Skip to song content
Ukulelearn homepage

Elvis Costello - Oliver’s Army Ukulele Chords

Chord reference A, D, E, C#, F#m, B, G#m, F#, D#
Rhythm tips ↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

[A] [D] [E] [A] [D] [E] [A]Don’t start that talking, [D]I could [E]talk all night [A]My mind goes sleepwalking, [D]while I’m [C#]putting the world to [F#m]right Called careers [B]information, [F#m]have you got your[B]self an [E]occupation

[A]Oliver’s Army is [D]here to [E]stay, [A]Oliver’s Army are [D]on their [E]way [A]And I would [F#m]rather be [A]anywhere [D]else, than [E]here [A]today

[A] [D] [E] [A]There was a Checkpoint Charlie, [D]he didn’t [E]crack a smile [A]But it’s no laughing party, [D]when you’ve been [C#]on the murder [F#m]mile Only takes one [B]itchy trigger, [F#m]one more widow, one [B]less white [E]nigger

[A]Oliver’s Army is [D]here to [E]stay, [A]Oliver’s Army are [D]on their [E]way [A]And I would [F#m]rather be [A]anywhere [D]else, than [E]here [A]today

[A] [D] [E] [G#m]Hong Kong is [F#]up for grabs, [E]London is [D#]full of Arabs [C#]We could be in [F#]Palestine, [E]overrun by the [F#]Chinese line With the [E]boys from the Mersey and the [F#]Thames and the Tyne

[B]But there’s no danger, [E]it’s a [F#]professional career [B]Though it could be arranged with [E]just a word in [D#]Mister Churchill’s [G#m]ear If you’re out of [C#]luck, or if you’re out of [G#m]work, we could send you [C#]to Jo[F#]hannes[B]burg [E] [F#]

[B]Olivers Army is [E]here to [F#]stay, [B]Olivers Army are [E]on their [F#]way [B]And I would [G#m]rather be [B]anywhere [E]else, than [F#]here [B]today And [B]I would [G#m]rather be [B]anywhere [E]else, than [F#]here [B]today And [B]I would [G#m]rather be [B]anywhere [E]else, than [F#]here [B]today

[B] [E] [F#] [B] [E] [F#]

Artist Elvis Costello
Album Armed Forces
Genres Pop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year 1979
Key A

How to Play Oliver's Army on Ukulele?

Elvis Costello - Oliver's Army can be played in the key of A using the A, D, E, C#, F#m, B, G#m, F#, D# chords.

  • For A, To play A, press fret 2 on the G string with finger 3, press fret 1 on the C string with finger 2, leave E, A open.
  • For D, To play D, barre fret 2 across G–E with finger 1, leave A open.
  • For E, To play E, press fret 4 on the G string with finger 3, press fret 4 on the C string with finger 3, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2, leave E open.
  • For C#, To play C# | Db, barre fret 1 across G–E with finger 1, press fret 4 on the A string with finger 2.
  • For F#m, To play F#m | Gbm, press fret 2 on the G string with finger 3, press fret 1 on the C string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the E string with finger 3, leave A open.
  • For B, To play B, barre fret 2 across E–A with finger 1, press fret 4 on the G string with finger 3, press fret 3 on the C string with finger 2.
  • For G#m, To play G#m | Abm, press fret 4 on the G string with finger 4, press fret 3 on the C string with finger 3, press fret 4 on the E string with finger 4, press fret 2 on the A string with finger 2.
  • For F#, To play F# | Gb, press fret 3 on the G string with finger 4, press fret 1 on the C string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the E string with finger 3, press fret 1 on the A string with finger 2.
  • For D#, To play D# | Eb, press fret 3 on the C string with finger 3, press fret 3 on the E string with finger 3, press fret 1 on the A string with finger 2, leave G open.

Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat.

You can play Oliver's Army with the ↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.