Brooke Martin
5000 Candles in the Wind is a song by the fictional band Mouse Rat from the TV show Parks and Recreation. The song was written by Andy Dwyer as a memorial for Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's beloved celebrity miniature horse. The song is a play on Elton John's Candle in the Wind, with Andy claiming that his version is 5000 times better. Guitar tabs and chords for the song are available online.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | 5000 Candles in the Wind |
| TV Show | Parks and Recreation |
| Episode | Li'l Sebastian |
| Band | Mouse Rat |
| Album | The Awesome Album |
| Writer | Andy Dwyer |
| Memorial Song For | Li'l Sebastian |
| Chorus | Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian, Miss you in the saddest fashion, Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian, You're 5000 candles in the wind |
| Intro Progression | DMaj, Dsus4, Dmaj, Dsus4 |
| Verse Progression | Dmaj, Emin, Amaj, F#min, Bmin, Cmaj, Amaj, Asus4 |
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What You'll Learn
The song's origins and meaning
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a song by the fictional band Mouse Rat, from the comedy TV series Parks and Recreation. The song was written by Andy Dwyer, the band's frontman, as a memorial for Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's beloved celebrity miniature horse, who had died.
In the show, the parks department prepares a funeral for Li'l Sebastian, and Andy seeks to write a song that is 5,000 times better than Elton John's "Candle in the Wind". This inspires him to write "5,000 Candles in the Wind". The song is featured in the sixteenth episode and season finale of the third season of Parks and Recreation, which aired on May 19, 2011.
The song's title is a play on "Candle in the Wind", with Andy suggesting in the show that "what's better than a candle in the wind? 5000 candles in the wind". The song draws inspiration from Elton John's original, but with a twist—it's about a horse, Li'l Sebastian, who has passed away. The lyrics reflect this, with lines like "Up in horsey heaven, here's the thing / You trade your legs for angel's wings" and "Humans cannot ride a ghost". The chorus features the catchy and emotional line "Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian / You're 5000 candles in the wind", a touching tribute to the beloved miniature horse.
The song has become a beloved part of the show's legacy, with fans discussing its origins and similarities to other songs. It also spurred Andy's bandmate April to sell many Mouse Rat CDs, leading Andy to ask her to become the group's manager.
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Guitar tabs and chords
To play 5000 Candles in the Wind on the guitar, you'll need to know the chords and tabs, as well as the song structure. The song is composed by Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate and was featured in the TV show Parks and Recreation in 2011.
Intro Progression:
The intro of the song features a simple chord progression of D, Dsus4, D, and Dsus4. This progression sets the tone and establishes the melody.
Verse Progression:
For the verse, you'll be switching between several chords: Dmaj, Emin, Amaj, F#min, Bmin, Cmaj, and Amaj. This part of the song tells the story and expresses the emotions associated with the lyrics.
Chorus Progression:
The chorus has a similar structure to the intro, with a repeated pattern of D, G, Em, and A chords. This section is where the song's title, "5000 Candles in the Wind," is sung, emphasizing the sentiment.
Bridge:
The bridge brings a slight variation, starting with D and Dsus4, followed by Em, A, F#m, and Bm. This part of the song often includes lyrics like "We know you're up there eating heaven's hay" and captures the heartfelt theme of the song.
Tabs:
Now, let's break down the tabs for the different sections:
Intro:
E|---2------3-------2-----------3------------
B|---3------3-------3-----------3------------
G|---2------2-------2-----------2------------
D|---0------0-------0-----------0------------
A|---x------x-------x-----------x------------
E|---x------x-------x-----------x------------
Verse:
E|--2--------0--------0---------2--------2-------0--------0---------0--------
B|--3--------0--------2---------2--------3-------1--------2---------0--------
G|--2--------0--------2---------2--------4-------0--------2---------2--------
D|--0--------2--------2---------4--------4-------2--------2---------2--------
A|--x--------2--------0---------4--------2-------3--------0---------0--------
E|--x--------0--------x---------2--------x-------x--------x---------x--------
Chorus:
Chords: D, G, Em, A)
Bridge:
Chords: D, Dsus4, Em, A, F#m, Bm, C, A, Asus4)
Remember to practice each section individually before putting the entire song together. This will help you master the transitions and ensure a smooth performance.
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Similar songs
"5,000 Candles in the Wind" is a song by the fictional band Mouse Rat, from the TV show Parks and Recreation. It was written by the character Andy Dwyer as a memorial song for a miniature horse named Lil' Sebastian. The song is a play on Elton John's "Candle in the Wind", as mentioned in the show.
"Candle in the Wind" by Elton John
This is the original song that inspired "5,000 Candles in the Wind". While it has a similar theme of mourning, "Candle in the Wind" is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, and its tone is more solemn and reflective.
"Angels" by Robbie Williams
The lyrics "You're 5,000 candles in the wind" from the Mouse Rat song have been likened to the lyrics "I'm loving angels instead" from Robbie Williams' song "Angels". Both songs explore themes of loss and remembrance, and the idea of finding solace in the afterlife.
"Goodnight Irene"
This old folk song has been mentioned as having a similar feel to "5,000 Candles in the Wind", particularly in its chorus. "Goodnight Irene" tells a story of heartbreak and longing, with a simple and memorable melody.
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison
This power ballad by Poison has been noted to have a similar sound to "5,000 Candles in the Wind". With heartfelt lyrics and a slow, emotional tempo, it captures the same sense of sadness and longing.
"Come Back... Be Here" by Taylor Swift
The beginning of "5,000 Candles in the Wind" is said to be reminiscent of Taylor Swift's "Come Back... Be Here". While the latter song is about a romantic relationship, both songs convey a sense of yearning and the wish to turn back time.
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The TV show that featured it
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a song featured in the American comedy television series *Parks and Recreation*. The song was written by the fictional character Andy Dwyer, played by Chris Pratt, as a memorial song for Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's beloved celebrity miniature horse.
The song was first introduced in the sixteenth episode and season finale of the third season of *Parks and Recreation*, titled "Li'l Sebastian". In the episode, the parks department prepares a funeral for Li'l Sebastian, and the song is performed by Andy's band Mouse Rat. The episode also featured guest appearances by Megan Mullally, Ben Schwartz, and retired basketball player Detlef Schrempf.
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a play on Elton John's "Candle in the Wind", with Andy saying in the episode, "What's better than a candle in the wind? 5000 candles in the wind". The song is featured on Mouse Rat's album *The Awesome Album*.
In 2020, the cast of *Parks and Recreation* reunited to perform the song virtually in character, raising money for Feeding America amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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The band that performs it
"5000 Candles in the Wind" is a song by the fictional band Mouse Rat, from the TV show Parks and Recreation. It appeared in the episode "Li'l Sebastian", which centres on the death of a miniature horse by the same name. The song is performed as a memorial for the horse.
Mouse Rat is a fictional band from the show, which is set in the town of Pawnee, Indiana. The band is led by front man, Andy Dwyer, who also writes their songs. Mouse Rat's other band members include guitarist and vocalist, Burt Macklin, bassist, April Ludgate, keyboardist, Ben Wyatt, saxophonist, Tom Haverford, and drummer, Donna Meagle.
The song "5000 Candles in the Wind" is a play on Elton John's "Candle in the Wind", with Andy Dwyer's character suggesting in the show that "what's better than a candle in the wind? 5000 candles in the wind". The song is described as being 5000 times sadder than John's original.
The song has also drawn comparisons to "Angels" by Robbie Williams, with the lyrics "You're 5000 candles in the wind" resembling "I'm loving angels instead".
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Frequently asked questions
'5000 Candles in the Wind' is a song by the band Mouse Rat, from their album 'The Awesome Album'.
Andy Dwyer, played by actor Chris Pratt, wrote the song as a memorial for Li'l Sebastian, Pawnee's beloved celebrity miniature horse.
The chorus of the song is: "Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian / Miss you in the saddest fashion / Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian / You're 5000 candles in the wind".
The verse progression of the song is: Dmaj, Emin, Amaj, F#min, Bmin, Cmaj, Amaj, Asus4.
You can find the guitar tabs for '5000 Candles in the Wind' on websites such as acousterr.com.
