| 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. |
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"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
Playing Cat Stevens 