at the [D]sign,
(C Bass run: C–B–A) (D) Promptly I whisper, [D7]"Now do not de[G]cline."
🎵 Chorus (with runs)
[G]Come, come, come and make eyes at me
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[D]Down at the Old Bull and Bush,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
[D]Come, come, drink some port wine with me,
(C Bass run: C–B–A–G)
[C]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush.
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]Hear the little German band,
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
Just let me [C]hold your hand, [G]dear,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]Do, do come and have a drink or two
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[D]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush!
🎸 How to Play the Bass Runs
Here’s a few examples of how the walking bass runs connect your chords:
Between G → C
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-2-3-------------| (A–B–C)
E|-----------------|
Between C → G
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-3-2-0-----------| (C–B–A–G)
E|-----------------|
Between D → G
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|0-2-4-5----------| (D–E–F#–G)
A|-----------------|
E|-----------------|
💡 Performance Notes
Strum lightly on beats 2 & 3, emphasize beat 1 + bass runs.
Let your thumb pluck bass notes, and your fingers strum the rest.
End with a big final downstroke on G and let it ring.
Style: Pub Waltz / 6⁄8 Swing
Strumming Pattern:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
or
↓ – ↓ ↑ (for slower 3/4 feel)
Tip: Accent the first beat in each bar, keep beats 2 and 3 light.
🎶 Verse (with runs)
[G]Talk about the shade of the [C]sheltering palm,
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[D]Praise the bamboo tree with its [G]wide-spreading charm,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]There's a little nook down near [C]old Hampstead Town,
(C Bass run: C–B–A–G)
You [D]know the place, it has one great re[G]nown.
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[G]Often with my sweetheart on a [C]bright summer’s day,
(C Bass run: C–B–A–G)
To [D]the little pub there my [G]footsteps will stray,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]If she hesitates when she [C]looks at the [D]sign,
(C Bass run: C–B–A) (D) Promptly I whisper, [D7]"Now do not de[G]cline."
🎵 Chorus (with runs)
[G]Come, come, come and make eyes at me
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[D]Down at the Old Bull and Bush,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
[D]Come, come, drink some port wine with me,
(C Bass run: C–B–A–G)
[C]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush.
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]Hear the little German band,
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da!
Just let me [C]hold your hand, [G]dear,
(G Bass run: G–A–B–C)
[G]Do, do come and have a drink or two
(D Bass run: D–E–F#–G)
[D]Down at the Old Bull and [G]Bush!
🎸 How to Play the Bass Runs
Here’s a few examples of how the walking bass runs connect your chords:
Between G → C
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-2-3-------------| (A–B–C)
E|-----------------|
Between C → G
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-3-2-0-----------| (C–B–A–G)
E|-----------------|
Between D → G
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|0-2-4-5----------| (D–E–F#–G)
A|-----------------|
E|-----------------|
💡 Performance Notes
Strum lightly on beats 2 & 3, emphasize beat 1 + bass runs.
Let your thumb pluck bass notes, and your fingers strum the rest.
End with a big final downstroke on G and let it ring.
Down at the old bull and bush sheet music with tin whistle notes
An Old English music hall
Down at the old bull and bush guitar tab and chords
Back to Lyrics And Chords From C-F
Down at the old bull and bush lyrics
The Old Bull And Bush Pub
