I think that there are two acoustic guitars playing in this song. I'm going to show you the chords - you can take it from there. Be sure to visit my tab page in order to understand how I write tablature on the web.

By the way, I interpreted these chords from listening to the LP - I did not use any other written music as an aid in writing the tab presented on this page. If you think that I have made a mistake, please let me know about it by dropping me a quick note.

Click here if you want only the lyrics.

THE CHORDS:
 
G  (e f f#)
(GUITAR INTRO)
 
G
the old cat on the roof
 
C
he could stand a little push
 
Am              D                  G    D7
'cause he's got nine good lives to live
 
 
G
but like my momma said
 
C
you only live till you're dead
 
Am             D                 G     D7
and you got to give and give and give
 
 
 
G
there's a pebble in the pond
 
C
goin' on and on,
 
Am               D                     G      D7
makin' waves and tides and ripples and rings
 
G
there's a leaf in the wind
 
C
that don't know where to end
 
Am               D                   Csus2 
chasin' days and ways and wishes and dreams
 
D
seems like ev'ry one
 
       G
is out lookin' for the sun
 
        C                G           D7
singin' rain and pain on he who hesi-tates
 
D7
but it'll shine when it shines 
 
G
you might think I'm wastin' time
 
        C               D                     G     D7 
but I'm just a good old boy that's learned to wait
 
 
G
whippoorwill's in the dawn
 
C
pretty soon, he'll be gone
 
Am           D                G     D7
and he's got one good song to sing
 
G
but like my daddy said,
 
C
it's in your heart, not your head
 
Am             D                 G    D7
and you got to sing and sing and sing
 
 
G
there's a window in the wall
 
C
lookin' out on it all
 
Am                D                    G     D7
leavin' fears and tears and troubles a-lone
 
G
there's a fire in the stove
 
C
keepin' out the cold,
 
Am               D                      Csus2
warmin' wine and winters and babies and homes
 
D
seems like ev'ry one
 
       G           
is out lookin' for the sun
 
        C                G           D7
singin' rain and pain on he who hesi-tates
 
D7
but it'll shine when it shines 
 
          G 
you might think I'm wastin' time
 
        C               D                     G 
but I'm just a good old boy that's learned to wait
 
         C               D                     G
yes, I'm just a good old boy that's learned to wait
 

THE TAB:

G

1 -|| ----------------------4---------3
2 -|| --------0-----------------------0
3 -|| --------0-----------------------0
4 -|| --------0-----------------------0
5 -|| ---------------2----------------2
6 -|| -----------------------3--------3

C

1 -|| --------0-----------------------0
2 -|| --------1-----------------------1
3 -|| --------0-----------------------0
4 -|| ---------------2----------------2
5 -|| -----------------------3--------3
6 -|| ---------------------------------

Am

1 -|| --------0-----------------------0
2 -|| --------1-----------------------1
3 -|| --------------3-----------------2
4 -|| --------------2-----------------2
5 -|| --------0-----------------------0
6 -|| --------0-----------------------0

D

1 -|| ---------------2----------------2
2 -|| -----------------------3--------3
3 -|| ---------------1----------------2
4 -|| --------------------------------0
5 -|| ---------------------------------
6 -|| ---------------------------------

D7

1 -|| ---------------3----------------2
2 -|| -------1------------------------1
3 -|| ---------------2----------------2
4 -|| --------------------------------0
5 -|| ---------------------------------
6 -|| ---------------------------------

C(add 9)

1 -|| ------------------------3-------3
2 -|| ------------------------3-------3
3 -|| --------0-----------------------0
4 -|| ---------------1----------------2
5 -|| -----------------------2--------3
6 -|| ---------------------------------

TIPS:

The intro is a G chord strummed once, then the following 3 notes are played (e f f#).

1 -|| -------------
2 -|| -------------
3 -|| -------------
4 -|| -------------
5 -|| -------------
6 -|| ----0--1--2--

The strumming is pretty much one big strum on every other beat.

Play bass notes on the beats that you are not playing the chords.

Try playing 'walking' notes - notes played between chord changes.