🎭 About the Song
“Goodness Gracious Me” is one of the cheekiest novelty duets of the 20th century — a flirty, comic masterpiece where Peter Sellers plays an Indian doctor treating Sophia Loren’s lovestruck patient.
Written by the legendary George Martin (yes, that George Martin — before he produced The Beatles) and songwriter Herbert Kretzmer, it’s a glorious slice of early-60s absurdity: Bollywood meets British Music Hall with a wink and a horn section.
On ukulele, it’s a riot. Bouncy swing rhythm, call-and-response vocals, and all that theatrical flair — it turns your living room into a vintage recording studio full of raised eyebrows and exaggerated romance.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
We’ll set it in G major, which keeps that light, jazzy energy.
You’ll need G, C, D7, A7, and Am.
Verse progression: [G] – [C] – [D7] – [G]
Chorus: [C] – [D7] – [G] – [A7] – [D7]
Strumming pattern: a swing feel — down–down–up–up–down–up at around 90 bpm, but with a lilt. Emphasize the first downbeat and lift slightly on the upstrokes to get that music-hall bounce.
For flair, toss in jazzy runs or quick up-strums between lines (especially after “Goodness Gracious Me!”).
Singing tip: This one’s half-sung, half-acted.
- Peter’s parts: dry, polite, a little bewildered.
- Sophia’s lines: playful, sultry, slightly over the top. Lean into the duet dynamic — the charm is in the contrast.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Released in 1960, the song was written for the film The Millionairess but became a standalone hit.
- It reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart, despite (or because of) its campy humour and cultural chaos.
- The arrangement, full of brass and strings, was conducted by George Martin — two years before he signed The Beatles.
- Peter Sellers recorded it again years later with Sophia Loren for laughs — they couldn’t stop breaking character in the studio.
🌈 Final Word
“Goodness Gracious Me” is pure vintage fun — theatrical, absurd, and impossible not to smile through. On ukulele, it becomes a miniature vaudeville act: light-hearted, romantic, and a little bit ridiculous.
Play it like you’re in an old movie: eyebrows raised, grin wide, and strumming with swing-time swagger.
