John Lennon - Watching The Wheels
Hello! Below you'll find my "Watching The Wheels" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This excellent song by John Lennon is very piano-based - there are a few layers of piano and electric piano on the recording. In the video, I try to capture the sound of these multiple keyboards together, but feel free to keep it as simple as you need.
Enjoy!
Watching The Wheels Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Watching The Wheels:
Watching The Wheels Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| C | C | F | F |2x
| C | C | F | F |2x
[Verse 1]
C F C
People say I'm crazy, doing what I'm doing
C F
Well they give me all kinds of warnings
C
To save me from ruin
F Dm
When I say that I'm o.k. well they
F Dm
When I say that I'm o.k. well they
G G7
Look at me kind of strange
F Dm
Surely you're not happy now you no
F Dm
Surely you're not happy now you no
G G
Longer play the game
[Verse 2]
C F C
People say I'm lazy, dreaming my life away
C F
Well, they give me all kinds of advice
C F C
People say I'm lazy, dreaming my life away
C F
Well, they give me all kinds of advice
C
Designed to enlighten me
F Dm
When I tell them that I'm doing fine
F Dm
When I tell them that I'm doing fine
G G7
Watching shadows on the wall
F Dm
Don't you miss the big time boy you're no
F Dm
Don't you miss the big time boy you're no
G G
Longer on the ball
[Chorus]
F G
I'm just sitting here watching the
F G
I'm just sitting here watching the
C Am F
Wheels go round and round
Am/E Dm F/C
I really love to watch them roll
G G7/F Am C/G F#m7b5
No longer riding on the merry-go-rou-ound
F Fm7/Ab (C)
I just had to let it go
Am/E Dm F/C
I really love to watch them roll
G G7/F Am C/G F#m7b5
No longer riding on the merry-go-rou-ound
F Fm7/Ab (C)
I just had to let it go
[Instrumental]
| C | C | F | F |2x
| C | C | F | F |2x
[Verse 3]
C F C
Ah, people asking questions, lost in confusion
C F C
Well, I tell them there's no problem, only solutions
F Dm
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me
C F C
Ah, people asking questions, lost in confusion
C F C
Well, I tell them there's no problem, only solutions
F Dm
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me
G G7
As if I've lost my mind
F Dm
I told them there's no hurry, I'm just
F Dm
I told them there's no hurry, I'm just
G G
Sitting here doing time
[Chorus]
F G
I'm just sitting here watching the
F G
I'm just sitting here watching the
C Am F
Wheels go round and round
Am/E Dm F/C
I really love to watch them roll
G G7/F Am C/G F#m7b5
No longer riding on the merry-go-rou-ound
F Fm7/Ab C F#m7b5
I just had to let it go
F Fm7/Ab C F#m7b5
I just had to let it go
F Fm7/Ab C7
I just had to... let it go
Am/E Dm F/C
I really love to watch them roll
G G7/F Am C/G F#m7b5
No longer riding on the merry-go-rou-ound
F Fm7/Ab C F#m7b5
I just had to let it go
F Fm7/Ab C F#m7b5
I just had to let it go
F Fm7/Ab C7
I just had to... let it go
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Watching The Wheels Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Watching The Wheels" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Watching The Wheels" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
