Tabs
#This one is my all time favourite! It's a pretty simple song
and easy to play. It's my first attempt tabbing a song. Sorry
for remaining mistakes.#
Only a boy
Words & music by Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan & Kevin Savigar
From the album "Tonight I'm yours" (1981)
Tabs by rarerod (at) gmx.net (2010)
In the key of E, standard tuning.
h - hammer on
b - bend
rb - release bend
p - pluck off
~ - vibrato
\ - slide down to
Intro (use a lot of reverb!):
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-----------------12-12----------------------------------------------------
|--8h9-11-11b(13)-------b(13)rb(11)-8-8-9p8--------------------------------
|-------------------------------------------11p9-11-11-13-13p11\9----------
|-----------------------------------------------------------------11~~~~~~~
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single file in the girls corridor.
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------------12-12-12--------------------------------------------------
|-8h9-11-11b(13)----------b(13)rb(11)-8-8-9p8------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------11p9-11-11-13-13p11\9--------
|-------------------------------------------------------------------11~~\0-
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come along, Stewart laddie!
1st verse:
E MajorE 
BB 
C# minorC#m 
G# minorG#m
"Stewart boy, you'll never be much cause you're too busy acting the fool."
E MajorE BB 
F#F#
Thank you, Sir, for them few kind words on my last day of school.
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Oh, but my mama said I could be a success if I'd only get myself out of bed.
E MajorE BB F#F#
Words of wisdom but I wasn't listening, I had plans in my head.
Refrain:
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Only a boy, trying it on, coming so strong, restless to roam.
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Only a boy, silly and proud, reckless and loud, impressing the crowd.
BB
Only a boy
2nd verse:
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Rock and roll was in my brains, Eddie Cochrane running through my veins.
E MajorE BB F#F#
Skintight trousers in council houses, the unemployment exchange.
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
The blues I played were Mississippi made and every friday night I'd fall in love.
E MajorE BB F#F#
Football fields and teenage pills, nothing's enough.
Refrain:
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Only a boy, dressing to kill, passion to spill, hand in the till.
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Only a boy, slipping it in, thin as a pin, chasing a dream.
BB
Only a boy
BB
Only a boy
BB
Ooh!
Solo (use a lot of reverb!):
|-------------------------------------------------------------------
|----------12-12----------------------------------------------------
|--11b(13)-------b(13)rb(11)-8-8-9p8--------------------------------
|------------------------------------11p9-11-11-13-13p11\9----------
|----------------------------------------------------------11~~~~~~~
|-------------------------------------------------------------------
Climb....
|--------------------------------------------------------
|----------------12-12-----------------------------------
|-8h9-11-11b(13)-------b(13)rb(11)-8-8-9p8---------------
|------------------------------------------11p9-11-11-13-
|--------------------------------------------------------
|--------------------------------------------------------
...down off the school roof, laddie!
|----------------------
|----------------------
|----------------------
|-13p11\9-13p11\9------
|-----------------11\0-
|----------------------
3rd verse:
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Oh, them Dukes of freedom I used to believe them and all their rebellious vows.
E MajorE BB F#F#
The critics, the cynics who never understood it, where are they now?
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
And all the wondering and the stumbling that goes hand in hand with change.
E MajorE BB F#F#
The yearning, the earning was it all part of learning or am I still the same?
Refrain:
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Only a boy, laughing aloud, quick as a shot, nobody can stop
E MajorE BB C# minorC#m G# minorG#m
Only a boy, plans of his own, leaving his home, knows where he's going.
BB
Only a boy
BB
Only a boy
