Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder Song Chord/Tab and Lyric

——————–……………..

from ‘Hotter Than July’ (1980)

Intro:

C F/C, C
Bb Eb, Bb
Am Em Am,
[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;
Any-one who takes offense,
At a, day in [F/G]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;
To show just how [F/G]much we love you.

Bridge 1:

And I’m sure you would agree,
What could fit more perfectly,
Than to have a world party,
On the [F/G]day you came to be.

Chorus 1:

C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
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,
Be set aside for his [F/G]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.
That they should make it,
Be-[F/G]come an illusion.

Bridge 2:

And we all know everything,
That he stood for, time will bring.
For in peace our hearts will sing;
Thanks to [F/G]Martin Luther King.

Chorus 2:

C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

C F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
F/C, C
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

Middle 8:

Why has there never been a holiday,
Where peace is celebrated,
All through-out the wo-rld?

Verse 3:

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;
Is love and unity to [F/G]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,
Of those who lived and died,
For the [F/G]oneness of all people.

Bridge 3:

So let us all begin,
We know that love can win.
Let it out; don’t hold it in,
Sing it [F/G]loud as you [F#/G#]can…

KEY CHANGE

————

Chorus 3:

C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

Chorus 4:

C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

C# F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
F#/C#, C#
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birth-day.

Coda:

Ha…..ppy, birthday.
Happy birth-day,
Happy birth-da.[F#/G#]..y. (Ooh yeah).

Ha…..ppy, birthday.
Happy birth-day,
Happy birth-da.[F#/G#]..y. (Ooh yeah).

(Spoken):

We know the key,
To unity of all people,
Is in the dream that,
You had so long ago,
That lives in all,
Of the hearts of people,[F#/G#]

That believe in unity.
We’ll make the dream,
Become a reality;
I know we will,
Because our hearts tell us so.[F#/G#]

Outro:

Ha…..ppy, birthday.
Happy birth-day,
Happy birth-da.[F#/G#]..y.

Ha…..ppy, birthday.
Happy birth-day,
Happy birth-da.[F#/G#]..y.

(Repeat to Fade)

CHORD DIAGRAMS:

—————

[F/C]
x32010 x33211 x13331 x68886 x02210 022000

[F/G]
320003 303210 133211 xx0211 x02013 466544

[F#/G#] [F#/C#]
x13331 4443xx x46664 x44322 x24442 x13321

Tabbed by Joel from cLuMsY, Bristol, England, 2004
([email protected])