The Raven
The Stranglers - The Raven (2)
Email: Bushhead81@Hotmail.com
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
This is a better version
THE RAVEN
---------
Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 21st July 2002
This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords
Updated: now featuring some extra tablature of the guitar parts! I've made my best attempt at
this.
bass intro:
the note A alternated as octaves, for acoustic guitar players, the underlying chord is A major.
play this for about seven bars.
then the following chords can be played under the guitar 'solo' (if that's what you'd like to
call it)...
DGFG
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-----------------------------------------------------2-4-5--------------2-4-5-|
D--------------2-3-5---------------2-3-5--2-3-5-2-3-5--------2-3-5-2-3-5-------|
A--2-3-5-2-3-5---------2-3-5-2-3-5---------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
ACGA
E----------------------------------------------------5-3----------------5-3---|
B--------------3-5-6--------------3-5-6--3-5-6-3-5-6-----6--3-5-6-3-5-6-----6-|
G--2-4-5-2-4-5--------2-4-5-2-4-5---------------------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
...before Dave Greenfield's signature keyboard riff is finally heard and the following chords
are played...
DAG
E--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------------------------|
B--6-5-5-5-6-5-5-5-6-5-5-5-6-5-5-5-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--|
G--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-5-4-4-4-5-4-4-4-5-4-4-4-0-0-0-0--|
D----------------------------------5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------|
FGA
E---------------------------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------------1-3-3^-1-------|
G----0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-0---0-2----------2--2--|
D--5---3---2---3---5---3---2---3-----2--------------------|
A---------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------|
(play the above twice)
then: Dm G Dm G Dm G Dm G
E--------0--|
B------6----|
G----7------|
D--7--------|
A-----------|
E-----------|
verse 1:
Dm G Dm G Dm GGm
fly straight.....with perfection
Dm G Dm G Dm GGm
find me.....a new direction
C A *Dm G Dm G
you'll never realise the things they said
C A DGm
we'll never realise until we're dead
Dm G Dm G Dm G Gm
the fires they burned along the coast of triumphs
Dm G Dm G Dm GGm
the ebony embittered souls of children
C A *Dm G Dm G
we'll seek another way before too long
C A
but will you stop my wind before I'm gone
(at * points play this)
DGDGCADm
E----------12--10h12p10----------12--10h12p10----------12--10h12p10---------------------10--|
B-------10-----10-------------10-----10-------------10-----10------------------10----10-----|
G--9-7-------------------9-7-------------------9-7-----------------------9-7-9----12--------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------5-7--------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
GDG
E--------10--|
B-----10-----|
G--12--------|
D------------|
A------------|
E------------|
then, on the word 'gone', instead of reverting back to the main verse riff, the following is
played (as a sort-of bridge or instrumental pre-chorus):
Dm C G (x3)
E--------10--|
B-----10-----|
G--12--------|
D------------|
A------------|
E------------|
chorus:
Bb F G
and when you find me all alone
Bb F G
your world has never been my own
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--5h6p5---5h6p5---5h6p5---5h6p5---5h6p5---8p0-0-------------------5p0-0--------------------|
G--------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7p0-0-4p0-0-------------7p0-0-4p0-0--------|
D------------------------------------------------------------5p0-0-------------------5p0-0--|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--5h6p5---5h6p5---5h6p5---5h6p5---5h6p5---8p0-0--------------------------------------------|
G--------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7p0-0-4p0-0--------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------------------------5p0-0-3p0-0-3p0-0-3p0-0-3p0-0--|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
and then, the bridge or 'pre-chorus' is played again, three times, but in the next key upwards,
like so:
Em D A (x3)
E--7--5-7-5-5s3-3---7--5-7-5-5s3---7--5-7-5-5s3-3--|
B--------------------------------------------------|
G--------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------|
...before a Dave Greenfield keyboard solo that's based around the chorus melody,
but features these chords:
C G Bb F (x3)
E------------------------------------------------------------|
B--8^-6--------------------------8^-6------------------------|
G-------7-5---------------------------7-5--------------------|
D-----------7-5-5-3-----------------------7-5-5-3-------3-5--|
A-------------------5-3-5---3-1-------------------5-3-5------|
E-------------------------3----------------------------------|
then, the same chords are used for a second chorus, which is a slight variation
of the first chorus:
(from now on most of the guitar parts are repeated the same)
chorus 2:
C G Bb F G
and when you find me, and when you find me all alone
Bb F G
your world has never been my own
and then comes the second verse, which uses exactly the same chords and has exactly
the same structure as the first verse:
verse 2:
Dm G Dm G Dm Gm
my friend, you're black, and when you fly you're wild
Dm G Dm G Dm Gm
I am white, sometimes I behave just like a child
C A Dm Gm
the northern seas are cold but they're our own
C A
we'll sail your southern seas before too long
and now, on the word 'long' instead of going to the first bridge or pre-chorus
earlier, the keyboard riff from the intro is played and the same chords are used,
so, basically the keyboard intro is being used as an outro:
DAGFGA
DAm G F A
when I was a viking, my friend he was the raven
then just repeat the chords Dm Am G F G A until the song fades.
I apologise if this tab doesn't make too much sense as the song has a weird structure to it,
like so:
bass intro
guitar intro
keyboard intro
verse 1
bridge (in Dm)
chorus (variation 1)
bridge (in Em)
keyboard solo
chorus (variation 2)
verse 2
outro (same as keyboard intro)