“Uncle Pen” Lyrics and Chords

February 7, 2022February 20, 2021 by Erik Rolfsen

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Bill Monroe is known as the Father of Bluegrass because he influenced every bluegrass musician who came after him.

But even Monroe had his influences, and perhaps none greater than James Pendleton Vandiver. Vandiver was Monroe’s uncle, a fiddler who kept things lively at the square dances around their hometown of Rosine, Ky. A young Monroe would often back up his Uncle Pen on mandolin.

Vandiver died in 1932, after Monroe had left Kentucky to work with his brothers in the oil refineries of Indiana. Monroe’s musical career took off during the 1930s, and he wrote the song in honor of the uncle who taught him his musical chops, but didn’t live long enough to see his success.

Ricky Skaggs took “Uncle Pen” to No. 1 on the country charts in 1984, and it has become the go-to number for him and Kentucky Thunder whenever they need to bring the house down.

“Uncle Pen” is almost always played at a fast tempo, so be ready for some quick chord changes at the end of each couplet. And don’t forget—as soon as you hit the name “Pen” on the third line of each chorus, the music stops and it’s just vocals. Ideally, some tight harmony until the end of the chorus, followed by the fattest G-run you can manage.

“Uncle Pen” lyrics and chords

Oh the

I

people would come from far away

They danced all night till the

V

break of

I

day

When the

I

caller hollered do-se-do

You knew Uncle Pen was

V

ready to

I

go

CHORUS

IV

Late in the evening a

I

bout

sundown

High on the hill and a

V

bove the

I

town

Uncle

I

Pen (stop) played the fiddle, lord how it would ring

You could hear it talk you could hear it

I

sing

He

I

played an old piece he called Soldier’s Joy

And the one they called

V

Boston

I

Boy

The

I

greatest of all was Jenny Lynn

To me that’s where

V

fiddlin’

be

I

gins

CHORUS

I’ll

I

never forget that mournful day

When Uncle Pen was

V

called

a

I

way

They

I

hung up his fiddle they hung up his bow

They knew it was time for

V

him to

I

go

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Iconic: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder with Bill Monroe

Updated: Phish

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