Watching The Wheels chords

by John Lennon

Song Key: C Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 84 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Intermediate

Chords: C, D7, D7/F#, Dm, Dm7/C, F, Fm, G, G/F, Ab, Am, Am/G

Strumming Pattern Guide: D - DU - UD - U 

Chord Chart Legend
C Major F Major Dm G Major Am Fm Dm7 G/F Am/G D7/F# Dm7/C Ab Major barre chord
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
C Major-LH F Major-LH Dm-LH G Major-LH Am-LH Fm-LH Dm7-LH G/F-LH Am/G-LH D7/F#-LH Dm7/C-LH Ab Major barre chord-LH

Watching The Wheels

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
  
               C       F       C       F
Intro: 4/4 ‖       |       |       |       ‖

 C                         F                  C
1. People say I'm cra-zy      Do-in' what I'm do-in'
              C                               F                 C 
   Well, they give me all kinds of warn-ings    To save me from ru-in
   F               Dm                   G                        G7
   When I say that I'm o-kay, well they look at me kind-a strange
   F                  Dm7                G
   Sure-ly you're not hap-py now, you no lon-ger play the game

 C                     F               C
2. People say I'm lazy    Dream-ing my life a-way
              C                             F            C
   Well, they give me all kinds of ad-vice     de-signed to en-ligh-ten me
          F                  Dm                    G                   G7
   When I tell them that I'm do-ing fine watch-ing sha-dows on the wall
 F                    Dm7                      G
   Don't you miss the big time, boy. You're no lon-ger on the ball

      F          G                           C                   Dm
Chorus: I'm just sit-ting here watch-ing the wheels go round and round
      F           Am                 Dm7    Dm7/C
        I real-ly love to watch them roll
      G            G/F            Am        Am/G    D7/F#
        No lon-ger ri-ding on the mer-ry-go-round |        |
      F        Fm                     C       F       C       F
        I just had to let it go-o |       |       |       |       |
 
   C                               F              C 
3. Ahhh, people ask me quest-ions     Lost in con-fu-sion
           C                              F          C 
   Well, I tell them there's no prob-lem    only sol-u-tions
             F                          Dm              G                   G7
   Well they shake their heads and they looked at me as if I've lost my mind
     F                    Dm7              G
   I told them there's no hur-ry, I'm just sit-ting here do-ing time

      F          G                           C                   Dm
Chorus: I'm just sit-ting here watch-ing the wheels go round and round
      F           Am                 Dm7    Dm7/C
        I real-ly love to watch them roll
      G            G/F            Am            Am/G    D7/F#
        No lon-ger ri-ding on the mer-ry-go-rou-ound |         |
      F        Fm                    C     D7/F#
        I just had to let it  go-o |    -        |
      F        Fm              C     D7/F#
        I just had to let it | go  -        |  
      F        Ab                              C
        I just had to... let it | go-o-o-o-o | o... |
                                               𝄑

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: C Major - no sharps or flats
  • Chord Set: C, F, G, G/F, Dm, Dm7, Dm7/C, Am, Am/G, D7/F#, Fm, Ab
  • Time Signature: 4/4 - Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately
  • Metronome: q = 84
  • Voice Range: C4 - Bb5
  • Intermediate Level: Requires a fair knowledge of barre chords (Fm, Ab), and slash chords (G/F, Dm7/C, Am/G, D7/F#).
  • Style Notes: Gentle folk-rock with a piano-led arrangement; laid-back groove 
  • Strumming/Picking: Light down-up strum or arpeggiated fingerpicking.
  • Common strum pattern:
    Down, Down-Up, Up-Down, Up (D - DU - UD - U)
  • Once you're comfortable with the basic pattern, experiment with slight variations to add your own touch. Ultimately, the best strum pattern is the one that sounds and feels right to you.

Song Details:

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: John Lennon
  • Date: 1980
  • Lyrics Begin: People say I'm crazy doin' what I'm doin'.
  • Genre: Soft rock
  • Featured Artist: John Lennon
  • Album: Double Fantasy
    Recorded: 7 August – 19 October 1980
    Released: 17 November 1980
  • Single:
    Recorded: 1980
    Released: 13 March 1981 (US), 27 March 1981 (UK)
    B-side: Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
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