| Author: | Leonard | Latest revision: | November 7, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author’s Notes: | According to Cat’s producer Paul Samwell-Smith, this song was written and recorded for Jersy Skolimowski’s film Deep End, although Cat, in a 2011 live performance, alluded to it having been written prior to that, during his breakdown with tuberculosis. As is the case with most film music, the studio recording was a last-minute job, in this case resulting in a 26-hour non-stop marathon session at Morgan Studios, with the director waiting in the wings. There is also a movie version of the track released on the movie’s official soundtrack—a snippet of the song cued at the movie’s climactic conclusion. This is probably more a piano than a guitar piece; harmonically the main spiel is about major add2 chords (Dadd2, Cadd2, and so forth). As for the guitar tracks, the Intro and Verse 1 is all Alun fingerpicking special chords up and down the neck; from Verse 2 on Cat’s rhythm guitar sets in prominently. | ||
| 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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"But I Might Die Tonight"
by Cat Stevens
from the original album
TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN (1970)
Standard tuning
(low to high) E-A-D-G-B-E
in 4/4 time (mostly)
INTRO
D* C* D* C* D* C* D* C*
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / |
Ah.__________________
VERSE 1
D** C** D** C**
I don't want to work away doing just what they all say.
D** C** D** C**
"Oh work hard, boy, and you'll find one day you'll have a job like mine."
A* G* A* G*
'Cause I know for sure nobody should be that poor.
A* G* A* G*
To say yes or sink low because you happen to say so, say so, you say so.
VERSE 2
D/A C/G D/A C/G
I don't a-want to work away a-doing just what they all say.
D/A C/G D/A C/G
"Oh work hard, boy, and you'll find one day you'll have a job like mine,
! !
job like mine - a job like mine."
CHORUS
A G A G
"Oh be wise, oh look ahead, use your eyes," he said.
A G A C/G D/A A G A G
"Be straight; think right!" But I might die to-night! | / / / / | / / / / |
OUTRO
D/A C/G D/A C/G D/A C/G D/A C/G ! ! ! D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / ||
Ah.________________ Ah._____________________
CHORDS
======
D* C*
xxx775 xxx553
---RLI ---RLI
---MRI ---MRI
D** C** A* G*
xx12.11.10.0 xx10.980 xx7650 xx5430
--R .M .I .- --R .MI- --RMI- --RMI-
D/A C/G A G
x00232 332010 x02220 3x0003
---IRM RLM-I- --IMR- R----L
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
Playing Cat Stevens 