It’s Good To Be King Ukulele Chords – Tom Petty. This song uses the chords: Emin, Amin, D, A. You can change the key for free, as needed.
It’s Good To Be King Ukulele Chords – Tom Petty
INTRO:
Emin Amin D Emin x2
VERSE 1:
It’s good to be Eminking, if just for a Aminwhile
To be there in Dvelvet, yeah, to give ’em a Eminsmile
It’s good to get Eminhigh and never come Amindown
It’s good to be Dking of your own little Emintown
CHORUS 1:
Yeah, the Aworld would swing if DI were Gking (C-B-A-G-A-B-A)
DCan I help it if I (C-B-A-G-A-B-A)
EminStill Adream time to timeD/A
VERSE 2:
It’s good to be Eminking and have your own Aminway
Get a feeling of Dpeace at the end of the Eminday
And when your bulldog Eminbarks and your canary Aminsings
You’re out there with Dwinners, it’s good to be Eminking
CHORUS 2:
Yeah I’ll be Aking when Ddogs get Gwings (C-B-A-G-A-B-A)
DCan I help it if I (C-B-A-G-A-B-A)
EminStill Adream time to timeD/A A
SOLO:
Emin Amin D Emin x2
VERSE 3:
It’s good to be Eminking and have your own Aminworld
It helps to make Dfriends, it’s good to meet Emingirls
A sweet little Eminqueen who can’t run aAminway
It’s good to be Dking, whatever it Eminpays
(C-B-A-B-A-B-A) DExcuse me if I
(C-B-A-B-A-B-A) DHave some place in my mind (C-B-A-B-A-B-A)
EminWhere I Ago time to timeD/A A D/A A
OUTRO:
Emin Amin D Emin x2
(Same chords – keys play: F#-G-D over all chords)
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“It’s Good To Be King” History:
- Artist: Tom Petty (credited solo, sometimes noted with the Heartbreakers)
- Album: Wildflowers (1994)
- Released: 1995 as a single from the album
- Genre: Blues rock / folk rock
- Length: ~5:10
- Label: Warner Bros.
- Writer: Tom Petty
- Producer: Rick Rubin
The song was the third single from Wildflowers and reached No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
🎼 Musical Style & Arrangement
The track showcases a more reflective, mellow side of Petty’s music, blending his rock roots with a folk-tinged melody and a lush orchestral arrangement by Michael Kamen. Critics and listeners often highlight its elegant piano hook and emotional depth compared to much of his earlier rock work.
🎤 Themes & Lyrics
Lyrically, the song is a mix of whimsical fantasy and introspective yearning. It imagines the pleasures and simple comforts of being “king,” even if only in one’s own mind:
- Images of “velvet,” giving “’em a smile,” and being “king of your own little town” paint a playful yet evocative picture of imagined power.
- Lines like “Yeah, the world would swing if I were king / Can I help it if I still dream time to time” capture a nostalgic, wistful tone — part daydream, part self-reflection.
- The closing verse points to an inner place of escape: “Excuse me if I have some place in my mind / Where I go time to time.”
Many interpretations see the king imagery not as literal authority, but as a personal metaphor for peace, control over one’s small world, comfort, and self-contentment rather than grand political power.
🧠 Critical Context & Legacy
- The song is often praised for showing Petty’s maturity as a songwriter — blending rock sensibilities with introspection and melodic sophistication.
- While not one of his biggest chart hits, fans and critics alike regard it as a standout track that deepens Wildflowers’ emotional range.
Overall, “It’s Good to Be King” is remembered as a thoughtful, melodic piece that contrasts dreamy lyrics with grounded musical elegance — a highlight from one of Tom Petty’s most acclaimed solo albums.
