I was listening to some old tunes today and I got the itch to play “What a Wonderful World” on the guitar. I’m talking about the version with James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Art Garfunkel. It’s a cover of a Sam Cooke song, but in this case I prefer the cover to the original.
The chords I found online weren’t in the same key, and didn’t seem accurate. They also all seem to be the Sam Cooke version, even if they say James Taylor. When I couldn’t find what I needed, I had to figure it out on my own. I think I got it close, but I’m still unsure of the chords in the lines that say “wonderful” four times in a row. Bm sounds off, but I haven’t found a replacement that sounds better.
I uploaded an mp3 of the song (below) to give an idea of how I play it. It won’t impress anyone, but I thought it might be helpful to someone.
What a wonderful world - James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel
F#m D E A
What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be
F#m D Bm E A D E
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world.
A F#m
Don't know much about history
D E
Don't know much biology
A F#m
Don't know much about science book
D E
Don't know much about the French I took
A D
But I do know that I love you
A D Bm
And I know that if you love me too
F#m D E A D E
What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be
A F#m
Don't know much about geography
D E
Don't know much trigonometry
A F#m
Don't know much about algebra
D E
don't know what a slide rule is for
A D
But I do know one and one is two
A D Bm
And if this one could be with you
F#m D E A
What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be
F#m D E A
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world
E A
Now I don't claim to be an "A" student
E A
But I'm trying to be
F#m E F#m C#m Bm
I think that maybe by being an "A" student, baby, baby
E A
I could win your love for me
A F#m
Don't know much abou the middle ages
D E
Look at the pictures and I turn the pages
A F#m
Don't know nothing 'bout no rise and fall
D E
Don't know nothin' 'bout nothing at all
A D
Girl it's you that I've been thinking of
A D Bm
And if I could only win your love
F#m D E A
What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be
F#m D E A
What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be
F#m D Bm E A
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful world