How Good Is Your Oud?

    
                                    
em                 am                 em     am     em
I well recall the last words that my father said to me
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The night he threw me on the street, that cold February.
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I clutched a tiny tambourine against my tiny chest;
                          am             em      am      em
And though Dad tried to cheer me, I was feeling quite depressed.

       em            am                em     am       em
I was just a brat of seven years, and had no sense of time;
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My pitch was far from perfect, my quarter-notes not worth a dime.
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My father winked and said, before he gave to me the shove:
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"No matter where you play, there's only one thing matters, Luv- "


Chorus:
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How good is your oud?  Is it made of cedar wood?
                                  A                    D
Do you rub it down with olive oil?  Do you think you should?
             G                    C               G
Though your dumbek is a wreck, I really couldn't care;
                       em            D               G     (bm)
But if your oud is no good, get the heck on out of there!


The Queen of Sheba came, they say, to the court of Solomon
To nosh a litte whitefish and to have a little fun.
She cast a jaded gaze upon the monarch and his throng,
But when she spied his harpers, she burst out into this song:

Chorus:
How good is your oud?  Is it made of cedar wood?
Do you rub it down with olive oil?  Do you think you should?
Though your dumbek is a wreck, I really couldn't care;
But if your oud is no good, get the heck on out of there!

How spry is your nai?  Can you make those quavers fly?
Did you pick it up in Cairo or a classroom at DeVry?
But don't forget - not just yet - when it cuts back to the chase,
If your oud is no good, get the dang thing outa my face!

So now my song is over, and my story fairly told,
I'll pass this lesson on to you, if I may be so bold;
And those who've listened to Professor Nancy patiently -
Well won't you pick your voices up and sing along with me:

Chorus:
How good is your oud?  Is it made of cedar wood?
Do you rub it down with olive oil?  Do you think you should?
Though your dumbek is a wreck, I really couldn't care;
But if your oud is no good, get the heck on out of there!

Optional final Chorus:
How good is your oud?  Is it made of cedar wood?
Do you rub it down with motor oil?  Do you think you should?
Though your zils give me thrills, I really couldn't care;
'Cause if your oud is no good, get the heck on out of there!