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Home Lay, Lady, Lay by Bob Dylan – Ukulele Chords

Lay, Lady, Lay by Bob Dylan – Ukulele Chords

by Per Kjeller
written by Per Kjeller
Lay, Lady, Lay Ukulele Chords - Bob Dylan

Lay, Lady, Lay Ukulele Chords – Bob Dylan. This song uses the chords: A, C#min, G, Bmin, E, F#min, D. You can change the key for free, as needed.

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Lay, Lady, Lay Ukulele Chords – Bob Dylan

INTRO:

A C#min G Bmin x2

VERSE 1:
ALay, lady, C#min/G#lay G lay across my Bminbig brass AbedC#min G Bmin ALay, lady, C#minlay Glay across Bminmy big brass AbedC#min G Bmin
EWhatever F#mincolors you have A in your mindD/A A D/A A EI‘ll show them F#minto you A and you’ll see them shine
ALay, lady, C#min/G#lay, G lay across my big brass bed
VERSE 2:
AStay, lady, C#min/G#stay Gstay with your Bminman aAwhileC#min G Bmin AUntil the break C#min/G#of day Glet me see you Bminmake him smileA C#min G Bmin
EHis clothes are F#mindirty, but his A his hands are cleanD/A A D/A A EAnd you’re the F#minbest thing that he’s A ever seenD/A A D/A A
AStay, lady, C#min/G#stay Gstay with your Bminman awhileA C#min G Bmin
BRIDGE:
C#minWhy wait any longer for the Eworld F#minto begAin?D/A A D/A A C#minYou can have your cake and eat it toAo D/A A C#minWhy wait any longer for the Eone F#minyou AloveWhen he’s C#minstanding in front of Bminyou?
VERSE 3:
ALay, lady, C#minlay G lay across my Bminbig brass AbedC#min G Bmin AStay, lady, C#minstay G stay while the Bminnight is still aAheadC#min G Bmin
EI long to F#minsee you in the Amorning lightD/A A D/A A EI long to F#minreach for you A in the nightD/A A D/A A
AStay, lady, C#min/G#stay Gstay while the Bminnight is still aAhead
A C#min G Bmin A Bmin C#min D A
Lay, Lady,Lay Ukulele Chords - Bob Dylan
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“Lay, Lady, Lay” History:

🎵 Basic Facts

  • Artist: Bob Dylan
  • Album: Nashville Skyline (1969)
  • Released as single: July 1969
  • Genre: Country rock / Nashville sound
  • Producer: Bob Johnston

🎧 Musical Style & Sound

This song surprised a lot of fans at the time. Dylan had been known for his nasal, biting vocal style, but here he sings in a warm, low croon—almost like a country balladeer.

Musically, it leans heavily into the Nashville sound:

  • Smooth rhythm section
  • Prominent pedal steel guitar
  • A subtle but memorable drum pattern (with those soft, rolling toms)
  • Laid-back, intimate production

It feels relaxed, seductive, and very un-Dylan-like compared to his earlier protest songs.

✍️ Lyrics & Meaning

At its core, “Lay, Lady, Lay” is about romantic desire and urgency.

The narrator is asking a woman to stay with him—right now, not later:

“Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile”

Themes include:

  • Living in the moment
  • Choosing love over obligations
  • A sense of gentle persuasion, even temptation

There’s also a subtle tension: the woman may have other commitments, but he’s trying to pull her into a more immediate, emotional connection.

🎬 Interesting Backstory

  • The song was originally considered for the soundtrack of Midnight Cowboy, but it wasn’t finished in time.
  • It became one of Dylan’s biggest commercial hits, reaching:
    • #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
  • It helped redefine Dylan’s image during his “country phase.”

🎙️ Vocal Shift

This track is often cited as one of the clearest examples of Dylan’s vocal reinvention:

  • Gone is the sharp edge of songs like “Like a Rolling Stone”
  • In its place is a smooth, intimate tone that fits the song’s mood perfectly

That shift played a big role in the album’s success.

🌟 Legacy

“Lay, Lady, Lay” remains:

  • One of Dylan’s most accessible and radio-friendly songs
  • A staple of his late-60s reinvention
  • A track that broadened his audience beyond folk and protest music

It’s also been covered by many artists across genres, showing how adaptable and timeless it is.

 

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