| Author: | Leonard | Latest revision: | April 9, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes: | In a 2021 interview Cat has said that he simply loves songs like “Tsar” or “I’ve Got a Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old.” Apart from the fleshed-out riff sequences, the Russian lilt Cat is singing throughout and emulates on guitar makes this song quite unique-sounding. Thematically, “Tsar” is about Alexi the last Tsar, child of Nicholas, and was written around 1969 alongside other gems like “Father and Son” for a proposed musical about the Romanovs entitled “Revolussia”, which ultimately never came to be, with a script co-written by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Working on a musical did allow Cat, however, to branch out musically, because, as he says, “a musical allows you to develop different styles of music, to match the different characters and moods.” In 1971 it was recorded as a studio demo for the album Teaser and the Firecat but eventually ended up on the cutting floor. “Tsar” was never properly recorded and is still only available in various remixes on select compilations like In Search of the Centre of the Universe or the Teaser and the Firecat Super Deluxe release. The remix of the latter album, while overall superior sounding, seems to have gone awry, with a corrupted vocal line in the first verse. | ||
| 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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"The Day They Make Me Tsar"
(1971 studio demo)
by Cat Stevens
from the four-disc compilation CD album
IN SEARCH OF THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE
Standard tuning
(bass to treble) E-A-D-G-B-E
in 3/4 time
played with a pick
INTRO
(E)
/ . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / .
d d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d
E| |-----0-2-4-2-|-0-------------|---------0---|-2---0-------| |
B| |-------------|---4-2h4p2-0---|-----0-2---4-|---4---------| |
G|.|-------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|.| (Play
D|.|-------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|.| twice.)
A| |-------------|---------------|-------------|--------(0)--| |
E| |-0-----------|---------------|-0-----------|---------0---| |
VERSE 1
E • • • • • • •
One day the sun will come down from the sky, winter will fly and I won't be cold
(E) • • • • • • •
Gardens will light up with bright dappled horses, gingerbread horses that never grow old
E E5#11 E F#
| / / / | / / / | / / / |
CHORUS 1
B/F# A E B/F# A E
There's so much that I have to do, I hope it won't be hard
B/F# A E A B/F#
And I hope it will be snowing on the day they make me Tsar
B/F# A E B/F# A E
I'll go just where I want to and I won't be led a-round
B/F# A E A B/F#
I'd like to try to-day but then I'm much too small for the crown
BRIDGE
G#m C#m/G# F# B/F#
| / / / | / / / | / / / | / / / |
E
| / / / | / / / | / / / | / / / |
VERSE 2
E • • • • • • •
Animals will travel from distances far, led by a star to peep in my door
(E) • • • • • • •
All kinds of strangers will come with no danger, white velvet angels will sleep on my floor
E E5#11 E F#
| / / / | / / / | / / / |
CHORUS 2
B/F# A E B/F# A E
There's so much that I have to learn, I hope it won't be hard
B/F# A E A B/F#
And I hope it will be snowing on the day they make me Tsar
B/F# A E B/F# A E
I'll go just where I want to and with both feet on the ground
B/F# A E A B/F#
I'd like to try to-day but then I'm much too small for the crown
REPEAT BRIDGE.
CHORUS 3
B/F# A E B/F# A E
| / / / | / / / | / / / | / / / |
B/F# A E A B/F#
| / / / | / / / | / / / | / / / |
B/F# A E B/F# A E
I'll go just where I want to and with both feet on the ground
B/F# A E A B/F#
I'd like to try to-day but then I'm much too small for the crown
REPEAT BRIDGE.
OUTRO
(E)
/ . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / .
E|-----0-2-4-2-|-0-------------|---------0---|-2---0-------|
B|-------------|---4-2h4p2-0---|-----0-2---4-|---4---------|
G|-------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|
D|-------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|
A|-2-----------|---------------|-------------|---------0---|
E|-0-----------|---------------|-0-----------|---------0---|
/ . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / .
d u u u d u d u
E|-----0-2-4-2-|-0-------------|-----0-0-0---|-2---0-------|
B|-------------|---4-2h4p2-0---|-----------4-|---4---------|
G|-------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|
D|-------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|
A|-2-----------|---------------|-------------|-------------|
E|-0-----------|---------------|-0-----------|-------------|
CHORDS (in order of appearance)
======
Note: After Verse 1 Cat starts sliding up to
E major in the verse and bridge parts,
similar to how he sings the lilt, using
the following sequence:
E
/ . / . / . / . / . / .
d d u d u d d u u
E|-------0---0-|-------0-----|
B|-------0---0-|---------0---|
G|-------1---1-|-------------|
D|-1/2-2---2---|-1/2-2-------|
A|-1/2-2---2---|-1/2-2-------|
E|-0---0---0---|-0---0-------|
E E5#11 F# B/F# A G#m C#m/G#
022100 022300 244322 xx444x x0222x 466544 4x6654
-MRI-- -MRL-- TRLMII --RRR- --III- TRLMII T-RLMI
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 