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The Lodger

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A true wordsmith in idiosyncratic English humour.
AmMy landlady had three lovely Edaughters.
They Eused to come and make my bed each Amday
They Amused to come and clean my living Equarters,
But their Emother made quite sure they didn't Amstay.
There was DmMary: she seemed chary;
There was AmHelen: she seemed well and truly sEceptical
about my qualiAmties;
There was DmJulie: she was truly well-proAmportioned, but her
caution brought Eexhaustion on my aching arteAmries.
But I was Amwrong: they weren't at all imEpervious
To the Epossibilities of high romAmance
And I Amsensed a certain girlish Enerviness
In the Eway they folded my pyjama Ampants.
And I was Dmright, for late one night
Sweet little AmMary, like a fairy,
As I lay Esleeping, came a-creeping to my Amside.
She was Dmmine: it was divine - but we were Amdoomed, for very soon
Into the Eroom came sister Helen, and she (3/4) Amcried:Am  Am  Am  
"AMary, go to Ebed!" E7Off Mary Awent.
"Now, A7young man," Helen Dsaid, "Efor your punishAment,
"AWe mustn't have a Efight, we E7mustn't make a Arow:
"TAurn off the Dlight - Eit's my turn (4/4) Amnow!"Am  Am  Am  
Well, after Amall, I'm young and relatively Evigorous,
And Ethough I still protest my innoAmcence,
By Amtemperament I'm strictly un-poElygamous,
And if I Esinned, I sinned in self-deAmfence.
NevertheDmless I must confess I wouldn't Ammiss that
sort of bliss And when it Eended I was rendered comaAmtose.
When, loud and Dmclear, very near, in my Amear a loud
voice spoke  And I was aEwoken from my post-coital (3/4) Amdoze.Am  Am  Am  
"AHelen, go to Ebed!" E7Helen went aAway.
"Now, A7young man," Julie Dsaid, "Eyou will have to Apay!
A"You've blighted Helen's Echarms, E7filched her puriAty.
A"Open up your Darms - Ecome and filch (4/4) Amme!"Am  Am  Am  
I was aAmmazed, and really rather Etired;
I thought I'd Egiven all that I could Amgive.
A little Amkip was all that I deEsired,
But I'm EBritish, so my upper lip was Amstiff.
She was chaDmotic, idiotic, quite exAmotic and ecstatic,
AcroEbatic and emphatically Amfine.
All to no Dmgood, for when I could open my Ameyes, to my
surprise I found her Emother looking into (3/4) Ammine.Am  Am  Am  
"AJulie, go to Ebed!" E7Julie left the Ascene.
"Now Alisten, Ma," I Dsaid, "I Eknow the old rouAtine.
"I'll Ado what you Dlike, but EI shall be Avexed
"And I'll Abloody well go on Dstrike Eif Grandma's Amnext!"Am  

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The Lodger

by Jake Thackray

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

A true wordsmith in idiosyncratic English humour.

Am E

My landlady had three lovely daughters.

E Am

They used to come and make my bed each day

Am E

They used to come and clean my living quarters,

E Am

But their mother made quite sure they didn't stay.

There was Mary: she seemed chary;

Am E

There was Helen: she seemed well and truly sceptical

about my qualities;

Dm Am

There was Julie: she was truly well-proportioned, but her

E Am

caution brought exhaustion on my aching arteries.

Am E

But I was wrong: they weren't at all impervious

E Am

To the possibilities of high romance

Am E

And I sensed a certain girlish nerviness

E Am

In the way they folded my pyjama pants.

And I was right, for late one night

Sweet little Mary, like a fairy,

E Am

As I lay sleeping, came a-creeping to my side.

Dm Am

She was mine: it was divine - but we were doomed, for very soon

E Am Am Am Am

Into the room came sister Helen, and she (3/4) cried:

A E E7 A

"Mary, go to bed!" Off Mary went.

A7 D E A

"Now, young man," Helen said, "for your punishment,

A E E7 A

"We mustn't have a fight, we mustn't make a row:

A D E Am Am Am Am

"Turn off the light - it's my turn (4/4) now!"

Am E

Well, after all, I'm young and relatively vigorous,

E Am

And though I still protest my innocence,

Am E

By temperament I'm strictly un-polygamous,

E Am

And if I sinned, I sinned in self-defence.

Dm Am

Nevertheless I must confess I wouldn't miss that

E Am

sort of bliss And when it ended I was rendered comatose.

Dm Am

When, loud and clear, very near, in my ear a loud

E Am Am Am Am

voice spoke And I was awoken from my post-coital (3/4) doze.

A E E7 A

"Helen, go to bed!" Helen went away.

A7 D E A

"Now, young man," Julie said, "you will have to pay!

A E E7 A

"You've blighted Helen's charms, filched her purity.

A D E Am Am Am Am

"Open up your arms - come and filch (4/4) me!"

Am E

I was amazed, and really rather tired;

E Am

I thought I'd given all that I could give.

Am E

A little kip was all that I desired,

E Am

But I'm British, so my upper lip was stiff.

Dm Am

She was chaotic, idiotic, quite exotic and ecstatic,

E Am

Acrobatic and emphatically fine.

Dm Am

All to no good, for when I could open my eyes, to my

E Am Am Am Am

surprise I found her mother looking into (3/4) mine.

A E E7 A

"Julie, go to bed!" Julie left the scene.

A D E A

"Now listen, Ma," I said, "I know the old routine.

A D E A

"I'll do what you like, but I shall be vexed

A D E Am Am

"And I'll bloody well go on strike if Grandma's next!"

About The Lodger Chords by Jake Thackray

Learn how to play The Lodger by Jake Thackray with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Lodger chords”, “The Lodger guitar chords”, or “Jake Thackray The Lodger 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 The Lodger chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Lodger lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Am, E, Dm, E7, A7.

FAQ — The Lodger by Jake Thackray

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What key is "The Lodger" in?

The chords for "The Lodger" show the original chord names (including A, Am, E, Dm, E7, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.