"World on a String" or "I've Got The World on a String" is a 1932 popular jazz song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler. It was written for the twenty-first edition of the Cotton Club series which opened on October 23, 1932, the first of the Cotton Club Parades. The song was one of the first recorded by Frank Sinatra when he transferred to Capitol Records in 1953.
Lady Gaga recorded a two version of the song, one solo version for Harlequin (2024), her companion album to the musical thriller film Joker: Folie à Deux and second one for film itself and its soundtrack. Harlequin version was produced by Gaga and Benjamin Rice.
Lyrics
I've got the world on a string
Sittin' on a rainbow
Got that string around my finger
Lucky me
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love, love?
I've got a song that I sing
I can make the rain go
Anytime I move my finger
Lucky me, can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Life is a beautiful thing
As long as I hold that string
I'd be a silly so-and-so
If I should ever let you go
I've got the world on a string (ah)
And I'm sittin' on a rainbow
Got that string around my finger (ah)
Lucky me
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Love, love
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Love, love
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Can't you see, can't you see I'm in love?
Performances
 Dates
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 Location
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 City
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|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | The Belasco: Harlequin Secret Show | Los Angeles, CA | 
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Credits
| Written By | Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler |
| Published By | 8MG Gold Songs (ASCAP) S.A. Music Co. (ASCAP) Redwood Music Ltd. (PRS) EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP) |
| Producers | Lady Gaga and Benjamin Rice |
| Arrangers | Lady Gaga, Benjamin Rice, Michael Polansky, Alex Smith, Tim Stewart and Daniel Foose |
| Recording Studio | Sound Factory at The Palms, Las Vegas, NV
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| Engineers | Kevin Harp, Benjamin Rice and Joe Dougherty |
| 2nd Engineer | Joe Dougherty |
| Asst. Engineers | Patrick Hundley and Daniel "Chief" Van Billiard |
| Musicians | Organ and Wurlitzer - Alex Smith Bass - Daniel Foose Drums - Benjamin Rice Guitar - Tim Stewart Additional Percussion - Donald Barrett |
| Asst. Mixing Engineer | Bryce Bordone |
Joker: Folie à Deux Version
This song first appears in the film when Arkham guard Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson) sings it with a pianist after the prison’s music class has broken up. Later in the film Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) sings it while putting on makeup and preparing to attend the trial when Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) gives his closing statement to the jury.
Lyrics
I've got the world on a string
Sitting on a rainbow
Got that string around my finger
What a world, what a life, I'm in love
I've got a song that I sing
I can make the rain go
Anytime I move my finger
Lucky me, can't you see I'm in love?
Life is a beautiful thing
As long as I hold that string
I'd be a silly so-and-so
If I should ever let it go
I've got the world on a string
And I'm sitting on a rainbow
Got that string around my finger
What a world
Yeah, there ain't no other kind of life
What a world, what a life
Hey now, I'm so in love
Credits
| Performed by | Lady Gaga |
| Written by | Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler |
| Published by |
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| Arranged by | Nick Urata & Jeff Atmajian |
| Additional Production by | Nick Urata |
| Recorded at |
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