Carly Simon – Nobody Does It Better (Chords)

Sorry to disappoint everyone everyone who thought I’d be doing Deliverance when I said I’d be writing up the, “best song from a film ever.” But if it doesn’t have lyrics it’s not a song.

Nobody Does It Better is a quite magnificent song. I was going to write it up when I tabbed out the James Bond theme. I decided to save it for the release of the next James Bond film. Then they decided to stop making Bond films. Which seems wise to me. It seems well past its sell-by date.

The studio version of this song is in F#, so I decided to go with the live version which is in the more uke-friendly key of F. I also took a few cues from the Radiohead version (which is in E).

Twiddly Bits

The intro to the song:

It’s really important to let the notes ring into each other as much as possible. Here’s how I play it:

View Comments

14 Comments

Ian Emmerson October 12th, 2010 11:43 pm

Weirdly, I’ve just been working on the best song from a film ever, and it was neither of those. Any fule know the best song from a film ever is ‘Willow’s Song’ from The Wicker Man (the good version, with Ewar Woowar).
Anna October 13th, 2010 12:03 am

Awesome! I can’t get the C#m to sound right though, either it’s my uke, or my voice (which is by no means on tune, but usually I can croak along), any suggestions for an alternate chord or position?
L.bo Marie October 13th, 2010 3:07 am

um. ha.
so I thought for a second we were going to get to hear you sing too…
Carrie Griffin October 13th, 2010 8:16 am

If you don’t have at least three videos of girls with big eyes and bangs dedicating versions of this song to you specifically within two weeks then the internet has truly failed me.
Foinnse October 13th, 2010 10:22 am

Your link to “radioheads version” seems to link to the ITN report regarding the next Bond film being axed.
Woodshed October 13th, 2010 11:25 am

Ian: Not too keen on that song (but do like the film). Are you sure you weren’t just won over by the tits and arse?

Anna: You could get away with using Bb – Bbm instead of Dm – C#m.

Marie: Rest assured I would never inflict that on you.

Carrie: I know of one large-banged lady who’ll be doing a cover of it soon.

Foinnse: Bugger. Thanks for picking up on that. Fixed it.
Tricity Vogue October 13th, 2010 1:03 pm

Thanks so much for giving us this gem. One of my cabaret favourites. I also have a uke version of Nancy Sinatra’s awesome You Only Live Twice. Medley…?
L.bo Marie October 13th, 2010 1:33 pm

phew!
bob forrest October 13th, 2010 2:38 pm

I’ve always thought that one of the great comic lines of the 20th century was “nobody does it better–though sometimes I wish someone could.”
New subscriber,but I’ve been browsing for a while–thanks for what you do.
Lyndsey October 13th, 2010 9:37 pm

As I type this, I’m listening to this song for the very first time, and I feel as if I am the only one. Although, it isn’t half bad! :)
Ah, I scrolled up to see the decade: 80s. 10 years before my time.
Anna October 14th, 2010 1:29 am

Thanks, that helped a lot! It also helped when I realized I should have been playing the alt Dm first, n00b mistake!
Woodshed October 14th, 2010 2:39 pm

Tricity: A medley sounds like a smashing idea.

bob: Thanks!

Lyndsey: So young, so innocent.

Anna: That’s partly my fault – I didn’t distinguish between them too well.
Mia Hess June 22nd, 2016 5:56 pm

I LOVE this song! Thank you! Can’t wait to try it, Thank you. I’ll try to record it. Alas, my “young thing with bangs” days are a bit behind but I can still sing!!
Woodshed June 23rd, 2016 6:55 am

Mia: You’re very welcome! Have fun with it.

Sorry, Comments Are Broken Right Now

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Carly Simon – Nobody Does It Better (Chords)