The Tramp

Author: Leonard Latest revision: January 8, 2022
Author’s Notes: With just Cat’s guitar, a bass, and a single trumpet as accompaniment, this song is perhaps closer to Cat’s later work than most of his other early songs and a beautiful example of a one-guitar-does-it-all song. Beautiful vocals as 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.
                 
                        "The Tramp"
                      by Cat Stevens
                     
                 from the original album 
                  MATTHEW & SON (1967)
 

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

in 4/4 time


INTRO

   Em                G                 Em          G        
   /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /       /   /   /   /
E|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|
B|-----T---T---T---|-----T---T---T---|-----T-------------|-----T---T---T---|
G|-----A---A---A---|-----A---A---A---|-----A-------------|-----A---A---A---|
D|---2-P---P---P---|---0-P---P---P---|---2-P-----2-------|-0---P---P---P---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------2-|-----------------|
E|-0---------------|-3---------------|-0-------0---2/3---|-----------------|

    Em  Em/F#  Em/G  Em/F#     Em  Em/F#  Em/G  Em/F#
    /     /     /     /        /     /     /     /     
E|--------------------------|--------------------------|
B|--0-----0-----0-----0-----|--0-----0-----0-----0-----|
G|--0-----x-----0-----x-----|--0-----x-----0-----x-----|
D|--2-----4----(2)----4-----|--2-----4----(2)----4-----|
A|--------------------------|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|--------------------------|


CHORUS 1
   
     Em   Em/F# Em/G Em/F#    G
He sleeps   a-  lone  in the damp
     Am/E
And rests his head upon a door
     C/G          E7          Am/E
The only bed he knows is the floor
      Em
The tramp

    RIFF____________     
    Em                   D                         Em/B 
E|--------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
B|--------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
G|----------0---------|-------------------------|---(0)-(0)-(0)-(0)-|
D|--2---4-----4--2----|--0---2---4-2-0----------|----2---2---2---2--|
A|--------------------|------------------4p2p0--|--2---2---2---2----|
E|--------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|


VERSE 1

G                          D
     Turned-up collar and worn-out shoes
Am/E                       C/E          G        D    
He doesn't care 'cause he hasn't got nothing to lose


PLAY CHORUS 1.


VERSE 2

G                     D
     No companion to take him home
Am/E                      C/E             G          D
His only friends are the kind that just leave him a-lone


BRIDGE

Am            D         G         C  [C/B] Am
No one knows just how lonely his life has been
      Em   Em/D  G6/B        B7
In a world that lives in a dream

    B7
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|
B|---------------------------|---------------------------|
G|------2-----2-----2-----2--|------2-----2-----2-----2--|
D|----1-----1-----1-----1----|----1-----1-----1-----1----|
A|--2-----2-----2-----2------|--2-----2-----2-----2------|
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|


PLAY CHORUS 1.


INSTRUMENTAL VERSE

   G         D         Am        C   G     D
 | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | 


CHORUS 2

     Em   Em/F# Em/G Em/F#    G
He sleeps   a-  lone  in the damp
     Am   
And rests his head upon a door
     C/G          E7           Am
The only bed he knows is the floor
      Em  RIFF       Em  RIFF       Em  RIFF  Em
The tramp,     the tramp,     the tramp



CHORDS
======
 
  Em    Em/F#    Em/G     G      Em/B
022000  024000  xxx000  320003  x22000
-MR---  -ML---  ------  RM---L  -MR---

  Am     C/G      E7       D       C      C/B
x02210  332010  022130  xx0232  x32010  x2x010
--MRI-  RLM-I-  -MRIL-  ---IRM  -RM-I-  -M--I-

 Em/D    G6/B     B7
xx0000  x20030  x212xx
------  -M--L-  -MIR--

 

Chord fingering:      T = thumb                
                      I = index finger
                      M = middle finger
                      R = ring finger
                      L = little finger
                      
Tablature notation:   h = hammer-on
                      p = pull-off
                      x = mute
                      ~ = 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
                    TAP = tap on body of guitar with picking hand

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