Johnny Cash - The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

C                                 G
Now you've heard of folks with a lot of ambition
         D                                      G
But I believe just about the biggest case of ambition I ever saw
                  C
Was in a bug that I saw crawling along the beach one day
G   D              G
He was a mighty ambitious bug

G                             C
On the beach one early morning as a day was newly dawning
G                           D
And the sun again was warmin all the chill through out the land
G                       C
I saw me a bug a walking and at first I thought he was quaking
        G         D               G
Then I found out he was talking while he crawled across the sand

He was crawling mighty straight at a slow but a steady gait
And when I asked him to wait he said oh come on crawl with me
But I said where you going and he said you'll be knowing
For I'm going to make a showing and you'll someday see

Well I stood there by the ocean I suddenly had the notion
That I start this big promotion so this challenge I enfirled said the bug
So I gave my wife a hug and I left my confy rug
So I could be the only bug that ever crawled around the world

Well he seemed mighty small and it was a long way to crawl
And I'm sure he couldn't swim at all so I try to discourage my friend
I said you know the world is round and there's mighty lot of ground
And there some water to be found before you reach your journey's end

And he said now don't you fret there's problems to be met
But I'll make it you can bet and this deed will bring glory to my name
You know they said man would never fly now he's soarin' in the sky
Because he had the will to try so let me win my fame

So he crawled on out of sight as he sought that splendoured height
Neither looking left nor right but slowly marching toward his goal
And my knowing he had started on his journey as we parted
Kept me from feeling too down hearted for he was a mighty ambitious soul

Well I've looked everywhere
I've been and seen a lot of bugs since then
But not one quite like my little friend when
I think of him I'm filled with pride
Did he make it I don't know he was crawling mighty
slow and he had a long way to go
And all I can tell you folks is that
he tried he sure was an ambitious bug

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

G

Guitar chord G

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "The Bug That Tried to Crawl Around the World" by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash Song List