“This Whole World”

Another sample of Brian Wilson’s art: “This Whole World,” from the 1970 album Sunflower. The lead vocal is by Carl Wilson. In less than two minutes, this song travels through at least four key changes and never comes to a final cadence.

I’ve written the chord names line by line, without trying to align them with the lyrics. The slash chords have the chord’s bass note to the right. This post is partly for my benefit, so that I don’t have to try to work out the chords at our piano again after the index card on which I’ve already worked them out them goes missing. There have many such index cards.

C7
I’m thinkin’ ’bout this whole world

C  F  Em7  G  Am  F
Late at night I think about the love of this whole world

A  F#7  Bm7  E7  C#m
Lots of different people everywhere

C#  C#/C  F#/Bb  Ab7  Bbm  Bbm/Ab  F#maj7
And when I go anywhere I see love

Bb
When girls get made at boys and go

Ebmaj7
Many times they’re just puttin’ on a show

Bb  F  G
But when they leave you wait alone

C  F  Em7  G  Am  F
You are there like everywhere like everyone you see

A  F#7  Bm7  E7  C#m
Happy ’cause you’re livin’ and you’re free

C#  C#/C  F#/Bb  Ab7  Bbm  Bbm/Ab  F#maj7
Now, here comes another day for your love

Bb
[wordless vocals]

Ebmaj7
[wordless vocals]

Bb  F  G
[wordless vocals]

C  F  Em7  G  Am  F
Late at night I think about the love of this whole world

A  F#7  Bm7  E7  C#m
[wordless vocals]

What is there to say? Ah-oom dop didit.

Related reading
All OCA Brian Wilson posts (Pinboard)