Roadsinger

Author: Leonard Latest revision: July 16, 2022
Notes: Part of a much darker album, “Roadsinger” is a Western and country song at its core written in the purest of keys (C major), with various guitar hooks scattered throughout. We took the main cues for our transcription from Cat’s recorded sittee version below.
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.

                 
                      "Roadsinger"
                 by Yusuf / Cat Stevens
                
                 from the original album 
                    ROADSINGER (2009)

 
Standard tuning
(bass to treble) E-A-D-G-B-E

in 4/4 time


INTRO
                                                             RIFF___________
   C                                                          C4       C2 C
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------------------|
B|-1-----1---1p0---|-1-----1---1p0---|-1-----1---1p0---|-1-------------------|
G|---0-------------|---0-------------|---0-------------|---0-----0---0-----0-|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----2h3---3---0h2---|
A|-3---3---3-------|-3---3---3-------|-3---3---3-------|-3-------------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------------------|


VERSE 1

C                     G   C   C2  F/C                C  C2
     Roadsinger came to town,         long cape and hat
C                        G            C           G           C    RIFF
     People stood and stared, then closed their doors as he passed
C                        C2    C    C2  F/C                      C  C2
     He strolled the emp-ty street,         kids banged on tin cans
C                      G       C      G                       C  RIFF  C    C/B
     Then the panting dogs be-gan to bark as the Roadsinger sang     | / / / / |


CHORUS 1

  Am               G           D  F/C                    C   C2
Where do you go, where do you go      when hearts are closed
F/C                     Am             G          G4          G  G4
     When a friend be-comes a stranger   nobody wants to know
  Am                  G           D  F/C                        C  C2
Where do you go, oh where do you go      when the world turns dark
F/C                     Am               G          F/C         C    RIFF  C     G
     And the light of truth is blown out   and the roads are blocked     | / / / / |


VERSE 2

C                      G    C  C2  F/C                           C   C2
     He stopped by a store,            between the barrels and sacks
C                           G        C      G             C  RIFF
     A child's face peeped out and gave a smile and ran back
C                 C2   C    C2  F/C               C  C2
     Behind a mis-ty glass,         on a window pane
C                      G       C      G             C  RIFF  C    C/B
     A little finger drew a perfect heart and her name     | / / / / |


CHORUS 2

  Am               G           D  F/C                           C   C2
Where do you go, where do you go      in a world filled with fright
F/C          Am              G    G4             G  G4
     Only a song to warm you   through the night 
  Am                  G           D  F/C                  C  C2
Where do you go, oh where do you go      after lies are told 
F/C                     Am               G          F/C       C  RIFF  C   C2
     And the light of truth is blown out   and the night is cold     | / / / / |


INSTRUMENTAL VERSE (Humming.)

  C     G   C     C2 F/C        C   C2    C         G   C     G         C RIFF
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | 
  C     C2  C     C2 F/C        C   C2    C         G   C     G     G7  C RIFF
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | 

 
VERSE 3

C                     G  C  C2  F/C              C  C2
     Roadsinger rode on,            to another land 
C                        G         C        G                    C  RIFF
     Though the people spoke a different tongue, they'd under-stand 
C                             C2  C  C2  F/C                       C  C2
     They showed him how to share            and took him by the hand 
C                     G        C   G                      C  RIFF  C    C/B
     Showed him the path to heaven   through the desert sand     | / / / / |


CHORUS 3

  Am               G           D  F/C                 C  C2
Where do you go, where do you go      to find happi-ness 
F/C               Am               G       G4  G  G4
     In a world filled with hatred   and tears 
  Am                  G           D  F/C             C   C2
Where do you go, oh where do you go      if no one cares 
F/C              Am        G      F/C        C   RIFF
     And every-body's lost   look-ing for theirs 



CHORDS (in order of appearance)
======

   C      C4      C2       G      F/C     C/B
x32010  x3301x  x3001x  3x0003  x33211  x2x010
-RM-I- -RL-I-   -R--I-  R----L  -RLMII  -M--I-

  Am       D      G4      G7
x02210  xx0232  3x0013  3x0001
--MRI-  ---IRM  R---IL  R----I


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, or hold chord
                    [ ] = 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

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