Photo Credit: Little Apple Yarn Favors

Alfred 55-7240A Take the Lead- Swing - Music Book (Google Affiliate Ad)

There are not enough superlatives to describe this evergreen. Introduced in 1932 by Aida Ward at Harlem's Cotton Club, this song has been recorded by such greats as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Cab Calloway. It was also featured in the 1950 film I'll Get By, starring June Haver, Glorai DeHaven, Harry James and Dennis Day. Lyrics by Ted Koehler and music by Harold Arlen.

I found these piano chords online by Frank Sinatra and wanted to share them with you.

Frank Sinatra Version

             F6/A        D7
I've got the world on a string
  Gm7/F        Bbm7
Sitting on a rainbow
  FM7                     D7/F#   C#7/B
Got that string around my finger
  C7                              F      Edim7      
What a world, what a life, im in love.



             F6/A        D7
I've got a song that I sing
Gm/F           Bbm7
I can make the rain go
  FM7              D7/F#   C#7/B
Anytime I move my finger
  C7                              F
Lucky me, can't you see, I'm in love



                     A7
Life's a beautiful thing
                       F#mM7b5   D7
As long as I hold that string
                      G7/F   Gaug
I'd be a silly so and so
                        G7/F   C7
If I should ever let it go




             F6/A        D7
I've got the world on a string
  Gm/F         Bbm7
Sitting on a rainbow
  FM7                     D7/F#   C#7/B
Got that string around my finger
  C7                              F      Edim7      
What a world, what a life, im in love.



                     A7
Life's a beautiful thing
                       F#mM7b5   D7
As long as I hold that string
                      G7/F   Gaug
I'd be a silly so and so
                        G7/F   C7
If I should ever let it go



             F6/A        D7
I've got the world on a string
  Gm/F         Bbm7
Sitting on a rainbow
  FM7                     D7/F#   C#7/B
Got that string around my finger
  C7                              F      Edim7      
What a world, what a life, im in love.

Michael Buble Chord Arrangement

Intro: DM7 Bm G A

DM7    Bm       G         A
(Hey Michael come on & swing.
DM7    Bm      G        A
Looks like you got the world on a string.)

     DM7              Bm
I've got the world on a string
  G                   A
I'm sitting on a rainbow
   DM7     Bm   F#m        B   
Got that string around my finger
 G                   A                         DM7 Bm G A
What a world, what a life - I'm in love

   DM7            Bm
I've got a song that I sing
   G               A
And I can make the rain go
   DM7  Bm   F#m     B   
Any time I move my finger
 G                 A   
Lucky me, cant you see - I'm in love


                        Em     A      
Life's a wonderful thing
                             DM7    B
As long as I've got that string
                         Em       A
I'd be a silly so-and-so
         DM7                A A A 
If I should ever let you go


                 DM7              Bm            
I've got the world on a string
             G                A              
I'm sitting on the rainbow
    DM7    Bm           G            A
I've got that string around my finger
  Em                                 A
Oh, What a world, what a life - I'm in love

Instrumental:  DM7   Bm   G   A


                        Em     A      
Life's a wonderful thing
                             DM7    B
As long as I've got that string
                         Em       A
I'd be a silly so-and-so
                   B - -  C - - Dbbreak             
If I should ever let you go

                   EM7      D#m 
I've got the world on a string
      A             B
I'm sitting on a rainbow
EM7      D#m      A          B
I got that string around my finger
  F#m                   B 
What a world, what a life
  F#m                 B
Oh, what a world, what life
  F#m                       B
What a world, what life, cause I'm in love
EM7         D#m       G   A
(He's in love, he's in love)
I'm in love
EM7     D#m           G    A
(Got the world on a string)
And what a wonderful thing

EM7     D#m     G      A
(Alright)
When you get the world on a string
(Uh huh)



In one of my Jazz folders I have an arrangement by Stuart Isacoff

to "I've Got the World On A String" in the Key of F. It has a 4/4 time signature

with a moderate swing.

Here's the Intro:

Cm

Gm7

Bbm/Db

Bdim

Abm

Gm7

C7

Abm = AbCb/EbAb

Gm9 = GBb/DF

C13 = CBb/EA

 F        D7
I've got the world on a string
  Gm7        Bbm
Sitting on a rainbow
  F             E7 Eb7 D9 Db9   
Got that string around my finger
  Gm7    C     Ddim   C7         F      C7      
What a world, what a life, im in love.



             F6/A        D7
I've got a song that I sing
Gm7           Bbm
I can make the rain go
  F        E7  Eb7 D9  Db9
Anytime I move my finger
  Gm7  C7 Ddim      C7       F    Db7 
Lucky me, can't you see, I'm in love



F                     A9
Life's a beautiful thing
                          D7
As long as I hold that string
                      G7/F   Gaug
I'd be a silly so and so
                        Eb7 D7 Db7   C7
If I should ever let it go




             F        D7
I've got the world on a string
  Gm7         Bbm
Sitting on a rainbow
  F              A7     D9  G7 G7+5
Got that string around my finger
  Gm7                       C7       F      Db7  F     
What a world, what a life, I'm in love.


For the ending, you'll want to play:

FCA/F

DbF/CbAb

CF/CEA

It's such a cool song to play with all the dotted quarter notes followed by

the quick eighth notes. Oh, and you'll want to play this chord as,

G7+5 = FB/AbEb

Just in case you're not familiar with this all-time standard, have a look.

Happy Halloween, have a safe one!

"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: Singer Dame Shirley Bassey performs on stage during the Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2012 in London, England. For only the second time in its history the UK celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of a monarch. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have flocked to London to witness the spectacle of the weekend’s celebrations. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Fred Ahlert was one of the most talented and most prolific composers of the century. Roy Turk one of the truly great lyricists. Published in 1928, this evergreen enjoyed sheet music sales and record sales of over a million copies each. It was revived in 1944 with a #1 recording by the Harry James orchestra with Dick Haymes on vocal, and in 1961 vocalist Shirley Bassey had a successful recording. It was included in a half dozen films from 1930 to 1957. Are you familiar with the song?

Chord Chart

I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)

Words & Music by Roy Turk & Fred Ahlert
Recorded by Kay Starr, 1944


C6   Ddim   C6   G7-9  D6     Bm7  E7      E7+5   Dm
I'll get    by    as  long  as  I         have you;

Edim  Dm7       Am7   D9
Though there be rain      

Bm G7sus4         G7
And  dark - ness, too,

Ebdim  G7           G9
I'll not complain,

G7   G7+5  C   Em6    C#dim   Dm7   G9
I'll see it through.


C6   Ddim  C6 G7   C       Bm7          E7+5   Dm  
Pov - er - ty may come to  me          that's true;

A7-0  Dm7      E7+5 E7 
But  what care I?

E7-9  Am      Em7  A9
Say,  I'll get by


First Time:

A7+5 Dm7       G7-9   C6    Am7     Dm7       G7
As  long as I     have you.


Last Time:

A7+5 Dm7       G7-9   C6    Abmaj7   Ab6  Db9 C9/6
As  long as I     have you.

You might be interested in this wonderful collection of songs:

GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK: SINGERS

I'll Get By

Words & Music by Roy Turk & Fred Ahlert
Recorded by Kay Starr, 1944


D6   Gdim   D6   Gdim  D6     C#m7-5  F#7       Em    B+   Em7   Em6
I'll get    by    as  long  as  I         have you;

Cdim  Em7       Bm7-5   E9
Though there be rain      

C#m A7sus4         A7
And  dark - ness, too,

Fdim  A7           A9
I'll not complain,

A7   D       F#m6    Gdim   Em7   A9
I'll see it through.


D6   Fdim  D6 A7   D      C#m7-5  F#7          Em   B+  Em7  Em6
Pov - er - ty may come to  me          that's true;

Fdim  Em7      F#7 
But  what care I?

Cdim  Bm7     F#m7  G9
Say,  I'll get by


First Time:

A7+5 Em7       A7 Fdim  D6    (Bm7     Em7       A7)
As  long as I     have you.


Last Time:

A7+5 Em7       A7 Fdim  D6    D9   BM7   Gdim   D
As  long as I     have you.

Have fun practicing this 1928 song!