The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes
Lyrics submitted by Balthasar, edited by davidazoulai
What A Wonderful World Lyrics as written by Robert Thiele George David Weiss
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I saw this comment on page 1 and just felt compelled to respond to it:
"This song sounds very good.
However it's my favorite example of "Ignorance is Bliss". It's a wonderful world while people all over the world die of starvation and diseases, while corrupt politicians steal money and make bad decisions, while the oil begins to run out and the economy goes down, while new wars start, while we polute with radiation and greenhouse gasses that deplete our atmosphere.
People are so egoistic."
When Louis Armstrong wrote and recorded this song America was segregated and racial tensions were still running VERY high. Americans were also living their lives pretty much certain that a a nuclear bomb was going to strike them at some point. He was no exception. He was the target of much hate. He was in no way ignoring the negative issues going on in the world around him. His message was that despite everything going on, there is so much beauty in this world and so much hope for the children and their future. The whole point of the song is that no matter how bad things can be, just take a look around, admire the world for it's natural beauty and never lose hope for a wonderful future.
I agree. This is what I posted to skeggy553. "Is it possible that Louis Armstrong was, on a conscious emotional level, singing about the harsh reality of segregation? Louis Armstrong was singing about white privilege. A world where people were enjoying things like gazing at the clouds, planting flowers in the yard and not worry about your very existence being threatened on a daily basis. Louis Armstrong was sing about equality."<br /> <br /> Equality=Wonderful World
That's why he looks kind of upset in the video...he is being a bit sarcastic...
Adding to that above, there is devastation in the world I agree but still there is some good and happiness you can't always ponder on all the bad things happening.
This song is a classic, no remix or cover could ever replace this song. This music is great.
I do not think he is denying the bad things in this world. I think he is just appreciating the good things that are there. Don't you just sometimes stop and think, man, life really is a wonderful thing...
Yeah, well, the song isn't about how wonderful America is, it's about what a wonderful world it is. Love this song by the way...
every time i listen to this song i want to make the world better. make it like the world louis describes.oh boy... i wonder what he was thinking about when he wrote it.
Never liked this song???? Are you crazy?? This is one of the most beautiful songs in the world, honest! :)
I love all types of music, but I love this one, its the only song that can make me cry. I dont know why...
it does make me cry! the song.. it's like an old man watching everything and admiring everything in life. he sees kids playing around and having fun and he just remembers it all. like those good spirited people, where they have an appreciation for everything
This is possibly one of the best songs of all time. Louis wrote this somewhere way back during the early jazz years and its pretty amazing how the song and he survive all this time. The lyrics mean as much now as they did back then and that can only mean that the song will never change or get old as time goes by. It's one of those songs you can hear even when u're down and just realize that aside from whatever you're going through there still is that other part of life that we can come back to and know is there...
Beutiful Song, Louis shows his true love for the world and mother earth, i like this songs simplicity and truth, my favorite line is I hear babies crying I watch them grow They'll learn much more than I'll ever know talking about leaving your place to the next generation, reminds me of a good pushkin poem. Its true this world needs some fixing up for our childeren but i would feel sorry for people who cant see past the bad things in this world and dont believe that some people, even knowing about all the bad, can still love this life and feel what is expresed in this beutiful song