這首歌唱出了美好的願望,與MLK著名的夢演講異曲同工。而慘酷的越戰片《早安越南》用了這歌,給人以希望視角展望未來。歌詞講到世界上美好的事物,如蔚藍的天空、美麗的色彩與彩虹、人們彼此間的溫暖和嬰兒可愛的哭笑聲等。
1967 年的原創最初計劃是讓聲音沙啞、古怪的爵士樂傳奇人物阿姆斯特朗(Louise Armstrong) 將這首歌作為一首曲子發行,以平息與緩和美國的一些種族和政治動蕩,所以歌詞采用了陽光與樂觀的情調。
後來越戰電影 《Good Morning, Vietnam》主演是著名喜劇演員Robin Williams, 他的出現與這首溫暖的歌曲, 讓人們對戰爭與生活有個別樣的感知,緩和了那些鮮血盡染火, 光衝天的場麵,用歌聲救贖了靈魂,至少觀眾看完電影回家還能睡覺。
What a wonderful world
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
[Verse 2]
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
[Bridge]
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying, "I love you"
[Verse 3]
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world