Bush Telegraph chords by John Williamson

Chords with lyrics

Tuning: Standard (E MajorE A augmentedA D MajorD G+G BB E MajorE)

Verse:
     E MajorE                A augmentedA
There's a rumour of a gold strike to the south of Ballarat,
  BB                E MajorE
And someone stole some cattle at the back of Carly's Flat.
    E MajorE              A augmentedA
There's been a fight in Dinny Ryan's Bar in Ararat.
  BB             E MajorE
You heard it on the Bush Telegraph.


Verse:
E MajorE                   A augmentedA
Fat lambs brought a record price last week in Bendigo.
BB                  E MajorE
Tommy Bourke has been to Mass three Sundays in a row.
  E MajorE                A augmentedA
It used to take a family death or drought to make him go.
  BB             E MajorE
You heard it on the Bush Telegraph.

Chorus:
BB                  A augmentedA         E MajorE
Now, we don't need no fancy wires to get the message through,
BB               A augmentedA         E MajorE
Satellites or thing-a-ma-jigs whizzing round the moon,
  E MajorE                 A augmentedA
Or twenty feet of binder twine with a jam tin cut in half.
   BB             A augmentedA  BB   E MajorE
It's pure Australian magic, the Bush Telegraph


Verse:
E MajorE                 A augmentedA
Now Nora Reilly's daughter went to Melbourne for a spell.
    BB               E MajorE
After going out with Nicky Doyle it's prob'ly just as well.
E MajorE                  A augmentedA
Home's no place for a girl when her belly starts to swell.
  BB             E MajorE
You heard it on the Bush Telegraph.


Verse:
  E MajorE              A augmentedA
Now Andy Reagan's famous temper went off like a bomb
    BB                E MajorE
When he heard his only daughter Kate got married to a Pom.
  E MajorE              A augmentedA
His Siamese cat had kittens to a one-eyed Ginger Tom.
  BB             E MajorE
You heard it on the Bush Telegraph.

Chorus:
BB                  A augmentedA         E MajorE
Now, we don't need no fancy wires to get the message through,
BB               A augmentedA         E MajorE
Satellites or thing-a-ma-jigs whizzing round the moon,
  E MajorE                 A augmentedA
Or twenty feet of binder twine with a jam tin cut in half.
   BB             A augmentedA  BB   E MajorE
It's pure Australian magic, the Bush Telegraph


Interlude:
E MajorE     A augmentedA  BB     E MajorE
E     A augmentedA  BB     E MajorE


Verse:
  E MajorE                 A augmentedA
Now Hanrahan, God bless his soul, his chooks are off the lay.
  BB                 E MajorE
He always reckoned they were good for 15 eggs a day;
  E MajorE              A augmentedA
And mostly double yolkers, he'd give them all away.
  BB             E MajorE
You heard it on the Bush Telegraph.


Verse:
  E MajorE                A augmentedA
Who fronted at the court today, the judge won't let him drive
   BB              E MajorE
For clocking in at point 2 3 instead of point 0 5.
E MajorE                 A augmentedA
20 beers in two hours flat, won't keep a man alive.
    BB             E MajorE
You'll hear it on the Bush Telegraph.


Chorus:
BB                  A augmentedA         E MajorE
Now, we don't need no fancy wires to get the message through,
BB               A augmentedA         E MajorE
Satellites or thing-a-ma-jigs whizzing round the moon,
  E MajorE                 A augmentedA
Or twenty feet of binder twine with a jam tin cut in half.
   BB             A augmentedA  BB   E MajorE
It's pure Australian magic, the Bush Telegraph


Outro:
E MajorE     A augmentedA  BB     E MajorE
E     A augmentedA
  BB             E MajorE
You heard it on the Bush Telegraph.
      BB             E MajorE  A augmentedA  E MajorE
Yes, you'll hear it on the Bush Telegraph.