Wonderful Life
Written by Colin Vearncombe and originally recorded and released under his band name ‘Black’ the 1986 recording of Wonderful Life went on to sell millions of records worldwide. Since then the song has been covered and re-charted by a succession of artists from across the globe in a wide variety of genres and styles.
Wonderful Life has featured extensively in successful commercials in Europe, Japan, Australia and South Africa and in several feature films and TV shows.
This site is an official celebration of the song and everything surrounding it.
Click here to listen to and download Black’s version of Wonderful Life
Watch the original video
The original video for Wonderful Life was directed by Gerard de Thame for the London-based commercials and film production company HLA and won awards including a Golden Lion award at the New York Film Festival and a Diamond Award.
It was shot in and around Merseyside, UK during the early summer of 1987.
Wonderful Stories
The song holds a special meaning to a lot of people. There’s a growing collection of personal stories on Tumblr and here’s a random selection:
The album as a whole I used to play in the car on constant rotation as I roamed the countryside as the country rep for Polygram records back in 1988. It saved my sanity often driving for hours on end from one town to the next. The Festival Records rep had given me a copy as we used to swap CDs with all the music reps. Thanks Colin! many memories…
J
When I first heard this song in 1988 I was in the U.S. Coast Guard and stationed on a large ship called the Rush sailing in the Pacific ocean for 3 months at a time away from my wife. I was miserable, yet this song made life seem wonderful and gave me strength. I am eternally grateful to artists like Colin that write songs that can help us through times like those. I am sure this song has helped many people, but at the time it felt like it was written specifically for me and my situation, for that I thank Colin.
To the gentleman “Mr” that asked about the meaning of this song since your wife wants this song played at her funeral. I hope this is a future request and if not, my condolences. I would guess each of us have our own take on the song that goes beyond the lyrics. To me it’s about appreciating life. In my life the cup isn’t half full, it’s overflowing and for that I am thankful.
Hello Colin, I was riding along New Brighton front on my way to a Motorcycle sprint, when I was stopped and asked to take part in a pop video. At the time I didn’t know what is was for, people had seen it on a music channel on TV, and there was I, a 3 second clip on my motorcycle. I still ride motorcycles today - if you need me again, give us a shout. Thanks for the memory.
Tony and family
Lyrics
Here I go out to sea again
The sunshine fills my hair
And dreams hang in the air
Gulls in the sky and in my blue eyes
You know it feels unfair
There’s magic everywhere
Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to run and hide
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh or cry
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
The sun’s in your eyes
The heat is in your hair
They seem to hate you
Because you’re there
And I need a friend, oh I need a friend
To make me happy
Not stand there on my own
Look at me standing here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to run and hide
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh or cry
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
I need a friend, oh I need a friend
To make me happy, not so alone
Look at me here, here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to run and hide
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh or cry
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
© 1986 Colin Vearncombe. Published by BMG Rights Management
Wonderful Versions
(select the top-right menu in the video frame to view the playlist)
Licencing
Over the years there have been many recorded versions of Wonderful Life. The 2002 re-recorded version by Black is available for film and commercial licensing.
For master licensing please contact Nero Schwarz.
For synchronisation licensing, please contact BMG licensing.
Shop
Click here for a range of Wonderful Life merchandise.
