Wild World chords

by Cat Stevens
  • Wild World was written by singer-songwriter Cat Stevens.
  • Recorded: 1970 - the single was released in the same year.
  • Album: Tea for the Tillerman
  • Music: A Minor in 4/4 time at ~ 74 bpm (♩)
  • Chords: Am, C, Cmaj7, D7, Dm, Dsus2, E, F, G
  • The key signature changes to 2/4 and back to 4/4 towards the end of each verse.
  • Please see tips below for tabs on various fills in the chorus.
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
Am C Major Cmaj7 F Major F Major G Major D7 Dm Dsus2 E Major
Am C Major Cmaj7 F Major F Major G Major D7 Dm Dsus2 E Major

Wild World

Intro: 4/4  
| Am    -     D7 | G  - Cmaj7 |  F  -  Dm  |   E   |
     La la la la...

Am               D7                   G
1. Now that I've lost ev-'ry-thing to you
               Cmaj7                   F
   You say you wan-na start some-thing new
            Dm                        E
   And it's break-in' my heart you're leav-in'

   Ba-by, I'm griev-in'
Am                   D7               G
   But if you wan-na leave, take good care
                   Cmaj7                 F
   Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
                                     2/4            4/4
              Dm                    | E       G    | G           |
   But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there
                                    | 1 & 2   &    | 1& 2& 3& 4& |

      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
Chorus: Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world
                                        
      G                  F            | C  -  G G A C C C A G |
        It's hard to get by just upon a smile  
                                                      
      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
        Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world     
      G                 F               |  C      /   Dsus2  E  |
        I'll al-ways re-mem-ber you like a child, girl

Am                      D7                        G
2. You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
            Cmaj7                 F
   And it's break-in' my heart in two
              Dm                      E
   Be-cause I nev-er wan-na see you a sad girl

   Don't be a bad girl
Am                   D7               G
   But if you wan-na leave, take good care
                     Cmaj7                   F
   I hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
                                           2/4         4/4
               Dm                         | E      G  | G      |
   But just re-mem-ber there's a lot of bad and be-ware...       Well
                                          | 1& 2   &  | 1& 2& 3& 4& |

      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
Chorus: Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world 
                                        
      G                  F            | C  -  G G A C C C A G |
        It's hard to get by just upon a smile  
                                                      
      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
        Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world     
      G                     F               |  C      /   Dus2  E  |
        And I'll al-ways re-mem-ber you like a child, girl...

Instr: | Am    -     D7 | G  - Cmaj7 |  F  -  Dm  |   E   | 
                               La la la la...          (Baby, I love you)
 E
   Baby, I love you

Am                   D7               G
   But if you wan-na leave, take good care
                   Cmaj7                   F
   Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
                                           2/4        4/4
               Dm                         | E      G | G      |
   But just re-mem-ber there's a lot of bad and be-ware...      Well
                                          | 1& 2   & | 1& 2& 3& 4& |
   
      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
Chorus: Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world
                                        
      G                  F            | C  -  G G A C C C A G |
        It's hard to get by just upon a smile  
                                                      
      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
        Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world     
      G                 F               |  C      /   Dsus2  E  |
        I'll al-ways re-mem-ber you like a child, girl...
        
      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
Chorus: Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world
                                        
      G                  F                | C  -  G G A C C C A G |
        And it's hard to get by just upon a smile  
                                                      
      C     G                  | F        -  C B A G F E D C |
        Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world     
      G                     F                  C
        And I'll al-ways re-mem-ber you like a child, girl...

Notes:

If you want to take a closer look at the timing during the chorus, it will look like this:

                               | 1 &  2&      3 & & &  4 & & & |
      C     G                  | F         -  C B A G  F E D C |
Chorus: Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world

                                      | 1& 2&  3 & & & 4 & & & |
      G                               | F  -   G G A C C C A G |
        It's hard to get by just upon a smile  
        
                               | 1 &  2&      3 & & &  4 & & & |
      C     G                  | F         -  C B A G  F E D C |
        Oh, ba-by, ba-by, it's a wild world  
           
      G                 E               |  C      /   Dm   E7  |
        I'll al-ways re-mem-ber you like a child, girl
        

1st Line of chorus with beat counts: In tab, the green notes read:

       C  B  A  G  F  E  D  C     
   e|--------------------------|
   B|--1--0--------------------|
   G|--------2--0--------------|
   D|--------------3--2--0-----|
   A|-----------------------3--|
   E|--------------------------|
       3  &  &  &  4  &  &  & 
       
             
    Tab of the full bar with chords and timing

       F   C  B  A  G  F  E  D  C     
   e|--1---------------------------|
   B|--1---1--0--------------------|
   G|--2---------2--0--------------|
   D|--3---------------3--2--0-----|
   A|---------------------------3--|
   E|------------------------------|
      1&2& 3  &  &  &  4  &  &  &

2nd Line of chorus with beat counts: In tab, the green notes read:

       G  G  A  C  C  C  A  G     
   e|--------------------------|
   B|--------------------------|
   G|--------------------------|
   D|--------------------------|
   A|--------0--3--3--3--0-----|
   E|--3--3-----------------3--|
       3  &  &  &  4  &  &  & 
       
             
    Tab of the full bar with chords and timing

       C   G  G  A  C  C  C  A  G     
   e|--0----------------------------|
   B|--1----------------------------|
   G|--0----------------------------|
   D|--2----------------------------|
   A|--3----------0--3--3--3--0-----|
   E|-------3--3-----------------3--|
      1&2&  3  &  &  &  4  &  &  &


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