Key of: C Intro: D5 F5 G5 Verse 1: C5 A5 The family circle gathers 'round from very far and near C5 C5 F5 To pass around the same remarks they passed away last year D5 E5 The little girl you dangled on your knee without mishap C5 F5 Stirs something in your memory and something in your lap Intro Chorus: C5 But it's a living A5 This is the life C5 G5 A5 For the world and his wife F5 F#5 B5 The world and his wife Verse 2: C5 A5 The kissing cousins slip outside to cuddle and confess C5 C5 F5 She says sweet nothing at all, it's much more of a mess D5 E5 The conversation melts like chocolate down their open jaws C5 F5 As the juniper berry slips down just like last night's drawers Chorus: C5 But it's a living A5 This is the life C5 G5 A5 For the world and his wife F5 F#5 B5 The world and his wife Bridge: E5 E5 A5 To tell the truth our Mum ran off with someone else's father F5 Bb5 C5 Went for two weeks' holiday in Taramasalata E5 E5 F5 Daddy went out with the rubbish and he kept on walking F5 Bb5 Between Mum and the walls Bb5 G5 God only knows who does the talking Chorus: C5 But it's a living A5 This is the life C5 G5 A5 For the world and his wife F5 F#5 B5 The world and his wife Intro Verse 3: C5 A5 But later on in the evening through the tears and fol-de-rol C5 C5 F5 Come the sentimental feelings for the lure of vitriol D5 E5 Longing thoughts go hankering for the old home overseas C5 F5 With a blindfold and a national anthem sung in different keys Outro: C5 But it's a living A5 This is the life C5 It's a living A5 This is the life C5 It's a living A5 This is the life C5 G5 A5 For the world and his wife F5 F#5 B5 The world and his wife (repeat until fade out)