Whistling Rufus
Music - Kerry Mills
Key: G
Lyrics - Theron C. Bennett (altered here)
Copyright - 1899

Chords and Lyrics Provided by Judy Muldawer
For Educational Purposes Only
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File Created 1-16-2026

Verse 1:

G
A way down south in the land of cotton
Under a sycamore tree
There lived a man named Rufus Blossom
A7                     D7
Jolly as a fella could be

G
Rufe had a face like a big sledgehammer
And a mouth with a terrible scar
    C
But none could touch him in the
G
State of Alabama
        D7                     G
When he played on his old guit-ar.


Chorus:

              G
Never made no blunder,
             D7
You couldn't lose him
A perfect wonder,
              G
You'd have to choose him

                 G7
A fine musician,
           C
Of high po-sition
    G
Was Rufus,
    D7      G
The one man band

Verse 2:

G
When he would come to a ball or a party,
Rainy weather or fine,
Everyone knew he was welcome at the party,
A7                       D7
Out came the chicken and wine

G
When he was done with the wine and the chicken,
Then he whistled and he played so grand
          C
You would thought it was the angels
         G
On their harps they were a-strumming
         D7                     G
And they called him the One Man Band.

Chorus Repeat:

Several Suggested Ukulele Chord Shapes: