Back to the Good Old Times

Author: Leonard Latest revision: July 21, 2022
Author’s Notes: In 1965 Cat recorded this song as his first at a small demo studio in Regent Street at 5-10 pounds for an hour’s worth of a recording session. His brother David then took the record around Denmark Street to impress people from the music business and hopefully make contacts. This song was not released until the 2000s as part of a (stunning) compilation. Cat’s vocal prowess and his unmistakable, yet still formative guitar play are on magnificient display here. The intro riff spiels on major thirds using the bass strings, giving the song a very percussive, rhythm-driven feel as a result, which certainly complements the lavish vocals well.
Each guitar tab is the author’s own work and represents his or her own interpretation of the song.
Visitors may use the guitar tabs offered here only for private study, scholarship, or research.

                 
               "Back to the Good Old Times"
                     by Cat Stevens
                        
           previously unreleased song from 1965
         
           from the four-disc compilation album
         IN SEARCH OF THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE
   
  
Standard tuning
(bass to treble) E-A-D-G-B-E

in 4/4 time


INTRO

   G                        C                        G                       D/F#
   /  .  /  .  /  .  /  .   /  .  /  .  /  .  /  .   /  .  /  .  /  .  /  .   /  .  /  .  /  .  /  . 
E|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|----2--2----(2)---(2)---|
B|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|----3--3-----3-----2----|
G|(0)(0)---(0)(0)(0)---(0)|(0)(0)---(0)(0)(0)---(0)|(0)(0)---(0)(0)(0)---(0)|----2--2-----2-----3----|
D|(0)(0)---(0)(0)(0)---(0)|-2--2-----2-(2)(2)---(2)|(0)(0)---(0)(0)(0)---(0)|----0--0-----0-----0----|
A|(2)(2)----2-(2)(2)---(2)|-3--3--1--3-(3)-3--1--3-|(2)(2)----2-(2)(2)---(2)|-------x----------------|
E|-3--3--1--3-(3)-3--1--3-|------------------------|-3--3--1--3-(3)-3--1--3-|-2-----2--2-----2-----2-|

     
VERSE 1 (Continue intro-riff for verses, play the notes in parenthesis as well.)

  G    C      G                  D/F#
Maybe now my love can get on its feet
           G    C                 G                   | D/F#  C/G |
You're my baby now and that's something no one else can beat


CHORUS 1

             G           C/G      D/F#                                G    C/G     D/F#
Well, we're back to the good old times, and we're lovin' like we've never loved be-fore
C/G          G           C/G      D/F#                 PLAY INTRO.
Baby, we're back to the good old times, and that's for sure


VERSE 2

    G     C  G                     D/F#
Breakin' up must have done us some good
          G    C          G                       | D/F#  C/G |
'Cause making up made me love you much more than I could


CHORUS 2

(C/G)        G           C/G      D/F#                                G    C/G     D/F#
Well, we're back to the good old times, and we're lovin' like we've never loved be-fore
             G           C/G      D/F#                | G  C/G | D/F#
Baby, we're back to the good old times, and that's for sure


BRIDGE (All downstrokes.)                                                  Repeat once, then 
                                                                           add this last bar.
     F     G*  F G*    C       C7        F     G*  F G*    D                ↓
     / . / . / . / .   / . / . / . / .   / . / . / . / .   / . / . / . / .  ↓  / . / . / . / . 
E| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---2-2---2---2---| |-2---2-2-2-2-2---|
B| |-1-1-1-3---1-3---|-1-1-1-----------|-1-1-1-3---1-3---|---3-3---3---3---| |-3---3-3-3-3-3---|
G|.|-2-2-2-4---2-4---|-0-0-0-3---0-3---|-2-2-2-4---2-4---|---2-2---2---2---|.|-2---2-2-2-2-2---|
D|.|-3-3-3-5---3-5---|-2-2-2---2---2---|-3-3-3-5---3-5---|---0-0---0---0---|.|-0---------------|
A| |-3-3-3-5---3-5---|-3---3---3---3---|-3-3-3-5---3-5---|-0-----0---0---0-| |-----------------|
E| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|


VERSE 3

 G       C   G                    D/F#
Kiss me now just like you used to do
      G      C        G                 | D/F# | C/G
And this is how I'll tell if you love me too
                                       

PLAY CHORUS 2.


OUTRO-CHORUS

               G               C/G           D/F#
Well, we're lovin' like we've never loved be-fore
               G              C/G      D/F#
You keep on lovin' and we'll never go wrong
C/G            G               C/G           D/F#
Baby, we're lovin' like we've never loved be-fore
               G              C/G      D/F#
You keep on lovin' and we'll never go wrong
              G               C/G           D/F#
Yes, we're lovin' like we've never loved be-fore
               G              C/G      D/F#        Repeat until fade.
You keep on loving and we'll never go wrong...



CHORDS (in order of appearance)
======

   G       C     D/F#     C/G     F/C     G/D     C7
320003  -32010  2x0232  332010  x33211  x55433  x32310
RM---L  -RM-I-  T--IRM  RLM-I-  -RLMII  -RLMII  -RMLI-
3x0003  332010      
R----L  RLM-I-     
 

Chord fingering:      T = thumb                
                      I = index finger
                      M = middle finger
                      R = ring finger
                      L = little finger

Tablature notation:   h = hammer-on
                      p = pull-off
                      ~ = vibrato
                    [ ] = natural harmonic (Harm.)
                      / = legato slide (gliss) up the fret
                      \ = legato slide (gliss) down the fret
                      ! = accentuate chord with great intensity
                      d = downward stroke
                      u = upward stroke

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