Hummingbird

Author: Leonard Latest revision: February 24, 2019
Author’s Notes: A hidden gem from Cat’s formative years as a singer/songwriter, “Hummingbird” has the same timeless quality, a combination of delicate lyrics and a catchy melody, as his later, more famous work, but due to its overarrangment the original recording falls short despite the beautiful vocals.
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.
                 
                      "Hummingbird"
                     by Cat Stevens
                   
                 from the original album
                  MATTHEW & SON (1967)
 

Standard tuning
(low to high) E-A-D-G-B-E

Capo at 2nd fret (key of D)

in 4/4 time


INTRO

   C   FaddG    C    FaddG   C   FaddG    C
 | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |


VERSE 1

            C           Em           [EmaddG]
There's a yellow flower by your bed
F                          C
     Sadly droopin' its perfumed head
Cmaj7             Fmaj7         G              Fmaj7   [Fmaj7sus2]
     So you won't smell it, I know what you'll miss.


CHORUS 1

                   C             G
And there's a hummingbird, a hummingbird,
       C            FaddG
A hummingbird, a hummingbird,
                   C         G      FaddG
Oh, there's a hummingbird singing.


VERSE 2

              C                   Em              [EmaddG]
There is the hat you made, the clothes you wore
F                        C
     Lying down on the cold, dirty floor.
Cmaj7               Fmaj7             G           Fmaj7    [Fmaj7sus2]
     The colors are fading, they'll never shine a-gain.


REPEAT CHORUS 1


INSTRUMENTAL 

   C   FaddG    C    FaddG   C   FaddG    C
 | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |
   C            G            C          FaddG
 | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |
   C            G          FaddG          C   FaddG    C
 | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |


VERSE 3

C             Em                    [EmaddG]
Now the road,    it's turning gray,
F                            C 
     There's a shadow where you once lay.
Cmaj7                   Fmaj7         G              Fmaj7    [Fmaj7sus2]
     They'll find it to-morrow, and think you went a-lone.


CHORUS 2

                   C             G
But there's a hummingbird, a hummingbird,
       C            FaddG
A hummingbird, a hummingbird,
                   C         G     FaddG   C   FaddG    C
Ah, there's a hummingbird crying.        | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / ||


CHORDS
======

     Note:   Chords in brackets ([EmaddG]) are passing chords
             meant to be played intermittently between chord
             transitions.
             

   C        F      Em      G 
 x32010  133211  022000  3x0003
 -RM-I-  TRLMII  -MR---  R----L
 332010
 RLM-I-
 
  Cmaj7   Fmaj7  FaddG   EmaddG  Fmaj7sus2
 x32000  xx3210  xx3213  022003  xx3020
 -RM---  --RMI-  --RMIL  -MR--L  --R-I-


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

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