If Only tab by Tara Maclean

Song Title: If Only
Artist: Tara MacLean
Album: If You See Me (1997)

Transcribed By: Laura
Contact Email: bsbgal82@hotmail.com

Tuning: C# F# A# F# A# C#
Capo: 4th fret

This is my first attempt at 'tabbing' so please don't be too mean if its
wrong! And so far I its the only tab I have ever seen of this song, so
it is all mine!  It's also very rough, I haven't listened to the song
all that closely yet, but play around with this and it *should* be
fine. I've aligned some of the lyrics with the tab so you get an idea
of the bits I'm talking about, so I hope that doesn't wreck the
formatting!

I saw a video of Tara playing this with a capo on the fourth fret, so I
think the tuning's right...

It's not a hard song to play, its just the timing at times you have to watch
out for - just listen to the recording.

Intro: (this is played twice)

C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|

For the verses, its just the same as the intro:

ie:
             "...Old ballet shoes tossed in the corner..."
C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


            "... I put my ...........," (etc - nice and easy!)
C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


Then when it gets to the chorus bits ("If only I could see past myself..."):


      "...If only              I could             see   past myself, these..."
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0--------1--------1--------0--------0-|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#|--1--------3--------0--------3--------1--------3--------0--------3-------|
F#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


         "...ankles .................,"
C#|---------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0---|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0------|
A#|--1--------3--------0--------3---------|
F#|---------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------------|

(I don't think this bit's right, partly coz its awkward to play! - its
pretty hard to hear on my recording so I can't be sure about
it... Email me (bsbgal82@hotmail.com) if you find a better way to play
this bit!)

C#|----------------------------------------|
A#|----------------------------------------|
F#|----------------------------------------|
A#|-----0-h5-----0-h5-----0-h5-----0-h5----|
F#|--2--------2--------2--------2----------|
C#|----------------------------------------|


"...And the older I get,             the more           things............."
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0--------1--------1--------0--------0-|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#|--1--------3--------0--------3--------1--------3--------0--------3-------|
F#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


        "...to blame..."
C#|--------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-----|
A#|-----------------------------0--------3--------0--------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------|
C#|-----------4--------2-----------------------------------|


(here's where the timing's a bit different)
   "...same old God,
   ...same old prayer,
   ...I keep repeating myself,"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3---|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0------------|
A#|-----------------------------------0--------3------|
F#|--0------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2------------------------|


     "... but I'm ............."
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3--------3--------3------3|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0--------------0--------0----------|
A#|-----------------------------------0--------3--------------3---------0---|
F#|--0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2-----------------------2----------------------|


Instrumental interlude (same as intro)

C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#|-----------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|x2
F#|--0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


then into the second verse then chorus. Then it goes into her 'If only I'
bit:

       "If only I -------------"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------3-----1--------0--------3-----0---|
F#|-----0--------0--------------0--------0------------| x6
A#|--1--------3--------1-----0--------3--------0------|
F#|---------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------------------------|


      "Keep talking to that same old God"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3---|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0------------|
A#|-----------------------------------0--------3------| x3
F#|--0------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2------------------------|



C#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|-------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3--------3--------3------3|
F#|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0--------------0--------0----------|
A#|----------------------------------0--------3--------------3---------0---|
F#|-0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|-------------4-----------2-----------------------2----------------------|


      "If only I --------"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------3-----1--------0--------3-----0---|
F#|-----0--------0--------------0--------0------------| x7
A#|--1--------3--------1-----0--------3--------0------|
F#|---------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------------------------|



      "Keep talking to that same old God"
C#|----------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-------------|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0----------|
A#|----------------------------------|
F#|--0-------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2-------|


Whew! There you go! I hope there aren't *too* many dodgy bits in there!
Please keep in mind that it is my first tab (I'm pretty proud of
myself :)) and email me back any comments or suggestions, coz I love
this song and I'd love it if anyone has a more accurate
tab... anyways, have fun with it!