Skip To My Lou - Chords, Lyrics and Origins
Origins
A ubiquitous barn dance tune, Skip to my Lou is a traditional American song that is associated with Pete Seeger and Lead Belly, and which has been recorded numerous times, including by Nat King Cole and Judy Garland. The 'Lou' of the title is probably an anglicisation of the Scottish 'loo' meaning (not lavatory, but) 'love'. In the traditional barn dance a man without a partner stands in a circle of dancers and picks a new one to dance with - hence 'skip to my lou'. In addition to its role as a barn or line dancing standard, Skip to my Lou is also popular as a children's song, hence its many appealing, but largely non-sensical verses, a selection of which I've provided in the lyrics below.
Chords
Capo at 2nd Fret
Verse
C
Lost my partner - what'll I do?
G7
Lost my partner - what'll I do?
C
Lost my partner - what'll I do?
G7 C
Skip to my lou my darling.
Chorus
C
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
G7
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
C
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
G7 C
Skip to my lou my darling.
Lyrics
Lost my partner - what'll I do?
Lost my partner - what'll I do?
Lost my partner - what'll I do?
Skip to my lou my darling.
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Skip to my lou my darling.
I'll get another one, prettier than you,
I'll get another one, prettier than you,
I'll get another one, prettier than you,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do,
Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do,
Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Little red wagon, painted in blue,
Little red wagon, painted in blue,
Little red wagon, painted in blue,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Fly in the sugar bowl - shoo, shoo, shoo,
Fly in the sugar bowl - shoo, shoo, shoo,
Fly in the sugar bowl - shoo, shoo, shoo,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Skip to my lou my darling.
My old shoe is torn in two,
My old shoe is torn in two,
My old shoe is torn in two,
Skip to my lou my darling.
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Hey, hey, skip to my lou,
Skip to my lou my darling.