The Hippopotamus Song
View chords used in this chart
Intro: G Em Am7 D
verse 1
G Em Am7 B7
A bold hippopotamus was standing one day
Em A7 D D7
On the banks of the cool Shalimar
G Em Am7 B7
He gazed at the bottom as he peacefully lay
Em A7 D D7
By the light of the evening star
Dm E Dm E
Away on a hilltop sat combing her hair
Dm E7 Am
A fair hippopotama maid
A7 D A7 D
The hippopotamus was no ignoramus
Am A7 D D7
And sang her this sweet serenade
[Refrão]
G Em Am7 D
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Em A7 D D7
There's nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
G G7 C A7
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
Am G D7 G Em Am7 D
And there let us wallow in glorious mud
verse 2
G Em Am7 B7
The fair hippopotama he aimed to entice
Em A7 D D7
From that seat on the hilltop above.
G Em Am7 B7
As she hadn't got a ma to give her advice
Em A7 D D7
Came tiptoeing down to her love.
Dm E Dm E
Like thunder the forest reechoed the sound
Dm E7 Am
Of the song that they sang as they met.
A7 D A7 D
His inamorata adjusted her garter
Am A7 D D7
And lifted her voice in duet.
[Refrão]
G Em Am7 D
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Em A7 D D7
There's nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
G G7 C A7
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
Am G D7 G Em Am7 D
And there let us wallow in glorious mud
verse 3
G Em Am7 B7
Then more hippopotami began to convene
Em A7 D D7
On the banks of that river so wide.
G Em Am7 B7
I wonder now what am I to say of the scene
Em A7 D D7
That ensued by the Shalimar side.
Dm E Dm E
They dived all at once with an ear-splitting Splosh
Dm E7 Am
Then rose to the surface again.
A7 D A7 D
A regular army of hippopotami
Am A7 D D7
All singing this haunting refrain.
[Refrão]
G Em Am7 D
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Em A7 D D7
There's nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
G G7 C A7
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
Am G D7 G
And there let us wallow in glorious mud
How to play The Hippopotamus Song
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.