The Stranglers - The Raven

      
 
 The Stranglers - The Raven (2)
 Tabbed By: Reecy
 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)...
 
 Dm G F G 
     

 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------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 

 
 Am C G A 
     

 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...
 
 Dm Am G 
    

 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-------------------------------------------------------------------|
 

 
 F G A 
    

 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    G Dm G 
 fly straight.....with perfection
 Dm   G   Dm   G      Dm   G Dm G 
 find me.....a new direction
 C A *Dm G Dm G
 you'll never realise the things they said
        C         A                 Dm G Dm G 
 we'll never realise until we're dead
      Dm        G       Dm       G        Dm    G Dm G 
 the fires they burned along the coast of triumphs
     Dm  G   Dm         G      Dm     G Dm G 
 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)
 
 Dm G Dm G C A Dm 
        

 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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 

 
 G Dm G 
    

 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 G Dm G 
 my friend, you're black, and when you fly you're wild
 Dm     G         Dm       G                  Dm G Dm G 
 I am white, sometimes I behave just like a child
      C                A                    Dm G Dm G 
 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:
 
 Dm Am G F G A 
       
 Dm Am    G                  F                      G 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)