Deborah Chan
Will Varley's Weddings and Wars is a song that reflects on the cyclical nature of human history, with a chorus proclaiming, Birth, death, weddings, and wars/That's all we're good for. The chords for this contemplative song are available in the key of D major, with a tempo of 75 BPM. The progression includes D maj, B min, G maj, and A maj chords, accompanying lyrics that ponder humanity's evolution from the earliest days of Adam and Eve to modern times, where we still find ourselves grappling with age-old questions and conflicts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chords | Am, G, F, C, D maj, B min, G maj, A maj |
| Tempo | 75 BPM |
| Key | D maj |
| Release Date | 2013 |
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The song's chords
"Weddings and Wars" by Will Varley is a thoughtful and insightful song that reflects on the cyclical nature of life, the complexities of human existence, and the recurring themes that seem to define our lives. The song's chords and structure beautifully support the depth of its lyrics.
The song primarily uses the following chords: D major, B minor, G major, and A major. These chords create a sense of movement and progression throughout the song, reflecting the journey through history and human experiences that the lyrics depict. The tempo of the song is 75 BPM, which gives it a steady and reflective feel.
In the verses, the chords progress between D major, B minor, and G major, creating a sense of storytelling and building emotion. The lyrics during these sections often depict the evolution of humanity, from our early beginnings to our modern realities. For example, the verse includes the lines: "Instead of hunting, now we go to Tesco's / Instead of talking, now we wear headphones / Instead of mountains, we're heading for Mars / Instead of God, we have credit cards."
As the song builds towards the chorus, it shifts to the A major chord, creating a sense of release and emphasis. The chorus itself is a powerful statement of our shared human experiences: "Birth, death, weddings, and wars / That's all we're good for / If all of the past was played as a song / Then our lives are a beat of the drum." The combination of the D major and A major chords in the chorus gives it a memorable and anthemic feel.
Throughout the song, the chord progression and structure effectively highlight the lyrics and the message that Will Varley is conveying. The chords provide a solid framework that supports the narrative arc of the song, from its contemplative verses to its impactful chorus.
"Weddings and Wars" is a testament to Will Varley's songwriting prowess, and the chords he has chosen beautifully enhance the themes and emotions present in the lyrics. It's a song that invites listeners to reflect on their own place in the world and the broader cycles of life that connect us all.
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Lyrics and meaning
Will Varley's "Weddings and Wars" is a contemplative song that reflects on the cyclical nature of life and humanity's propensity for violence and conflict. The lyrics are a narrative that spans from the Big Bang to the present day, highlighting the recurring themes of birth, death, weddings, and wars.
The song begins with the line, "'Bang' goes the big bang in the darkness and thunder," setting the tone for the epic journey that the lyrics will undertake. It then references Adam and Eve, suggesting that humanity, from its earliest beginnings, has been driven by curiosity and a search for meaning: "We used God as a word for the things we can't see." This curiosity, however, also leads to conflict as people spread across the globe and establish hierarchies: "Makin' some men kings and other men slaves / Sayin' God is our reason and God is our leader, / God spoke to me and he told me to kill ya.'""
As the song progresses, it touches on various aspects of human history, including the age of exploration and the establishment of empires: "Empires built with the bones of the slaughtered." It also acknowledges the dark side of humanity's advancements, such as the exploitation and trade of commodities like "tobacco and opium, tea leaves and sugar."
The chorus, "Birth, death, weddings and wars / That's all we're good for," is a stark reminder of the seemingly inevitable cycles of life and the prevalence of conflict in human history. Despite our technological advancements, the song suggests that we haven't truly evolved beyond our basic instincts: "Instead of hunting now we go to Tescos / Instead of talking now we wear headphones / Instead of mountains we're heading for Mars / Instead of God we have credit cards."
In the latter part of the song, Varley laments the state of modern society, highlighting the juxtaposition of technological progress and our seemingly unchanged nature: "The west gets rich and it strangles the earth / Romeo and Juliet can't make it work / Factories, A-Bombs and Flying-Machines / Finally someone invents the TV." Despite all our advancements, we're still grappling with the same fundamental questions: "And we're still here two thousand and somethin' / No peace, economy is crashing / Singin' and dancin' and looking at the sky, sayin' / 'Why are we here? What happens when we die?'""
"Weddings and Wars" is a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition, questioning our nature, our propensity for violence, and our seemingly unchanging state despite the passage of time and progress. It invites listeners to reflect on the cycles of life and the recurring themes that shape our existence.
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Tempo and rhythm
"Weddings and Wars" by Will Varley is a contemplative song about the cyclical nature of life, highlighting the recurring themes of birth, death, weddings, and wars throughout history. The song's tempo is a steady 75 BPM, and its rhythm reflects the thoughtful and philosophical nature of the lyrics.
The song is primarily in 4/4 time, with a consistent strumming pattern that creates a sense of forward momentum. The chord progression, as outlined in the sources, follows a simple pattern of D maj, B min, G maj, and A maj. This progression repeats throughout the song, providing a sense of unity and coherence to the music.
The rhythm of the song is important in conveying the message of the lyrics. The steady beat, marked by the drum, symbolizes the relentless passage of time and the continuous cycle of life. The consistent rhythm, coupled with the thoughtful tempo, creates a sense of reflection and contemplation.
Throughout the song, the lyrics emphasize the repetitive nature of human history, with lines like "If all of the past was played as a song / Then our lives are a beat of the drum." The rhythm, therefore, takes on a symbolic quality, representing the steady march of time and the recurring patterns of human existence.
The chorus of the song, where the title lyrics "Birth, death, weddings and wars" are sung, has a slight variation in the rhythm. Here, the strumming pattern changes subtly, adding a sense of emphasis and emotion to these pivotal lyrics. This variation in the rhythm helps to highlight the core message of the song and draws the listener's attention to these powerful words.
Overall, the tempo and rhythm of "Weddings and Wars" work together to create a thoughtful and reflective atmosphere. The steady tempo and consistent rhythm evoke a sense of continuity and the relentless passage of time. The subtle variations in the rhythm, particularly during the chorus, add emotional depth and draw attention to the powerful message conveyed by the lyrics.
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Guitar tutorial
In this guitar tutorial, we'll be learning how to play "Weddings and Wars" by Will Varley. This song is an easy one to get started with, as it only uses a few basic chords. So grab your guitar and let's get started!
The chords that Will Varley uses in "Weddings and Wars" are D major, B minor, G major, and A major. The song is in the key of D major and has a tempo of 75 BPM.
To play the D major chord, place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the E string, and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the B string. This chord is often abbreviated as Dmaj or simply D.
For the B minor chord, you'll need to place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the D string. This chord is abbreviated as Bm or Bmin.
To form the G major chord, put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the E string, and your index finger on the 2nd fret of the B string. This chord is denoted as Gmaj or just G.
Finally, to play the A major chord, put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string and your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string. This chord can be abbreviated as Amaj or simply A.
Now that you know the chords, let's talk about strumming. "Weddings and Wars" is a strum-heavy song, which means you'll be playing mostly down-strums and up-strums. A basic strumming pattern you can follow is to strum down on the beat and then up between beats. So, if you're counting "1, 2, 3, 4" to follow along with the tempo, you'd strum down on the numbers and up between them.
As you play through the song, you'll be switching between these chords in the following order: D, Bm, G, A. Repeat this chord progression throughout the entire song. Remember to use the lyrics provided above to help you switch chords at the right time!
With that, you now know how to play "Weddings and Wars" by Will Varley on the guitar. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be strumming like a pro!
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Similar songs
Will Varley's "Weddings and Wars" is a song that reflects on humanity's evolution, from our early days climbing "down from the trees" to our modern era of technology and uncertainty. The song is characterised by its use of chords: D maj, B min, G maj, and A maj, contributing to a simple yet effective composition.
"Spirit of Minnie" by Will Varley: This song also features a simple chord progression of FCGAₘ. It's unclear what the specific themes of this song are, but it may involve a person named Minnie or be about the spirit of a person named Minnie.
"Breaking the Bread" by Will Varley: With chords GEₘCD, this song is another straightforward progression. The title suggests a theme of sharing and community, possibly with religious connotations.
"Send My Love to the System" by Will Varley: Featuring chords CDCG, this song hints at a critique of societal structures or a cry for change. The title suggests a message of love and resistance against an established order.
"I Got This Email" by Will Varley: With chords CFCG, this song delves into modern communication methods. It's a reflection on how technology, specifically email, has impacted our lives and perhaps even our emotional states.
"Outside Over There" by Will Varley: With a chord progression of F♯mEDBm, this song might explore themes of alienation or feeling disconnected from the world. The title could indicate a sense of being an outsider looking in.
These songs, like "Weddings and Wars," showcase Will Varley's talent for blending meaningful lyrics with accessible chord structures.
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Frequently asked questions
The chords are D maj, B min, G maj, and A maj.
The song has a tempo of 75 BPM.
The lyrics include: "Birth, death, weddings and wars, that's all we're good for". Other lyrics include: "Instead of hunting now we go to Tesco's, instead of talking now we wear headphones".
The song was released in 2013.
