Song: Straighten Up and Fly Right
Written by: Nat King Cole & Irving Mills
Performed by: The Nat King Cole Trio, 1944
Ear-scribed by: Blueyacover
I was originally inspired to transcribe Lyle Lovett's version, but then decided that
original version would be better to do. Robbie Williams vsn. is also sick. I could not
any vsn. this song on the U.G. site, so enjoy. Sorry, I'm not such a great guitar
but predominantly a piano player. Peace.
Upbeat Jazz Tempo 70
Key Ab Major
Chords For Piano
Chords used: Ab, Ab6/C, Db6, Ddim7,
Fm7, E9, Eb9,
C7, F7, F9, Gb9, Bb9,
[Bb7(#5)]
Verse I
[Ab]A buzzard took a[Ab6/C] monkey for a [Db6]ride in the air[Ddim7]
[Ab6]The monkey thou[Fm7]ght that everything was on the squ[E9]are[Eb9]
[Ab]The buzzard trie[Ab6/C]d to throw the[Db6] monkey off his ba[Ddim7]ck
[Ab6]The monkey grab[Fm7]bed his neck and said, ?Now li[Bb7(#5)]sten, Jack[Eb9]'
Chorus I
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab]Straighten up an[Bb7(#5)]d fly rig[Eb9]ht
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab6]Cool down papa, don?t yo[E9]u blow y[Eb9]our top
[Ab6/C]Ain?t no use in [Db6]divin?
[Ab]What?s the use o[Bb7(#5)]f jiving
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Eb9]Cool down papa, don?t yo[Eb9]u blow[Eb7] your [Ab6]top
Bridge
[C7]The buzzard told the monkey, ?you are choking me?
[F7]?Release your hold, an[Gb9]d I will set you[F9] free?
[Bb9]The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye
[Bb7]And said, ?Your [Eb9]story is[Bb7(#5)] so touching[Eb9], bu[Eb7]t it sounds [Ab6]just like a lie?
Chorus II
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab]Straighten up an[Bb7(#5)]d stay r[Eb9]ight
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab6]Cool down papa, don?t yo[E9]u blow y[Eb9]our top
(Piano/Bass solo, Guitar/Bass Solo based on verse chord progressions)
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
Repeat Chorus II
[Ab]Straighten up an[Bb7(#5)]d stay right
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Eb9]Cool down papa, don?t yo[Eb9]u blow[Eb7] your [Ab6]top
Piano/Guitar outro
(individual notes?) (Chord)
Ab, G, Gb, F, Eb, F, G,
Eb9 ^
Fly right!
Written by: Nat King Cole & Irving Mills
Performed by: The Nat King Cole Trio, 1944
Ear-scribed by: Blueyacover
I was originally inspired to transcribe Lyle Lovett's version, but then decided that
original version would be better to do. Robbie Williams vsn. is also sick. I could not
any vsn. this song on the U.G. site, so enjoy. Sorry, I'm not such a great guitar
but predominantly a piano player. Peace.
Upbeat Jazz Tempo 70
Key Ab Major
Chords For Piano
Chords used: Ab, Ab6/C, Db6, Ddim7,
Fm7, E9, Eb9,
C7, F7, F9, Gb9, Bb9,
[Bb7(#5)]
Verse I
[Ab]A buzzard took a[Ab6/C] monkey for a [Db6]ride in the air[Ddim7]
[Ab6]The monkey thou[Fm7]ght that everything was on the squ[E9]are[Eb9]
[Ab]The buzzard trie[Ab6/C]d to throw the[Db6] monkey off his ba[Ddim7]ck
[Ab6]The monkey grab[Fm7]bed his neck and said, ?Now li[Bb7(#5)]sten, Jack[Eb9]'
Chorus I
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab]Straighten up an[Bb7(#5)]d fly rig[Eb9]ht
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab6]Cool down papa, don?t yo[E9]u blow y[Eb9]our top
[Ab6/C]Ain?t no use in [Db6]divin?
[Ab]What?s the use o[Bb7(#5)]f jiving
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Eb9]Cool down papa, don?t yo[Eb9]u blow[Eb7] your [Ab6]top
Bridge
[C7]The buzzard told the monkey, ?you are choking me?
[F7]?Release your hold, an[Gb9]d I will set you[F9] free?
[Bb9]The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye
[Bb7]And said, ?Your [Eb9]story is[Bb7(#5)] so touching[Eb9], bu[Eb7]t it sounds [Ab6]just like a lie?
Chorus II
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab]Straighten up an[Bb7(#5)]d stay r[Eb9]ight
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Ab6]Cool down papa, don?t yo[E9]u blow y[Eb9]our top
(Piano/Bass solo, Guitar/Bass Solo based on verse chord progressions)
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
Repeat Chorus II
[Ab]Straighten up an[Bb7(#5)]d stay right
[Ab6/C]Straighten up an[Db6]d fly right
[Eb9]Cool down papa, don?t yo[Eb9]u blow[Eb7] your [Ab6]top
Piano/Guitar outro
(individual notes?) (Chord)
Ab, G, Gb, F, Eb, F, G,
Eb9 ^
Fly right!
