Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny Ukulele Chords
Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Ukulele G chord diagram
Ukulele C chord diagram
Ukulele D chord diagram
Ukulele A chord diagram
Ukulele G7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]
There’s a [G]house on a hill
By a [C]worn down weathered old [G]mill
In the valley be[D]low where the river winds
There’s no such thing as bad [G]times
[chorus]
[G]And a soft southern flame
Oh [C]Cotton Jenny’s her [G]name
And she wakes me [D]up when the sun goes down
And the wheels of love go [G]round
[chorus]
[G]Wheels of love go [C]round
Love go [G]round, love go [A]round
What a joyful [D]sound
I ain’t [G]got a penny for [C]Cotton Jenny to [D]spend
But then the wheels go [G]round
[interlude]
[G] [C] [G7] [C]
[section 2]
When a [G]new day begins
I go [C]down to the cotton [G]gin
And I make my [D]time worth while to them
Then I climb back up a[G]gain
[section 3]
[G]And she waits by the door
Oh [C]Cotton Jenny I’m [G]sore
And she rubs my [D]feet while the sun goes down
And the wheel of love goes [G]round
[chorus]
[G]Wheels of love go [C]round
Love go [G]round, love go [A]round
What a joyful [D]sound
I ain’t [G]got a penny for [C]Cotton Jenny to [D]spend
But then the wheels go [G]round
[interlude]
[G] [C] [G7] [C]
[Closing]
In the [G]hot, sickly south
When they [C]say we’ll shut my [G]mouth
I can never be [D]free from the cotton grind
But I know I got what’s [G]mine
[chorus]
[G]She’s a soft southern flame
Oh [C]Cotton Jenny’s her [G]name
She wakes me [D]up when the sun goes down
And the wheels of love go [G]round
[chorus]
[G]Wheels of love go [C]round
Love go [G]round, love go [A]round
What a joyful [D]sound
I ain’t [G]got a penny for [C]Cotton Jenny to [D]spend
But then the wheels go [G]round
[outro]
[G] [C] [G7] [C]
How to play Cotton Jenny on Ukulele (Step-by-step)
Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny on ukulele requires 5 chords and 6 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Cotton Jenny uses these transitions most often: G → C (15), D → G (12), and C → G (11). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - C chord transition.
1. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- While playing G, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.
3. G → A chord transition
To move from G to A;
- While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
- Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
4. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on E string fret 2.
5. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 2.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
6. C → G7 chord transition
To move from C to G7;
- Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
- Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
Cotton Jenny chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Cotton Jenny.
- Cotton Jenny includes 59 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
- Cotton Jenny contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
- These transition patterns show how Cotton Jenny connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → D: 24%
After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → D: 11%