E                   B
I Asked my lady what could I do
   B7                    E
To make her happy and to keep her true
E7                        A
She Said only one thing I want from you
     E                          B7     E
Is a little bitty piece of that big bamboo

[Chorus]

    E           B
The big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all

[Verse 2]

E                B
Gave my lady a banana plant
    B7                 E
She said to me this is elegant
     E7              A
It's much to nice to go to waste
           E                B7      E
Cause it's much too soft to suit my taste

[Chorus]

    E           B
The big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all

[Verse 3]

E                B
Gave my lady two coconuts
    B7                 E
She said to me this is ok, but
  E7                  A
I know you want to be nice to me
    E                      B7                 E
But what good are the nuts without the bamboo tree

[Chorus]

    E           B
the big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all

[Verse 4]

E              B
Gave my lady a sugar cane
B7                    E
Sweets to the sweet I did explain
E7              A
Gave it back to my surprise
         E                    B7      E
Said she liked the flavor but not the size

[Chorus]

    E           B
The big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all
    E           B
The big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all

[Verse 5]

E                        B
I Knew a China man named Lip Long Lo
   B7                       E
He went and married down in Mexico
    E7               A
His wife divorce him very quick
            E                     B7         E
Because she want bamboo and not a lousy chop stick

[Chorus]

    E           B
The big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all
    E           B
The big bamboo, always long
    B7                  E
The big bamboo grows so bold and strong
    E7                   A
The big bamboo stands so straight and tall
    E                  B       E
The big bamboo pleases one and all