What's so funny 'bout Peace Love & Understanding

This is one of several Nick Lowe songs in my pile of 365. He just writes so many good ones.

Blue Moon

Another challenge courtesy of the Ukulele Underground weekly theme. Apparently this song is on the soundtrack of a video game I have never heard of. Anyway, that's why I am doing a song I have never played before, in a camper van. At least the sun us out.

Handle With Care

Written by The Travelling Wilburys according to the credits, but I am pretty sure it is mostly George Harrison. It has that George feel to it.

Sharp Dressed Man

Not a beard in sight.

You Angel You

This one was written by Bob Dylan, but people of a certain vintage might remember that it was a hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Every Part Of Me

Sunday's Steve Earle song led me to this one, a real gem in my humble opinion.

Restless Legs

A long time favourite of mine, Half Man Half Biscuit are, quite honestly, a bit of a legend. A new album every few years, rarely more than a handful of live shows each year, not a lot of publicity, and songs which are mostly about mundane daily matters, and sometimes 70s TV personalities. This one is for insomniacs everywhere.

Going Back Home

I'm delighted to hear that the great survivor Wilko Johnson has a new album coming out - his first new material for 30 years. This one is from even further back in 1975, from his Dr Feelgood days.

What's A Simple Man To Do?

For those that don't know (like I didn't) a Maquiladora is a factory in Mexico run by a foreign company and exporting its products to that company's country of origin. And the other fact for the day is that Steve Earle writes some great songs.

What Do I Get?

I don't know what happens in other parts of the world, but here, if someone sees you with a ukulele, they often say "Ooh, do you know any George Formby songs?"
My stock reply? "No, but here's a Buzzcocks one..."

Mad World

I have lost count of the times I have seen this song described as "the Gary Jules song". No. Tears For Fears. So there.

Keep Me In Your Heart For A While

It's birthday request time again. This time it's for my lovely wife, Sam, who has to put up with all of this ukulele nonsense. She heard this Warren Zevon song via the great Alfie Boe. Hope she's not expecting a similar vocal performance.

Roving Gambler

That list of 100 bluegrass songs (see Monday) has thrown up another that I know, so what the heck. Seventies disco and punk classics can wait until another day.

The Prickle Eye Bush

What's this? A traditional song? For the folk purists, it is derived from Child Ballad No95, and there are countless variations recorded by everyone from Leadbelly to Led Zeppelin, usually involving a maid and a gallows pole. The one I know best is by Jon Boden and Bellowhead. My own Prickle Eye Bush makes a guest appearance behind me.

I'll Fly Away

Back home again, and I have been challenged to do a bluegrass song. Now, me and bluegrass aren't that well acquainted, but helpfully I was given a list of the top 100 bluegrass songs, and this was on it. Phew, one I know. Just imagine a mandolin and a couple of fiddles and the illusion is complete.

King Of The Road

Direct from a soggy camper van somewhere near Howarth.

Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?

This is where things get tricky. Away in a camper van. No broadband. No laptop. Just a phone and not much of a signal. And a Waterboys song.

Blackberry Way

Feb 3rd was the last Roy Wood song, so it must be about time for another. Here's one of his hits with The Move, and he clearly didn't have the ukulele in mind when he wrote it (unless he is a particularly fiendish uke player.)

As Tears Go By

A pretty little Rolling Stones song today. One of the first songs written by Jagger & Richards, apparently they thought it was a load of tripe, but their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, said it was a hit. Originally called "As Time Goes By", he changed Time to Tears, hence his writing credit. Easy money.

It's A Sin

Yes, even the Pet Shop Boys. Nothing is safe from the #365ukesongs ukulele.

Top Of The World

100 songs done! Just the small matter of 265 still to go. And £650 still to raise, to get to the point where every song equals a solar lamp for a family in Africa. Commercial over, what's today's song?
I have always had a soft spot for The Carpenters, possibly because when I was growing up, their Greatest Hits album was one of the few pop records we had in the house, before I was allowed to spend my own money on music (big mistake...). Anyway, here's one from them.

Hold Me Close

Here's one written by that cheeky chappy David Essex. 43 years ago. Really?

If I Needed You

Many years ago I went to see an American songwriter play in a pub in York, to an audience of about fifty people. Hard to believe it now, but that man was the late great Townes Van Zandt, the writer of dozens of classy songs. A troubled soul, but here's one that he left us.

Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

Following on from yesterday's song, here is something which definitely ain't true.

It Ain't Always True

Something a bit different today - a brand new song. Well, a few days old. It was written earlier this week by Pabrizzer, a ukulele player from Australia. He posted it in the weekly challenge on the Ukulele Underground forum - the theme this week is songs with "Ain't" in the lyrics - and as soon as I heard it I knew I had to give it a try.

Don't Come The Cowboy With Me

Here's another of the gems that Kirsty MacColl produced. OK, so she wrote it from the girl's point of view, but what the heck, I'll do it anyway.

On The Wings Of A Nightingale

A song written for The Everly Brothers by Paul McCartney. Is there a better pedigree than that? They recorded it around the time of their reunion in the mid 80s, and in my humble opinion it should have been a huge hit.

Memphis Tennessee

A lot of Chuck Berry's songs told stories, and here's one with a good punch-line.

Smile

Looking for something not too demanding for my cold-filled voice, I found this. Short & sweet, with a hummed/whistled intro. Now back to the hot drinks...

Jailhouse Blues

Singing through a cold, with the Jailhouse Blues. Happy Easter!