Hello Mary Lou

by Ricky Nelson
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

You (Bb)passed me (Bbmaj7)by one (Bb6)sun ny day, Be (Eb)flashed those big brown eyes my way, and (Bb)ooh, I want ed you for (Bbdim)ev er (F7)more.

Now (Bb)I’m not (Bbmaj7)one that (Bb6)gets a round, I (Eb)swear my feet stuck to the (Edim7)ground, and (Bb)though I (Gm)nev er (Eb)did meet (F)you be (Bb)fore.

I said, “Hel lo, Mar (F7)y (Bb)Lou,

good bye, heart.

Sweet (Bb)Mar y Lou, I’m (C7)so in love with (F7)you.

(Bb)Knew, (F7)Mar y (Bb)Lou,

we’d (D)nev (D7)er (Gm)part, so hel (C7)lo, Mar y (F7)Lou, good bye, (Bb)heart.”

(F7)I (Bb)saw your (Bbmaj7)lips, I (Bb6)heard your voice.

Be (Eb)lieve me, I just had no choice; wild (Bb)hors es could n’t make me (Bbdim)stay a (F7)way.

I (Bb)thought a (Bbmaj7)bout a (Bb6)moon lit night, my (Eb)arms a bout you good an’ (Edim7)tight; that’s (Bb)all I (Gm)had to (Eb)see for (F)me to (Bb)stay.

I said, “Hel lo, Mar (F7)y (Bb)Lou,

good bye, heart.

Sweet (Bb)Mar y Lou, I’m (C7)so in love with (F7)you.

(Bb)Knew, (F7)Mar y (Bb)Lou,

we’d (D)nev (D7)er (Gm)part, so hel (C7)lo, Mar y (F7)Lou, good bye, (Bb)heart.”

(F7)I (Bb)heart.”

Hello Mary Lou — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

7 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Eb, 200 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Hello Mary Lou”

What key is "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson played in?
Hello Mary Lou is arranged in the key of Eb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Hello Mary Lou"?
The arrangement plays at 200 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Hello Mary Lou" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Hello Mary Lou"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Hello Mary Lou"?
"Hello Mary Lou" was originally performed by Ricky Nelson. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Hello Mary Lou"?
This arrangement uses 12 chords: Bb, Bb6, Bb7, Bbdim, Bbmaj7, C7, D7, Daug, +4 more.
What other songs by Ricky Nelson can I play here?
Try "TRAVELIN' MAN", "GARDEN PARTY", "LONESOME TOWN". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Hello Mary Lou" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Hello Mary Lou" by Ricky Nelson. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Hello Mary Lou" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in Eb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Hello Mary Lou" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.