Mar12022

The Jam – Little Boy Soldiers Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsE5 C#5 B5 C D E G A5 F#5 G5 C5 Am F5 F D5 B A

KeyKeyCapo

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[Verse 1]
E5
These days I find that
C#5     B5
I don't listen
E5
These days I find that
   C#5       B5
we're out of touch
E5
These days I find that
    C#5 B5
I'm too busy
   E5
So why the attention,
        C#5       B5
now you want my assistance
C             D        E  E5
What have you done for me?

[Verse 2]
G
You've gone and got
    C       D
yourself in trouble
G                  C        D
Now you want me to help you out
E5
These days I find that
C#5        B5
I can't be bothered
E5
These days I find that
   C#5       B5
it's all too much
E5                   C#5
To pick up a gun and shoot
   B5
a stranger
    E5
But I've got no choice
   C#5    B5
so here I come
C   D  E   E5    N.C.
War ga-ames

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[Interlude]
N.C.
A5  E5

[Verse 3]
    E5
I'm up on the hills,
                           A5
playing little boy soldiers
  E5                          A5
Reconnaissance duty up at 5:30
E5
Shoot, shoot, shoot and
             A5
kill the natives
E5
You're one of us and
                A5
we love you for that
F#5
Think of honour,
Queen and country
F#5
You're a blessed son of
the British Empire
F#5
God's on our side and
so is Washington
G5
Come out on the hills with
the little boy soldiers
G5
Come up on the hills,
playing little boy soldiers
G5
Come out on the hills,
                      C5*
playing little boy soldiers

[Verse 4]
           C
Come on outside
I'll sing you a lullaby
   Am
Or tell a tale of how
            C
goodness prevailed
C
We ruled the world,
we killed and robbed
    Am
The fucking lot
                    C*
but we don't feel bad

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Verse 5]
N.C.   F5
It was done beneath
    C           Am    G
the flag of democracy
         F5          C  Am
You'll believe and I do
      G                   F
yes I do, yes I do, yes I do
                E
Yes I do, yes I do
ooo-ooo-ooooo ooo-ooo-ooooo
D        D5* D5*
Haaaaa!

[Verse 6]
E5
These days I find that
C#5        B5
I can't be bothered
   E5
To argue with them,
     C#5        B5
well what's the point?
          E5
Better to take your
          C#5       B5
shots and drop down dead
          E5
Then they send you home
     C#5      B5
in a pine overcoat
C         D           E  E5
With a letter to your mum

[Outro]
       E      B          A
Saying find enclosed one son,
    E           A
one medal and a note
   B      E
To say he won

How to play Little Boy Soldiers: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Little Boy Soldiers by The Jam on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Little Boy Soldiers by The Jam keeps coming home to A major (three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯). You need 17 chords: E5, C#5, B5, C, D, E, G, A5, F#5, G5, C5 and Am and 5 more.

Most of the song cycles through E5 – C#5 – B5 – E5 (V – III – II – V in A major). In solfa, that is soh – mi – reh – soh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Good to know: on guitar, C#5, B5, F#5, F5 and F need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.