Bang On The Drum All Day
Todd Rundgren (1983)

The full rhythm and changes:
D C↑ G↑ G↓ C↓
4/4 | D - D u D U - - U | - u d u D - D - |
1 2 & 3 & (4)& & 2 & 3 4
D C↑ G↑
| D - D u D U - - U | - u d u d u d u |
1 2 & 3 & (4)& & 2 & 3 & 4 &
For an easy version, just Swiss Army Strum
4/4 | d - D u - u d u | without the passing C chords.
Intro
| [D] | [G] |
| [D] | [G] |
| [D] | [G] |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day |
| [A] Ever since I was a | tiny boy
I | [Bm] don't want no candy I | don't need no toy |
| [A] I took a stick and an | old coffee can
I | [E7] bang on that thing 'til I got | [G] blisters on my hand because |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (yes I do) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (that's right) |
| [A] When I get older they | think I'm a fool |
| [Bm] The teacher told me I should | stay after school |
| [A] She caught me pounding on the | desk with my hands
But my | [E7] licks was so hot I made the | [G] teacher wanna dance and that's why |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (hey, why not) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (I wanna bang, yeah) |
Bass Solo
| [D] | [G] | [D] | [G] |
| [D] | [G] | [D] | [G] |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (I can bang that sucker) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (listen to this) |
| [A] Every day when I get | home from work
I | [Bm] feel so frustrated the | boss is a jerk
And I | [A] get my sticks and go | out to the shed
And I | [E7] bang on that drum like it | [G] was the boss's head because |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (hey, hey) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (I can bang that drum) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (hey, hey, hey) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day | [D↓]
#Play along with original in this key.
#Check out this version of Todd Rundgren covering it on the ukulele.
#Last Updated 02/29/20 JJ
Visit UkeboxLessons
Todd Rundgren (1983)





The full rhythm and changes:
D C↑ G↑ G↓ C↓
4/4 | D - D u D U - - U | - u d u D - D - |
1 2 & 3 & (4)& & 2 & 3 4
D C↑ G↑
| D - D u D U - - U | - u d u d u d u |
1 2 & 3 & (4)& & 2 & 3 & 4 &
For an easy version, just Swiss Army Strum
4/4 | d - D u - u d u | without the passing C chords.
Intro
| [D] | [G] |
| [D] | [G] |
| [D] | [G] |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day |
| [A] Ever since I was a | tiny boy
I | [Bm] don't want no candy I | don't need no toy |
| [A] I took a stick and an | old coffee can
I | [E7] bang on that thing 'til I got | [G] blisters on my hand because |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (yes I do) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (that's right) |
| [A] When I get older they | think I'm a fool |
| [Bm] The teacher told me I should | stay after school |
| [A] She caught me pounding on the | desk with my hands
But my | [E7] licks was so hot I made the | [G] teacher wanna dance and that's why |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (hey, why not) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (I wanna bang, yeah) |
Bass Solo
| [D] | [G] | [D] | [G] |
| [D] | [G] | [D] | [G] |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (I can bang that sucker) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (listen to this) |
| [A] Every day when I get | home from work
I | [Bm] feel so frustrated the | boss is a jerk
And I | [A] get my sticks and go | out to the shed
And I | [E7] bang on that drum like it | [G] was the boss's head because |
Chorus
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (hey, hey) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (I can bang that drum) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day, (hey, hey, hey) |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day |
| [D] I don't want to | [G] work
I want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day
| [D] I don't want to | [G] play
I just want to | [D] bang on the drum all | [G] day | [D↓]
#Play along with original in this key.
#Check out this version of Todd Rundgren covering it on the ukulele.
#Last Updated 02/29/20 JJ
Visit UkeboxLessons