♥ Add to my Songbook
Father And Son Tab by Cat Stevens

Father And Son tab by Cat Stevens

Guitar Tab

intro From: "Heyo...it's Brian"
chords From: Ted Hermary
solo From: Peter Chaput Email: pchaput@istar.ca

This was provided by Ted Hermary, but it was without the intro.  I am adding
the intro

3-3-3-3------3---5----
0-0-0-0----1---1------
0-0-0-0---------------             Repeat 4x
0-0-0-0h2-------------
2-2-2-0h3-------------
3-3-3---------------0-
(I cheat and keep the b string open, its easier and it sounds better)



The only real variation in this song is playing D, Bm7 and Bm.
Rest is fairly repetitive; though it's nice, you really
need the soul in your voice to carry it for the whole tune.
Did my best on the backing vox on last verse - timing's pretty
close I think.

FATHER AND SON
(Cat Stevens, from _Tea for the Tillerman_, 1970?)

        G              D            C                 Am7
It's not time to make a change, ...
            G                 Em
You're still young that's ...
          Am               D
there's so much you ...
      G            D            C                Am7
Find a girl, settle down, if you ...
       G        Em           Am     D
Look at me, I am old....
     G                 Bm7        C                 Am7
I was once like you are now, ...
     G                 Em                    Am   D
to be calm, when you've ...
             G             Bm7           C                Am7
But take your time, think a lot, ...
            G               Em               D          G
For you will still be here ....

G-C G-C

Chorus:
       G          Bm             C                  Am7
How can I try to explain?  when ....
    G               Em             Am    D
it's always been ...
        G              Bm         C          Am7
>From the moment I could talk I ...
             G         Em     D       G
now there's a way and I know ....
     D      C       G    G-C  G-C
and I know I ..

[Break.  Unsure of which chord of D, Bm7, or Bm is played.]

Verse:
                         (away)       (away)
It's not time to make a change, ...
                 (I)               (know)               (I have)
You're still young, that's your fault, ....(ends on single strum of G)


Someone else suggested playing C (add D), which adds the note
the voice sings.  In fact, there's a whole bunch of added
notes not included here.  This makes for a beautiful 2-guitar
solo, which, since it repeats the same chords, could be really
dull otherwise.  If anyone can add to this, please do.  The closest
I come is the G-C part (intro, ends of 1st verse, chorus and break)
where there's a little slide.  One fairly easy way to play it is to
hold the C chord, add the G on the 1st string with your pinky and
slide the whole thing up, after hitting the second G:

  e ---3----3s5----------------
  b -1----1--------------------

or whatever...

BTW, any of you guys ever played this for your father?

Solo:

-------|----12--------|--------------12----------|---------------------|------
-12-13-|-15----15--12-|-15-15--15-15-------------|-12-------12---13-12-|------
-------|--------------|----------------12--12h14-|----12h14------------|------
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------


--------------------------------------|--------------------|-------0--------|-
---------------------------------0--1-|-3---0--1--3---0--1-|-3-3-3----------|-
-14--12----12---11h12p11--------------|--------------------|---------0--0-2-|-
--------14----------------14-12-------|--------------------|----------------|-
--------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|-
--------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|-


-----------------|--------------------|--------------------3---3--3--3-|------
-------------1---|------------------0-|-3--3-\-1--1-p-0----3---3--3--3-|------
--4---0-2-4----4-|-4--2--0-----0------|--------------------0---0--0--0-|------
-----------------|-----------0--------|--------------------0---0--0--0-|------
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------2---2--2--2-|------
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------3---3--3--3-|------


-----------3---5----3--3--3--3-|-----------3---5------------------------------
-1------------------3--3--3--3-|-1--------------------------------------------
-0---4-/-5---5------0--0--0--0-|-0---4-/-5---5--------------------------------
-2------------------0--0--0--0-|-2--------------------------------------------
-3------------------2--2--2--2-|-3--------------------------------------------
--------------------3--3--3--3-|----------------------------------------------

Last updated:

Please rate for accuracy!
🎸
Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -

Other versions of Father And Son by Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens tabs for Father and son

About this song

"Father and Son" by Cat Stevens was released in 1970 on his album "Tea for the Tillerman." The song features a dialogue between a father and son, with Stevens singing both parts using different vocal registers. The instrumentation includes acoustic guitars, piano, and strings, creating a folk-rock sound. The song's lyrics explore the generation gap and the struggle for understanding between parents and children. "Father and Son" remains one of Cat Stevens' most iconic and enduring songs.