Wild World (song)

Wild World is also a former name for the Six Flags America amusement park in Largo, Maryland.

For the Nintendo DS game see Animal Crossing: Wild World

"Wild World" is a song written and recorded by Cat Stevens. It first appeared in his 1970 album, Tea for the Tillerman. It was the most popular single on that album. The song is in the form of the singer's words to his departing lover. Despite having continued feelings that are "breaking [his] heart in two," he accepts her decision and wishes her well, but warns her that life without him will not be so easy. The refrain begins each time with "Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world / It's hard to get by just upon a smile."

The song has been covered by many artists, with many of the covers becoming hits of their own. As of 2006, the most famous cover of the song is by Jimmy Cliff. Some of the subsequent covers have also been in the reggae style, indicating that they may be covers of Cliff's version, as opposed to direct covers of Cat Stevens' original arrangement.

In 2006, "Littlest Things," the 3rd single released by Lily Allen from Alright, Still, her debut album, was noted as having similarities with Wild World in its introduction.

It also appeared in the series finale of Skins as a cover, with the cast singing the song to try and emote their feelings to the viewers. The only person in the cast that didn't sing was Tony (Nicholas Hoult) who was dubbed and had been whenever singing throughout the series. This was revealed on the Charlotte Church show on channel 4 during an interview with him.

Notable covers

• Jimmy Cliff
• Matt Nathanson
• Maxi Priest
• Mr. Big
• UB40
• Beth Orton
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
• SNFU
• Tesla
• Skye Sweetnam
• The Mountain Goats
• Jose Feliciano
• James Blunt as a part of Live Earth