How the World Works Chords by Bo Burnham

[Em] _ Hey [A] kids, _ today we're [D] gonna learn about the world.
_ _ _ [Eb] _ _ [Em] _
The world [A] that's around us is pretty [D]
amazing, but how does it work?
It must be [Eb] [Em] complicated.
The secret [A] is the world can [D] only work when everything works [Eb] together.
[Em]
A bee drinks [A] from a flower and leaves [D] with its pollen.
A squirrel in a tree [Eb] spreads the seeds [Em] that have fallen.
_ [A] Everything works _ [D] together.
The [Eb] biggest [Em] elephant, the [A] littlest [D] fly.
The [Eb] gopher's [Em] underground, the bird's [A] in the [Bb] sky.
[Bm]
And every [Bb] single cricket, [D] every fish [Ab] in the sea,
[G]
gives what they [E] can and gets [A] what they [D] need.
That is [Ab] how the world _ [G] _
works.
That [E] is how the [A] world _ [D]
works.
From A to Zebra [Gb] to the worms [Bm] and the [G] dirt.
_ [A] _ _ _ That's how_
[D] It works.
_ Hey everyone, look who stopped by to say hello.
_ It's Socko. _
Hey.
_ Where you been, Socko?
I've been where I always am when you're not wearing me on your hand.
In a frightening liminal space between states of being.
Not quite dead, not quite alive.
It's similar to a constant state of sleep paralysis.
Socko, we were just talking about the world and how it works.
Boy, that sounds complicated.
Do you have anything you'd want to teach us about the world?
I wouldn't say anything that you probably haven't already said yourself.
I don't know about that, Socko.
[E] How about you give it a try?
_ [A] _ _ Alright.
[Em]
The simple [A] narrative taught in every [D] history class
is demonstrably false and [Eb] [Em] pedagogically classist.
Don't [A] you know the world is built [D] with blood and genocide and [Ebm] exploitation?
[Em]
The global [A] network of capital [D] essentially functions
to separate the worker from [Ebm] the means [G] of production.
And the [A] FBI killed Martin [D] Luther [Eb] King.
Climate [Em] property's [A] inherently [D] theft.
And [Ebm] neoliberal [Em] fascists are destroying [A] the [Bb] [Bm] left.
And [Bb] every politician, [D] every cop [Ab] on the street
[G] protects the interests of the [E] pedophilic corporate [A] _ [D] elite.
That _ [Bm] is how the world [Abm] [G] works.
_ That [Em] is how the [A] world [D] works.
Genocide, the [Bbm] natives say, you got [Bm] to it [G] first.
[A] That's how _ _ [D] it works.
That's pretty intense.
No shit.
What can I do to help?
Read a book or something, I don't know.
Just don't burden me with the responsibility of educating you.
It's incredibly exhausting.
I'm sorry, Socko.
I was just trying to become a better person.
Why do you rich fucking white people insist
on seeing every socio-political conflict through the myopic lens
of your own self-actualization?
This isn't about you.
So either get with it or get out of the fucking way.
Watch your mouth, buddy.
Remember who's on whose hand here.
But that's what I've_
Have you not been fucking listening?
We are in_
All right, all right.
No, please, I don't want to go back. _
I can't go.
I can't go back.
Please, _ please.
I'm sorry. _ _
Are you going to behave yourself?
_ _ Yes.
_ _ _ Yes, _ what?
_ _ _ _ Yes, sir.
Look at me.
_ _ _ _ _ _ Yes, sir.
_ That's better. _ _ _
_ That [Bm] is how the world _ [G] _
works.
That [E] is how the [A] world [D] works.
I hope you learned your [Gb] lesson.
I did [Bm] and it hurt.
[G] _
[A] That's _ how _ _ [Dm] _
it works. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _