Richard Thompson – Sunset Song tab

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			     SUNSET SONG - Richard Thompson
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Tabbed by:Alan Brown
Email:aladonna@talktalk.net

  Tuning: C G D G B E (capo on 7th).

  Very important to concentrate on the bass timing for this is the pulse of the song!
  Loved this song when I heard it at the Glastonbury Festival 2010 just when the sun
  was setting....magic stuff.  Just had to learn it. I know it's simplified but I've
  done the legwork so apply your lazy bum asses and fill in the rest...LOL!

p~h p~h p~h Pull off then hammer on G & D stringse |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|B |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|G |--202-----------------------------202--------------------------------------|D |------------------202-----------------------------202----------------------|G |----4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4--------------|C |--4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4------------|
Try to fret the C & G strings with your little and ring fingers like Richard as it frees up your index and middle fingers to play the hammer ons an pull offs.
p~ p~p~ pull off twice.e |-------------------------------------------------------------------------|B |--0---0---0---0-3-----0-----------0---0---0---0-3030--0---0--------------|G |----2---0---2-----4-2---0-20--------2---0---2-------2---0----------------|D |----------------------------0--------------------------------------------|G |------4---7---4---0---4---4---4-------4---7---4---0---4---4---4----------|C |----4---7---4---0---4---4---4---4---4---7---4---0---4---4---4---4--------|
p~ p~ h~e |----------------------------------------------------------------------------0---------|B |--0---0---0---0-3-----0---------------------------------------------------03--3-0-----|G |----2---0---2-----4-2---0-20----------20--0-2-4-2-0-------------------0-4-------------|D |----------------------------2-----2-4---4-----------2-------------2-4-------------0-2-|G |------4---7---4---0---4---4---4-----------------------4---4---4-----------------------|C |----4---7---4---0---4---4---4---4---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---0---0---0---0---4-|
The link. p~he |-------------------------------|B |-------------------------------|G |-------------------------------|D |--------------202--------------|G |--4---4---4---4---4---4---4----|C |----4---4---4---4---4---4---4--|
Verses...e |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|B |--0---0---0---0-3-----0---0-------0---0---0---0-3-----0---0-------0---0---0---0-3-----0---0--|G |----2---0---2-----4-2---0-----------2---0---2-----4-2---0-----------2---0---2-----4-2---0----|D |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|G |------4---7---4---0---4---4---4-------4---7---4---0---4---4---4-------4---7---4---0---4---4--|c |4---4---7---4---0---4---4---4---4---4---7---4---0---4---4---4---4---4---7---4---0---4---4----|
p~ p~ p~he |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|B |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|G |------------20--0-2-4-2-0-------------------20--0-2-4-2-0-------------------------------------|D |--------2-4---4-----------2-------------2-4---4-----------2-------------202-------------------|G |----4-----------------------4---4---4-----------------------4---4---4---4---4---4---4---------|c |--4---4---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4-------|
I know the above verse section is more simplified in his song due to vocal accompaniment but I have left this so you can adapt to your own comfort of playing. I play the same as played in his song but couldn't be bothered to change the tab.....oops!
The break......repeat twice.e |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|B |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|G |----------------------------------7---5---4---2---5---4---2---0--------------------------------|D |--2-----2-4-----4-5-----5-7-----7---------------------------------2-------------202------------|G |----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---4---4---4--|C |--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---4---4---4---4---4---4---4---4|
There you have it the bones of Richard's beautiful song. A melody you can play as a guitar piece or with vocal accompaniment. Yes I've not put in every subtle chord change and variation because I play it differently each time myself. As you learn you will make your own variations to suit your own playing style. I hope you enjoy it. Look to Youtube, alancbrown, I may post a lesson when I get my camera back from the menders. Listen to his album Sweet for the song. With you or without you, love, I must be moving Never meant to linger here so long With you or without you Though it breaks my heart To hear the sunset song. Wasn't that a time we had And bless you for it But I'm a stranger here, I don't belong The bands down on the jetty If you cup your ear You'll hear the sunset song. You said, if I hold my breath Dive down deep enough I might grow fins Seems to me I've held my breath Held my breath to please you Ever since Early morning, that's the time For fare thee wells Slip out of the warm sheets and gone But I want to hear it as I walk along To hear the sunset song. In your waking, in your dreams I won't be martyred On that cross where some say I belong Opinions just coffins, I'll just trust my feet To find the sunset song. Every day I'll wear your memory Like a favourite shirt upon my back In the hallway, there's my suitcase By the door, I never did unpack With you or without you, love I must be moving Never meant to linger here so long With you or without you Though it breaks my heart To hear the sunset song. h~ hammer-on p~ pull-off ===============================================================================
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