CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE AND HEAR THIS SONG PERFORMED, OR THE JUKEBOX FOR THE ENTIRE LIBRARY.

  • Even though he wrote many rock classics, this novelty song is Berry’s only #1 hit.
  • Although this song hit #1, Chuck Berry got paid only $200,000 for rights to the song.
  • This song most people have heard, was recorded live at the Coventry Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry, Warwickshire, England February 3, 1972 as part of the Lanchester Arts Festival. The concert nearly did not happen as Chuck Berry turned up 2 hours late.
  • “Ding-a-ling” redirects here. For the 1960 Bobby Rydell song, see Ding-A-Ling. For the 2017 song by Stefflon Don and Skepta, see Ding-a-Ling (Stefflon Don and Skepta song).
  • My Ding-a-Ling was released as a single in July, 1972.  The B side is “Johnny B. Goode (Live)”
    Recorded at the Lanchester Arts Festival in Coventry, England
    Genre
  • This song was originally recorded by Dave Bartholomew in 1952 for King Records. When Bartholomew moved to Imperial Records,
  • Boston radio station WMEX disc jockey Jim Connors was credited with a gold record for discovering the song and pushing it to #1 over the airwaves and amongst his peers in the United States. Billboard ranked it as the No. 15 song for 1972.
  • The song is based on the melody of the 19th century folk song “Little Brown Jug”.
  • The lyrics with their innuendo caused many radio stations to refuse to play it. British morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse tried unsuccessfully to get the song banned.

 

1-4-5 song  ::  D G A ::  or ::  G C D ::  or ::  A D E :: or :: C F G 

[G] When I was a [C] little biddy boy, My [D] grandmother bought me a [G] cute little toy; [G] Silver bells hanging [C] on a string.  She [D7] told me it was my [G] ding-a-ling-ling 

[ CHORUS ]

Then Momma took me to Sunday school,  They tried to teach me the golden rule.  Ev'rytime the choir would sing, I'd take out  my ding-a-ling-a-ling!

And then Mama took me to Grammar school,  but I stopped off in the Vestibule.  Everytime that bell would ring,  you'd catch me playing with my ding-a-ling-ling.

 [ CHORUS ]

Once I was climbing the garden wall. I slipped and had a terrible fall.  I fell so hard I heard bells ring, but I held on to my ding-a-ling-ling. 

I remember the girl next door,  We used to play house on the kitchen floor.  She'd be the queen, I'd be the king,  and I let her play with my ding-a-ling-a-ling!

[ CHORUS ] - - - [G] My Ding-A-Ling - - [C] My Ding-A-Ling, I [D7] want to play with [G] My Ding-A-Ling.  [G] My Ding-A-Ling - - [C] My Ding-A-Ling,  I [D7] want to play with [G] My Ding-A-Ling 
         TAP SCROLL UP BUTTON HERE

Once I was swimming cross turtle creek. Man them snappers all around my feet.  Sure was hard swimming cross that thing, with both hands holding my ding-a-ling-ling. 

The girl downstairs, she's a big and bold,  Grandma warned me, she's too old.  She used to take me swingin' in a schoolyard swing, Swing down and take my ding-a-ling-a-ling!

[ CHORUS ] 

Hmm this here song it ain't so bad. The cutest little song you ever had; And those of you who will not sing, you must be playing with your own ding-a-ling 
   
[ CHORUS ] - - - [G] My Ding-A-Ling - - [C] My Ding-A-Ling, I [D7] want to play with [G] My Ding-A-Ling. [G] My Ding-A-Ling - - [C] My Ding-A-Ling,  I [D7] want to play with [G] My Ding-A-Ling
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