Never

Author: Leonard Latest revision: May 17, 2022
Notes: Out of all the demo tapes Cat had recorded until then, Paul Samwell-Smith and Cat picked this song as a closer to Cat’s final album, Back to Earth. The song was produced at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Canada. The song would go on to serve as a farewell, with an optimistic lookout and dedicated to his fans, for almost 30 years until Cat’s second comeback to the music business, remerging as the artist called Yusuf. The song’s bridge part stows away a suspenseful chord progression, dissonant in nature, but one that ultimately resolves in a harmonical climax bringing closure to the song and the entire album. The riff is a clever spiel on open strings, a forebearer to the dissonant parts of the composition in the bridge. The rapid chord shifts in the bridge are a demanding workout for the guitarist.
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.
                 
                         "Never"
                     by Cat Stevens
                   
                 from the original album
                   BACK TO EARTH (1978)
 

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

in 4/4 time


INTRO

 RIFF     E               F#     B/F#                     A*
| /   /   /   / | /   /   /   / | /   /   /   / | /   /   /   / |
  E                       F#     B/F#                     A*
| /   /   /   / | /   /   /   / | /   /   /   / | /   /   /   / |


VERSE 1

E                    F#         B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     I know there'll be another time
E                        F#          B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There's going to be    another moment
E                      F#         B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There'll never be    another you
D                        E              A   | A  G
     There's going to be   another stor-y,    oh
D                              E      A   E     RIFF
     There's so much left for you to do, love

     
VERSE 2

E                      F#         B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There'll never be    another you
E                         F#           B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There's going to be     another spring
E                         F#     B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     And it won't always     be winter
E                      F#     B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     And it'll always     be spring
D                        E               A   | A  G
     There's going to be   another king-dom,   oh     
D                              E      A     E    RIFF
     There's so much left for you to know, love


BRIDGE

E                      F#         B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There'll never be    another you
D  C   G    A             
I will be there when you need me
 D   C     G      A                     D C G A
Dar-ling, you'll just have to say it a-gain 
(A)            D  C    G    A 
But you know I'll be there     anyway
 B/F#   E  F#  A*   B/F#        
You've got to have faith in me, darling
 F#  A*  B/F#   D            A  
Got  to  have faith in your-self
                G     RIFF
Faith in your wealth


VERSE 3

E                    F#          B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     I know there'll be another spring
E                        F#     B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     And it won't always    be winter
E                     F#      B/F#  | B/F#  A*     
     And it'll always    be spring
D                        E              A   | A  G
     There's going to be   another stor-y,    oh     
D                              E       A    E     RIFF
     There's so much left for you to know, love


OUTRO

E                      F#         B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There'll never be    another you
E                      F#         B/F#  | B/F#  A*
     There'll never be    another you
E                      F#         B/F#  F#7
     There'll never be    another you, love



RIFFS
=====

    RIFF-->|
    E
    d       d   
    /   /   /   /
E|----------0-------|..
B|----------0-------|..
G|-↑0--h1---1-------|..
D|-↑0--h2---2-------|..
A|-↑0--h2---2-------|..
E|-↑0-------0-------|..
   ↑ = brush downstroke
 

CHORDS
======

   E      F#     B/F#     A*       A     Note: E major can also just be played E/B
022100  244322  xx444x  x0222x  x02220         (with B in the bass), and F# major
-MRI--  TRLMII  --RRR-  --III-  --IMR-         as F#/C# (with C# in the bass).
x22100  x44322
                                               
   G       D       C      F#7
3x0003  xx0232  332010  244320                
R----L  ---IRM  RLM-I-  TRLMI-
                        x44320


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 part with great intensity
                      d = downward stroke
                      u = upward stroke
                      x = mute note

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