🥃 About the Song
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” is pure joy in musical form — half love letter, half drunken march of devotion.
Scottish twins Craig and Charlie Reid wrote it as a promise of ridiculous, unwavering loyalty: “I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more…”
It’s equal parts romance and chaos — the perfect anthem for anyone who’s ever been both hopelessly in love and a bit too loud about it.
On ukulele, it becomes a stomping, feel-good riot.
It’s not subtle. It’s not complex. It’s perfect.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
We’ll play it in G major, where it rings bright and open — the natural singalong key.
You’ll need G, C, D, and Em.
Verse progression: [G] – [C] – [D] – [G]
Chorus: [G] – [C] – [D] – [G] – [Em] – [C] – [D] – [G]
Tempo: about 120 bpm — steady, driving, and just shy of marching speed.
Strumming pattern: down–down–up–up–down–up — or go full folk rock with all-downstrokes for raw power.
Accent beats 2 and 4 for that stomp-clap feel, and if you’re with friends, get everyone clapping on the offbeats.
Singing tip: Don’t worry about perfection — this song is all about enthusiasm.
Belt it like you’re three pints in and very much in love.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- The Proclaimers wrote “500 Miles” in about 45 minutes while on tour in 1987.
- It became a surprise global hit after featuring in Benny & Joon (1993).
- The Reid brothers still perform it as their closer at every show — because how could you not?
- It’s been covered by everyone from Sleeping at Last to Peter Kay for Comic Relief.
- “Da-da-da” is officially the most unifying sound known to humankind.
🌈 Final Word
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” is the definition of joyful sincerity.
It’s love without irony, commitment without coolness, and proof that repetition can be glorious when you mean every word.
Play it loud, stomp the floor, and grin your way through the last chorus.
You’ll have the whole room shouting “Da-da-da!” before you hit the final chord.
