Richard Thompson Sunset Song guitar tab

Sunset Song by Richard Thompson

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                             SUNSET SONG - Richard Thompson
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Tabbed by:Alan Brown
Email:[email protected]

  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 strings
e |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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~h
e |-------------------------------|
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~h
e |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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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