• Song:

    The World And His Wife

  • Artist:

    Elvis Costello

  • Album:

    Punch The Clock

A real gem from "Punch the Clock."  I noticed that nobody tabbed the album 
version, so I thought I'd try to figure it out.  First tab; forgive me if it sucks.

Key of: C

Intro:
Dm9F (xx0210@1)G7

Verse 1:
    C (x32010@1)                               Am (x02210@1)The family circle gathers 'round from very far and near
   C (x32010@1)             C7 (x32310@1)               F (133211@1)    
To pass around the same remarks they passed away last year
     Dm (xx0231@1)                           EmThe (022000@1)little girl you dangled on your knee without mishap
      C (x32010@1)                          F (133211@1)
Stirs something in your memory and something in your lap

Intro

Chorus:
           CBut (x32010@1)it's a living
             AmThis (x02210@1)is the life
        C (x32010@1)   G (320003@1)     AmFor (x02210@1)the world and his wife
    F (133211@1)   F# (244322@1)    BmThe (x24432@1)world and his wife

Verse 2:
    C (x32010@1)                             Am (x02210@1)
The kissing cousins slip outside to cuddle and confess
C (x32010@1)               C7 (x32310@1)                 FShe (133211@1)says sweet nothing at all, it's much more of a mess
     Dm (xx0231@1)                             Em (022000@1)
The conversation melts like chocolate down their open jaws
C (x32010@1)                              FAs (133211@1)the juniper berry slips down just like last night's drawers

Chorus:
           CBut (x32010@1)it's a living
             AmThis (x02210@1)is the life
        C (x32010@1)   G (320003@1)     AmFor (x02210@1)the world and his wife
    F (133211@1)   F# (244322@1)    BmThe (x24432@1)world and his wife

Bridge:
   E (022100@1)                E7 (020130@1)             Am (x02210@1)To tell the truth our Mum ran off with someone else's father
F (133211@1)                 Bb (x1333x@1)       C (x32010@1)Went for two weeks' holiday in Taramasalata
E (022100@1)            E7 (020130@1)             F (133211@1)
Daddy went out with the rubbish and he kept on walking
F (133211@1)                 BbBetween (x1333x@1)Mum and the walls
         Bb (x1333x@1)                    G7God (320001@1)only knows who does the talking

Chorus:
           CBut (x32010@1)it's a living
             AmThis (x02210@1)is the life
        C (x32010@1)   G (320003@1)     AmFor (x02210@1)the world and his wife
    F (133211@1)   F# (244322@1)    BmThe (x24432@1)world and his wife

Intro

Verse 3:
     C (x32010@1)                                AmBut (x02210@1)later on in the evening through the tears and fol-de-rol
         C (x32010@1)         C7 (x32310@1)              FCome (133211@1)the sentimental feelings for the lure of vitriol
Dm (xx0231@1)                                  EmLonging (022000@1)thoughts go hankering for the old home overseas
       C (x32010@1)                             FWith (133211@1)a blindfold and a national anthem sung in different keys

Outro:
           CBut (x32010@1)it's a living
             AmThis (x02210@1)is the life
           CIt's (x32010@1)a living
             AmThis (x02210@1)is the life
           CIt's (x32010@1)a living
             AmThis (x02210@1)is the life
        C (x32010@1)   G (320003@1)     AmFor (x02210@1)the world and his wife
    F (133211@1)   F# (244322@1)    BmThe (x24432@1)world and his wife
(repeat until fade out)
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