Why Walk When You Can Fly

by Mary Chapin Carpenter

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Lyrics

In this world there’s a whole lot of trou ble, ba by; in this world there’s a whole lot of pain.

In this world there’s a whole lot of trou ble, but a whole lot of ground to gain.

Why take when you could be giv ing?

Why watch as the world goes by?

It’s a hard e nough life to be liv ing.

Why

walk when you can fly?

(F#)In this (B)world there’s a (E)whole lot of sor row; (F#)in this world there’s a (E)whole lot of shame.

(F#)In this world there’s a (E)whole lot of sor row and a (G#m)whole lot of ground to (E)gain.

When you spend your whole far life (B)wish ing,

ris ing (C#m)want ing and (B)won der ing (E)why,

it’s a (B)long e nough the life to be (E)liv ing.

Why

(G#m)walk when you can fly?

(E)fly

(F#)high?

(F#)high?

Why Walk When You Can Fly by Mary Chapin Carpenter — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Why Walk When You Can Fly by Mary Chapin Carpenter in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of B at 100 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Why Walk When You Can Fly" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Why Walk When You Can Fly"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.