...HAPPY BIRTHDAY... by Stevie Wonder
--------------------.................
*from 'Hotter Than July' (1980)*
Intro:
C F/C, C
Bb Eb, Bb
Am Em Am,
G F/G
(x2)
Verse 1:
C F/C, C
You know it doesn't make much sense,
Bb Eb, Bb
There ought to be a law against;
Am Em Am
Any-one who takes offense,
G F/G
At a, day in your celebration.
C F/C, C
'Cos we all know in our minds,
Bb Eb, Bb
That there ought to be a time,
Am Em, Am
That we can set aside;
G F/G
To show just how much we love you.
Bridge 1:
F
And I'm sure you would agree,
G
What could fit more perfectly,
F
Than to have a world party,
F/G
On the day you came to be.
Chorus 1:
C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F C
Happy birth-day.
C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F C
Happy birth-day.
Verse 2:
C F/C, C
I just never understood,
Bb Eb, Bb
How a man who died for good,
Am Em, Am
Could not have a day that would,
G F/G
Be set aside for his recognition.
C F/C, C
Because it should never be,
Bb Eb, Bb
Just be-cause some cannot see,
Am Em, Am
The dream as clear as he.
G
That they should make it,
F/G
Be-come an illusion.
Bridge 2:
F
And we all know everything,
G
That he stood for, time will bring.
F
For in peace our hearts will sing;
F/G
Thanks to Martin Luther King.
Chorus 2:
C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F C
Happy birth-day.
C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F C
Happy birth-day.
Middle 8:
Dm7 Am7
Why has there never been a holiday,
Dm7
Where peace is celebrated,
G# A# C
All through-out the wo-rld?
Verse 3:
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/stevie_wonder/happy_birthday_crd_ver_2.html ]
C F/C, C
The time is overdue,
Bb Eb, Bb
For pe-ople like me and you,
Am Em, Am
Who know the way to truth;
G F/G
Is love and unity to all God's children.
C F/C, C
It should be a great event,
Bb Eb, Bb
And the whole day should be spent,
Am Em, Am
In full remembrance,
G
Of those who lived and died,
F/G
For the oneness of all people.
Bridge 3:
F
So let us all begin,
G
We know that love can win.
F
Let it out; don't hold it in,
F/G F#/G#
Sing it loud as you can...
*KEY CHANGE*
------------
Chorus 3:
C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F# C#
Happy birth-day.
C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F# C#
Happy birth-day.
Chorus 4:
C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F# C#
Happy birth-day.
C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F# C#
Happy birth-day.
Coda:
C# B
Ha.....ppy, birthday.
A#m
Happy birth-day,
G# F#/G#
Happy birth-da...y. (Ooh yeah).
C# B
Ha.....ppy, birthday.
A#m
Happy birth-day,
G# F#/G#
Happy birth-da...y. (Ooh yeah).
(Spoken):
C#
We know the key,
B
To unity of all people,
Is in the dream that,
A#m
You had so long ago,
That lives in all,
G# F#/G#
Of the hearts of people,
C#
That believe in unity.
B
We'll make the dream,
Become a reality;
A#m
I know we will,
G# F#/G#
Because our hearts tell us so.
Outro:
C# B
Ha.....ppy, birthday.
A#m
Happy birth-day,
G# F#/G#
Happy birth-da...y.
C# B
Ha.....ppy, birthday.
A#m
Happy birth-day,
G# F#/G#
Happy birth-da...y.
(Repeat to Fade)
CHORD DIAGRAMS:
---------------
C F/C Bb Eb Am Em
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x32010 x33211 x13331 x68886 x02210 022000
G F/G F Dm7 Am7 G#
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
320003 303210 133211 xx0211 x02013 466544
A# F#/G# C# F#/C# B A#m
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x13331 4443xx x46664 x44322 x24442 x13321
Tabbed by Joel from cLuMsY, Bristol, England, 2004
(clumsyband@hotmail.com)
