The Singles

Tab

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This is tablature — fret positions rather than chord names. Wide lines scroll sideways on their own, so the page never does.

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#

#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #

#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##

*****************************************************************************

** The Official Internet Compilation for The Cure's 'The Singles' **

** (release 0.71) November 1995 **

*****************************************************************************

mantained by Sergio Lucero (luceros6@cti.ecp.fr)

Please contribute to this compilation by sending corrections and or additions

to me. Also available: (Kiss Me)^3, Disintegration and Wish!

*SONGS*

1 killing an arab

10.15 saturday night

boys don't cry

jumping someone else's train

5 a forest

play for today

primary

other voices

charlotte sometimes

10 the hanging garden

let's go to bed

the walk

the lovecats

the caterpillar

15 inbetween days

close to me

a night like this

*CREDITS*

Mark Schnitzius (schnitzi@cs.ucf.edu) (1,4)

Matthew Green (mrgreen@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au) (2,3,17)

Sergio Lucero (luceros6@cti.ecp.fr) (5,8,13,15,16)

Mario Dorion (mario@newscan.canada.sun.com) (2,6)

Noah Vawter (noahvawt@wpi.wpi.edu) (12)

Chris Bahnuk (cbahnuk@freenet.niagara.com) (15tab)

*TO BE DONE* + still missing: primary, charlotte, hanging garden,

let's go to bed, and caterpillar

*****************************************************************************

killing an arab

[Disclaimer: This song is based on the book 'The Stranger'

by Albert Camus and is not meant to express anti-Arab sentiments.

The Cure has issued statements stating that they resent its

use as such.]

Intro:

Bass part starts [note: I don't particularly agree with this

bass line but it's what is in the book. Opinions, anyone?]:

At the same time, the guitar:

Standing on the beach with a gun in my hand

Staring at the sea, staring at the sand

Staring down the barrel at the Arab on the ground

See his open mouth but I hear no sound

Chorus:

I'm alive [Bass part moves up to the A string]

I'm dead

I am the Stranger [Bass moves back down to low E string]

Killing an Arab

I can turn and walk away or I can fire the gun

Staring at the sky, staring at the sun

Whichever I choose it amounts to the same

Absolutely nothing

(Repeat chorus)

Feel the steel butt jump Smooth in my hand

Staring at the sea, staring at the sand

Staring at myself reflected in the eyes

Of the dead man on the beach

(Repeat chorus)

*****************************************************************************

10:15 saturday night

Intro, Guitar 1:

F Em Dm Em

e 8 7 5 7

b 10 8 6 8

g 10 9 7 9

d 10 9 7 9

a 8 7 5 7

e x x x x

Guitar 2:

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

Here, I won't vouch for the timing on the second (7), and I can't

be bothered working it out fully. btw, the ()'s me harmonic.

Bass:

Just does a D note.

Next bit:

Guitar 2: tacet

Guitar 1:

Am Am Am /B Am G G G G

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

repeat 2 times.

Am Am Am /B Am G G G/A G

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

Am Am/B G G/A

e 5 5 3 3

b 5 5 3 3

g 5 5 4 4

d 7 7 5 5

a 7 7 5 5

e 5 7 3 5

Bass:

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

repeat 2 times.

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

Verse Bit:

Guitar 2:

F Em

e 1 7

b 1 8

g 2 9

d 3 9

a 3 7

e 1 x

repeats.

Bass:

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

repeat.

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

^^^^^^^TRIPLETS^^^^^^^

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

Back to the intro, with bass, and guitar on harmonics.

For the solo, the bit during the Am - G is:

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

repeat 2 times.

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

Then with the F - Em bit, just go a little crazy, with lots

of heavy overdrive, and lots of use of the whammy bar.

The bass solo is this;

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^

repeat.

Then the harmonics return, but like this:

| ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ |

repeat, then end, with the bass doing a volume swell on a D.

10:15 Saturday night

And the tap drips under the striplight

And I'm sitting in the kitchen sink

And the tap drips: Drip drip drip drip drip drip...

Waiting for the telephone to ring

And I'm wondering where she's been

And I'm crying for yesterday

And the tap drips: Drip drip drip drip drip drip...

It's always the same...

*****************************************************************************

boys don't cry

Intro: A Bm C#m D D C#m Bm

Repeat twice.

^-- only on second time.

A Bm C#m [D-C#m-Bm-A]

I would say I'm sorry if I thought that it would change your mind

But I know that this time I have said too much, been too unkind

C#m Bm C#m Bm

I try to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies

I try and laugh about it, hiding the tears in my eyes

A Bm-C#m-D-C#m-Bm-A

Cos boys don't cry

I would break down at your feet and beg forgiveness, plead with you

But I know that it's too late and now there's nothing I can do

So I try to laugh about it, cover it all up with lies

I try to laugh about it hiding the tears in my eyes

Cos boys don't cry

I would tell you that I loved you if I thought that you would stay

But I know that it's no use that you've already gone away

E F#m-F#m7 E F#m-F#m7

Misjudged your limits, pushed you too far

Em F#m-F#m7 D E

Took you for granted, I thought that you needed me more

Now I would do most anything to get you back by my side

But I just keep on laughing, hiding the tears in my eyes

Cos boys don't cry Boys don't cry

*****************************************************************************

jumping someone else's train

Intro:

Guitar 1 (chords): F#m A D F#m A D F#m A D C#m

Guitar 2 (tab):

Bm C#m F#m

Don't say what you mean you might spoil your face

A D

If you walk in a crowd you won't leave any trace

C#m

It's always the same

Intro tab

You're jumping someone else's train

It wont take you long to learn the new smile

You have to adapt or you'll be out of style

It's always the same

You're jumping someone else's train

D E Fm F#m

If you pick up on it quick you can say you were there

D E Fm

Again and again and again

F#m A D F#m A D F#m A D C#m

You're jumping someone else's train

Bm C#m F#m

It's the latest wave that you've been craving for

A D

The old idea is getting such a bore

C#m

Now you're back in line

Bm A

Goin' not quite as far but in half the time

G#m

Everyone's happy

F#m E

And they're finally all the same

F#m A D F#m A D F#m A D C#m

coz' everyone is jumping everybody's else's train

*****************************************************************************

play for today

Intro:

Harmonics only

E: --12--7------5---7---------------------12--7---|
B: 12-----7----5-----7-----12-----------12-----7--|
G:---------7--5-------7--12-----12----12--------7-|
D:---------------------7----------12--------------|
E: ---5--7---------------------|
B: --5----7-----12-------------|
G: -5------7--12----12----12---|
D: ---------7---------12----12-|

Regular notes

E:-------------------------------------------3|
B:-------------------------------------------5|
G:----6---6-------5----5-----------5---4-----4|
D:------------6------------------------------5|
A:--4---4---4---4----4---4-----3-3---3---3---3|

Bm A Bm

It's not a case of doing what's right

A Bm

It's just the way I feel that matters

A G

Tell me I'm wrong, I don't really care

It's not a case of share and share alike

I take what I require

I don't understand... you say it's not fair

C#m D

You expect me to act like a lover

C#m D

Consider my moves and deserve the reward

C#m D

To hold you in my arms

C#m Cmaj7 Bm A Bm A

And wait... and wait for something to happen

It's not a case of telling the truth

Some lines just fit the situation

You call me a liar, you would anyway

It's not a case of aiming to please

You know you're always crying

It's just your part in the play for today

E D E D E D C#m Cmaj7 Bm A Bm A G

Solo: F# Em

*****************************************************************************

a forest

Am C F Dm

Come closer and see, see into the trees

Find the girl while you can

Come closer and see, see into the dark

Just follow your eyes, just follow your eyes

B-C-F#-C B-C-F#-F

I hear her voice calling my name

The sound is deep in the dark

I hear her voice and start to run

Into the trees, into the trees

Suddenly I stop, but I know it's too late

I'm lost in a forest all alone

The girl was never there, it's always the same

I'm running towards nothing

Again and again and again

*****************************************************************************

primary

The innocence of sleeping children

Dressed in white and slowly dreaming

Stops all time

I slow my steps and start to blur

So many years have filled my heart

I never thought I'd say those words

The further we go and older we grow

The more we know, the less we show

The very first time I saw your face

I thought of a song and quickly changed the tune

The very first time I touched your skin

I thought of a story and rushed to reach the end too soon

Oh remember, please don't change

And so the fall came thirteen years

A shining ring and how I could forget your name

The air no longer in my throat

Another perfect lie is choked, but it always feels the same

So they close together, dressed in red and yellow, innocent forever

Sleeping children in their blue soft rooms still dream

*****************************************************************************

other voices

Bass intro:

D -----------------|-----------------|
A -0-0-2-2-2-2--5--|-----------------|
E -----------------|---0-2-2-2-2--5--|

a few measures of this, and then

D -0-0-2-2-2-2--5--|-----------------|
A -----------------|---0-2-2-2-2--5--|
E -----------------|-----------------|

Chords are basically Bm-D and F#m-A

Whisper your name in an empty room

You brush past my skin, as soft as fur

Taking hold I taste your scent

Distant noises, other voices

Pounding in my broken head

Commit the sin

Commit yourself

And all the other voices said

Change your mind

You're always wrong

Come around at Christmas

I really have to see you

Smile at me slyly

Another festive compromise

But I live with desertion

And eight million people

Distant noises

Other voices

Pulsing in my swinging arms

Caress the sound

So many dead

And all the voices said

Change your mind

You're always wrong

*****************************************************************************

charlotte sometimes

All the faces, all the voices blur

Change to one face, change to one voice

Prepare yourself for bed, the light seems bright and glares on white walls

All the sounds of Charlotte sometimes

Into the night with Charlotte sometimes

Night after night she lay alone in bed

Her eyes so open to the dark, the streets all looked so strange

They seemed so far away but Charlotte did not cry

F Am

The people seemed so close playing their expressionless games

The people seemed so close so many other names

Sometimes I'm dreaming

Where all the other people dance

Sometimes I'm dreaming

Charlotte sometimes

Sometimes I'm dreaming

Expressionless the trance

Sometimes I'm dreaming

So many different names

Sometimes I'm dreaming

The sounds all stay the same

Sometimes I'm dreaming

She hopes to open shadowed eyes

On a different world

Come to me

Scared princess

Charlotte sometimes...

On that bleak track

(See the sun is gone again)

The tears were pouring down her face

She was crying and crying for a girl

Who died so many years before...

Sometimes I dream

Where all the other people dance

Sometimes I dream

Charlotte sometimes

Sometimes I dream

The sounds all stay the same

Sometimes I'm dreaming

There are so many different names

Sometimes I dream

Sometimes I dream...

Charlotte sometimes crying for herself

Charlotte sometimes dreams a wall around herself

But it's always with love

With so much love it looks like

Everything else

Of Charlotte sometimes

So far away

Glass sealed and pretty

Charlotte sometimes

*****************************************************************************

the hanging garden

Creatures kissing in the rain

Shapeless in the dark again

In the hanging garden

Please don't speak

In the hanging garden

No one sleeps

Catching haloes on the moon

Gives my hands the shapes of angels

In the heat of the night

The animals scream

In the heat of the night

Walking into a dream...

Fall fall fall fall

Into the walls

Jump jump out of time

Fall fall fall fall

Out of the sky

Cover my face as the animals cry

Creatures kissing in the rain

Shapeless in the dark again

In a hanging garden

Change the past

In a hanging garden

Wearing furs

And masks

Fall fall fall fall

Into the walls

Jump jump out of time

Fall fall fall fall

Out of the sky

Cover my face as the animals die

In the hanging garden

*****************************************************************************

let's go to bed

Let me take your hands

I'm shaking like milk

Turning

Turning blue

All over the windows and the floors

Fires outside in the sky

Look as perfect as cats

The two of us

Together again

But it's just the same

A stupid game

But I don't care if you don't

And I don't feel if you don't

And I don't want it if you don't

And I won't say it

If you won't say it first

You think you're tired now

But wait until three

Laughing at the Christmas lights

You remember from December

All of this then back again

Another girl

Another name

Stay alive but stay the same

It's just the same

A stupid game

But I don't care if you don't

And I don't feel if you don't

And I don't want it if you don't

And I won't play it

If you won't play it first

You can't even see now

So you ask me the way

You wonder if it's real

Because it couldn't be rain

Through the right doorway

And into the white room

It used to be the dust that would lay here

When I came here alone

Doo doo doo doo

Let's go to bed

*****************************************************************************

the walk

here is the verse:

-2-2-0-0---------|
---------2-2-2-2-|
-0-0-------------|
-----3-3-0-0-0-0-|

A G E really simple, huh?

here is the chorus...still playing all octaves...

--2-2-5-5-7-7-7-7-|
----------0-0-0-0-|
0-0-3-3-----------|
------------------|

and now the neat part...that crazy melody

it's actually played on keyboard or guitar,

but it sounds neat, so here it is:

e 8-10-12-10-8h10-7-5--5-5-5-3h5-3-0-|
B -----------------------------------|
G -----------------------------------|

A G E

I called you after midnight

Then ran until I burst

I passed the howling woman

And stood outside your door

We walked around the lake

And woke up in the rain

And everyone turned over

Troubled in their dreams again

Visiting time is over

And so we walk away

And both play dead then cry out loud

Why we always cry this way?

I kissed you in the water

And made your dry lips sing

I saw you look like a Japanese baby

In an instant I remembered everything

I called you after midnight

Then ran until my heart burst

I passed the howling woman

And stood outside your door

I kissed you in the water

And made your dry lips sing

I saw you look

Like a Japanese baby

In an instant I remembered everything

*****************************************************************************

the lovecats

Bassline:

 G --------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
 D ---------2-0--|--------0-----|---------2-0--|--------0-----|
 A -----0-------3|----------3-2-|-----0-------3|----------3-2-|
 E -0h3----------|-0h3-1--------|-0h3----------|-0h3-1--------|

CRD: Am G F G Am G F and so on...

Am G F G

We move like cagey tigers, we couldn't get closer than this

The way we walk, the way we talk, the way we stalk, the way we kiss

We slip through the streets while everyone sleeps

Getting bigger and sleeker and wider and brighter

We bite and scratch and scream all night

Let's go and throw all the songs we know...

C Dm

Into the sea, you and me, all these years and no one heard

I'll show you in spring it's a treacherous thing

Dm Am

We missed you hissed the lovecats

We're so wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully pretty

Oh you know that I'd do anything for you

We should have each other to tea huh? We should have each other with cream

Then curl up in the fire and sleep for a while

It's the grooviest thing, it's the perfect dream

Into the sea, you and me, all these years and no one heard

I'll show you in spring it's a treacherous thing

We missed you hissed the lovecats

We're so wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully pretty

Oh you know that I'd do anything for you

We should have each other to dinner huh? We should have each other with cream

Then curl up in the fire, get up for a while

It's the grooviest thing, it's the perfect dream

Em F

Hand in hand is the only way to land and always the right way round

Not broken in pieces like hated little meeces

F Am

How could we miss someone as dumb as this?

I love you ... let's go... Oh ... solid gone...

How could we miss someone as dumb as this?

*****************************************************************************

the caterpillar

Flicka flicka flicka, here you are

Cata cata cata, Caterpillar girl

Flowing in and filling up my hopeless heart

Oh never never go

Dust my lemon lies with powder pink and sweet

The day I stop is the day you change

And fly away from me

You flicker and you're beautiful, you glow inside my head

You hold me hypnotized, I'm mesmerized

Your flames the flames that kiss me dead

*****************************************************************************

inbetween days

Intro: A Asus4 Dmaj9 A Asus4 Dmaj9 Bm E Bm E

e|----------------|------------|---------------|-------------|
B|----------------|------------|---------------|-------------|
G|----------------|------------|---------------|-6--6--6-6-6-|
D|--7--7--7-7-7-7-|-6----------|-7--7--7-7-7-9-|-0--0--0-0-0-|
A|--0--0--0-0-0-0-|-0-7--7-7-7-|-0--0--0-0-0-0-|-------------|
E|----------------|---0--0-0-0-|---------------|-------------|
e|----------------|------------|--------------|----------------|
B|----------------|------------|--------------|----------------|
G|----------------|------7-7-7-|-7------7-7-7-| 7--------------|
D|--7--7--7-7-7-7-|-6----0-0-0-|-0-7-7--0-0-0-|-0-7-7-6--------|
A|--0--0--0-0-0-0-|-0--7-------|---0-0--------|---0-0-0-7------|
E|----------------|----0-------|--------------|---------0------|

Rythm Fig1.

e--------------------------|----------------------------|
B--6-6--6-6--6-6--6-7--7-6-|-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--6---------|
G--------------------------|--------------------7-7-----|
D--------------------------|----------------------------|
A--------------------------|----------------------------|
E--------------------------|----------------------------|

Rythm Fig2.

e-----------------------------------------------------------|
B-----------------------------------------------------------|
G--6-6-6------------------------6-6-6-----------------------|
D--------9-------------------7--------9---------------------|
A----------9--7--9--9--7--9-------------9--7--9--9--7--9----|
E-----------------------------------------------------------|

Keyboard for guitar.

e--7--9----7--9----7--9----12--10----7--9----7--9----7--9----5--5--| repeat
B------------------------------------------------------------------|
G------------------------------------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------------|

Chords:

A Asus4 Dmaj9 A Asus4 Dmaj9

Yesterday I got so old, I felt like I could die

Yesterday I got so old it made me want to cry

Go on go on, just walk away

Go on go on, your choice is made

Go on go on and disappear

Go on go on, away from here

Bm E

And I know I was wrong when I said it was true

Bm E A Asus4 Dmaj9

That it couldn't be me and be her inbetween without you, without you

Yesterday I got so scared I shivered like a child

Yesterday away from you it froze me deep inside

Come back come back, don't walk away

Come back come back, come back today

Come back come back, why can't you see?

Come back come back, come back to me

And I know I was wrong when I said it was true

That it couldn't be me and be her inbetween without you, without you

*****************************************************************************

close to me

Intro bass line (and chords for the song): C Em C D Am Bm G F

I've waited hours for this, I've made myself so sick

I wish I'd stayed asleep today

I never thought this day would end

I never thought tonight could ever be

This close to me

Just try to see in the dark, just try to make it work

To feel the fear before you're here

I make the shapes come much too close

I pull my eyes out, hold my breath

And wait until I shake

But if I had faith, then I could make it safe and clean

If only I was sure that my head on the door was a dream

I've waited hours for this, I've made myself so sick

I wish I'd stayed asleep today

I never thought this day would end

I never thought tonight could ever be

This close to me

But if I had face then I could make it safe and clean

If only I was sure that my head on the door was a dream

*****************************************************************************

a night like this

Piano arranged for guitar.

Rythym A.

F#m D/F# D#dim/F# D/F#

e -------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
b ---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
g ---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
d ---4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|
a -------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e -------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

repeat with guitar picking on chords.

F#m D

Say goodbye on a night like this

B D

If it's the last thing we ever do

You never looked as lost as this

Sometimes it doesn't even look like you

It goes dark, it goes darker still

Please stay

But I watch you like I'm made of stone

As you walk away

C#m B