Preamble
Last week we saw Canadian legends Colin James and Craig Northey do a fantastic acoustic version of this Nick Lowe gem in a small club. As I was bellowing along on the vocal my wife commented how much she liked it(the song!) and I should learn to play it. I always like this song, being most familiar with the Elvis Costello “Armed Forces†version, but never thought of it as a solo acoustic number.
The next day upon sobering up I cobbled together this version from tab posted elsewhere with correction of the lyrics from the “Armed Forces†LP sleeve. Of course this is not intended to be the “right†or accurate version, but one I can play and matched to my vocal range. Anyway, there is a lot you can do with this and I await your comments.
Strum Pattern
I play it with a simple D D D DU pattern which I think I lifted more from the rhythm section on the LP version than the guitarist. I have not heard the Brinsley Schwartz version for decades so that might be a good reference too.
Chords
Standard open G, C, Em, A, D.
Bonus: good tune for working on the changes too, as you can slow it down considerably from the LP version and still have it sound quite good, then speed it up to near-punk tempo as you wish.
(What's So Funny ‘Bout)Peace, Love, and Understanding?
By: Nick Lowe
Intro
G C (4x)
As I walk thr[G]ough [C] this wicked [G]world [C]
Searchin' for light in the [A]darkness of insani[D]ty [C]
I asked my[G]self [C] is all hope [G]lost [C]
Is there only pain and [A]hatred and mise[D]ry? [C]
And each [G]time I feel like [D]this inside
There's [G]one thing I want to [C]know:
[G]What's so funny 'bout [D]peace,love and understanding? [A]Oh, oh
[G]What's so funny 'bout [D]peace, love and understanding? [D]
G C (4x)
And as I walk [G]on [C] through troubled t[G]imes [C]
My spirit gets so down[A]hearted some[D]times [C]
So where are the [G]strong [C] and who are the [G]trusted [C]
And where is the ha[A]rmo[D]ny - sweet harmo[C]ny?
'Cuz each [G]time I feel it [D]slipping away
[G]Just makes me want to [C]cry
[G]What's so funny 'bout [D]peace, love and understanding? [A]Oh, oh
[G]What's so funny 'bout [D]peace, love and understanding? [D]
G C (4x)
Em A [D] So.. [C] ..oohh..
Where are the [G]strong [C] and who are the [G]trusted [C]
And where is the ha[A]rmo[D]ny - sweet harmo[C]ny?
'Cuz each [G]time I feel it [D]slipping away
[G]Just makes me want to [C]cry
[G]What's so funny 'bout [D]peace,love and understanding? [A]Oh, oh
[G]What's so funny 'bout [D]peace,love and understanding? [A]Oh, oh
[G]What's so funny 'bout D]peace,love and understanding? [let ring]
G C to end.
Great song; thanks for a nice easy arrangement! :D
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
You can also make this a little more true to the original song simply by putting a D chord in right before the C in the G to C changes. Rhythm would be like this: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Strum D D U D D
Chord G D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Strum D D U D D
Chord C
Cool song - lots of fun and many great ways to arrange it!
Peace
David:
I'm not clear...you play the D chord on the final upstrum ie: the "&" following the fourth beat?
No, it's a downstrum right on the fourth beat. Sorry about being unclear there! A nice strong downstrum on the D on the fourth beat and then one of C on the first beat of the second measure.
Peace
