Mardy Bum | Chords + Lyrics
| G | F#m | Em | A |
||: D | F# | G F#m | Em :||
| D | F# |
Well, now then, Mardy Bum,
| G F#m | Em |
I’ve seen your frown and it’s like looking down the barrel of a gun.
| D | F# |
And it goes off, and out come all these words,
| G F#m | Em |
oh, there’s a very pleasant side to you, a side I much prefer.
| G | A |
It’s one that laughs and jokes around.
| D A | Bm Bm/F# |
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah to get things off the ground.
| G | A |
And it was up, up and away,
| D A | Bm Bm/F# |
oh, but it’s right hard to remember that on a day like today.
| G | A |
When you’re all argumentative, and you’ve got the face on.
| D | F# | G F#m | Em |
| D | F# |
Well, now then, Mardy Bum,
| G F#m | Em |
oh, I’m in trouble again, aren’t I?
| D | F# |
I thought as much, ’cause you turned over there,
| G F#m | Em |
pulling that silent disappointment face, the one that I can’t bare.
| G | A |
Well, can’t we just laugh and joke around?
| D A | Bm Bm/F# |
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah to get things off the ground.
| G | A |
And it was up, up and away.
| D A | Bm Bm/F# |
Oh, but it’s right hard to remember that on a day like today.
| G | A |
When you’re all argumentative and you’ve got the face on,
| F#5 | G5 |
And, yeah, I’m sorry I was late,
| F#5 | G5 |
but I missed the train and then the traffic was a state.
| F#5 | G5 |
And I can’t be arsed to carry on in this debate that reoccurs,
| F#5 | G5 A5 |
oh, when you say I don’t care but, of course, I do, yeah, I clearly do yeah.
||: D | F# | G F#m | Em :||
| G | A |
So laugh and joke around?
| D A | Bm Bm/F# |
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah to get things off the ground.
| G | A |
And it was up, up and away,
| D A | Bm | Bm |
oh, but it’s right hard to remember that on a day like today when you’re all,
| G | A | D |
argumentative and you’ve got the face on.
Mardy Bum’s chords and progressions
In the key of D, Mardy Bum’s chords make chord III the place where the magic happens as it appears in two forms, as the second chord in both progressions.
The first time it’s IV – III – II – V. G – F#m – Em – A.
The second time it’s I – IIIx, before we recycle IV – III – II. D – F# – G – F#m – Em.
This shift between III and IIIx, creates tension. Posh classical folk call this chord the mediant, and the mediant major. I just call it III and IIIx.
That was the verse/chorus or perhaps we should call it the A section as what comes next is best described as a bridge or a B section.
This is the part that goes “It’s one that laughs and jokes around…” politely describing the moody girlfriend – genius lyrical writing by the young Mr. Turner.
The chords are now IV – V – I – V – VI. G – A – D – A – Bm.
There’s one more section in Mardy Bum that can best be described as a middle 8. Here the F#, chord III, is neither minor nor major, it’s the punk version, a 5 chord.
We move between III and IV on a loop, similar to how Don’t Look Back In Anger is built for its chorus, just slower.
This is repeated four times before we, again like Oasis hit, resolve to V, which takes us to the verse progression but now as a solo.
Another Arctic Monkeys classic from the debut album
As the 9th track off Arctic Monkeys‘ extremely popular debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, Mardy Bum was never released as a single.
Only I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor and When The Sun Goes Down were singles, both those tracks are much more aggressive than Mardy Bum.
Showing a more gentle and romantic side to Alex Turner’s songwriting, this one quickly became a fan favorite.
The whole album was praised for its lyrical content, portraying northern club and pub culture in early 2000 for late teens and early 20-somethings. Mardy Bum might be the best one out of the lot, painting a picture of young love very well.
Study the chords and lyrics above to see how this tune was put together.
Mardy Bum chords | Related pages
Intermediate Acoustic
Most intermediate acoustic tunes can’t be played using just basic open-position chords. We have to move up the fretboard and play CAGED barre chords as well.
We incorporate bass lines, add licks, extend chords, and play vocal melodies. Most importantly, we invent second guitar parts and play these songs together.
Five similar tunes
- Don’t Look Back Into The Sun chords
- Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) chords
- I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor chords
- Riptide chords
- That’s Not My Name chords
Arctic Monkeys
As the most hyped band of 2006, Arctic Monkeys released their debut album and played at the Glastonbury festival the following year.
Their best tunes include I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Mardy Bum, Do I Wanna Know? and Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?
Arctic Monkeys on the web
Pop & Rock
Whenever a tune doesn’t fit into a specific genre, it tends to end up here, in the Pop & Rock section.
Learn tunes from Tom Petty, Eagles, Toto, Oasis, Elvis, Clapton, John Mayer, Kings Of Leon, R.E.M., Radiohead, Bruno Mars, and more.
