Sing-Along with Mele Fong | I’m an Old Cowhand (Song with story, strum, lyrics, and chords)

Experience a “Sing-Along with Mele Fong” class as Mele on ukulele and husband Rich on u-bass led students in playing I’m an Old Cowhand with Hum Ding-Ah Strum and 4And Strum as the song lyrics and ukulele chords were projected on the large screen at Kaunoa Senior Center for adults 55 and better on Maui. We sang the song twice and learned the story behind the song in keeping with Hawaiian oral history traditions (although the song was not Hawaiian). Student Artie Parti played along on his electric guitar (he is in the photo with us).
I’m an Old Cowhand was written by Johnny Mercer in 1936 for the film Rhythm on the Range sung by its star, Bing Crosby. The song was born during the composer’s car trip from California across the U.S. to Savannah after having apparently failed to succeed in Hollywood. Mercer was amused by the sight of cowboys with spurs and 10-gallon hats driving cars and trucks instead of riding horses. Singing cowboys were popular in films and on radio back then, and within 15-minutes, writing on the back of an envelope, Mercer transferred the images he was seeing into a song with satirical lyrics. The lyrics about a 20th century cowboy have little in common with cowboys of old. The song became a hit and furthered the composer’s career. The Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Westerns of all time.
This song was part of the “Sing-Along Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) Songs” one-hour class on February 16, 2023, with 15 students signed up.
CLICK ON THE TIMESTAMP BELOW TO JUMP TO THE SONG to learn the story behind it, sing, and play along as we sing the song twice.
Timestamp:
Story behind the song: 0:18
I’m an Old Cowhand (with intro): 1:35
Song second time around (without intro): 4:41
PLAY ALONG WITH MELE FONG - Get the song sheets for I’m An Old Cowhand with Hum Ding-Ah Strum and 4And Strum for ukulele, chords, lyrics, and more at drive.google.com/file/d/18c0W...
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Native Hawaiian Mele Fong from Maui is an experienced educator and professional entertainer with over 50 years experience playing the 'ukulele - Hawaii's official instrument. Are UKE having fun yet? Watch. Listen. Play. The Ukulele Mele Way!

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Learn the story behind the song and then sing and/or play along to the song while watching the lyrics and ukulele chords projected on the screen in the video above. DOWNLOAD THE SONG SHEETS by clicking on the video link in the description above.