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Uncle Pen

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

CAPO: 2nd Fret/KEY: A/PLAY: G
(G) Oh, the people would come from far away
They'd dance all night till the (C) break of day (G)
When the caller hollered "do-si-do"
You knew Uncle Pen was (C) ready to go. (G) (G7) 
CHORUS,
(C) Late in the ev'nin' a-(G) bout sundown.-
High on the hill and a-(D) bove the town (G)so
Well Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lordy, how it would ring
You could (G)hear it talk, you could (G) hear it sing.  
He played an old piece he called "Soldier's Joy"
And the one he called "Boston Boy"
The greatest of all was "Jenny Lynn"
To me that's where fidd'lin' began. 
CHORUS, 
I'll never forget that mournful day
When Uncle Pen was called away
They hung up his fiddle, they hung up his bow
They knew it was time for him to go. 
CHORUS,

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

"Uncle Pen" is Bill Monroe's heartfelt tribute to his uncle and musical mentor, Pendleton Vandiver. The song paints a picture of lively nights where people would come from far away to dance until the break of day, drawn in by the music that would "talk" and "sing." It evokes the spirit of the old-time fiddling and family music that shaped Monroe's early life in Kentucky, a sound he would later define as bluegrass. At its heart, it's a celebration of a beloved figure whose musical legacy brought joy to many.

AI-written from these sources:Uncle Pen (song) — Wikipedia ↗Bill Monroe — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Uncle Pen

Uncle Pen

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Uncle Pen

by Bill Monroe

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

CAPO: 2nd Fret/KEY: A/PLAY: G

() Oh, the people would come from far away

C G

They'd dance all night till the () break of day ()

When the caller hollered "do-si-do"

C G G7

You knew Uncle Pen was () ready to go. () ()

CHORUS,

C G

() Late in the ev'nin' a-() bout sundown.-

D G

High on the hill and a-() bove the town ()so

Well Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lordy, how it would ring

G G

You could ()hear it talk, you could () hear it sing.

He played an old piece he called "Soldier's Joy"

And the one he called "Boston Boy"

The greatest of all was "Jenny Lynn"

To me that's where fidd'lin' began.

CHORUS,

I'll never forget that mournful day

When Uncle Pen was called away

They hung up his fiddle, they hung up his bow

They knew it was time for him to go.

CHORUS,

About Uncle Pen Chords by Bill Monroe

Learn how to play Uncle Pen by Bill Monroe with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Uncle Pen chords”, “Uncle Pen guitar chords”, or “Bill Monroe Uncle Pen chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Uncle Pen chords and for experienced players who want accurate Uncle Pen lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, C, G7, D.

FAQ — Uncle Pen by Bill Monroe

How do I play "Uncle Pen" by Bill Monroe on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Uncle Pen" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Uncle Pen" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Uncle Pen"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Uncle Pen" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Uncle Pen" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Uncle Pen" by Bill Monroe with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bill Monroe below.

What key is "Uncle Pen" in?

The chords for "Uncle Pen" show the original chord names (including A, G, C, G7, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.