Rush: Tom Sawyer
From the album Moving Pictures (Mercury Records)
Copyright 1981 Core Music Publishing
Music by Lee and Lifeson
Lyrics by Dubois and Peart
Transcription by:
C. D. Bruce
Previously Transcribed by:
James Bender
Jimmy Pena
Tony Kennedy
Jim Cirronella ,
Sean Carroll .
All synth arrangements for guitar are located at the end of the tab file.
The song opens with an Oberhiem "Sweep" sound concurrent with a Moog
Taurus Pedal bass sound.
- Guitar rest for 8 measures -
E Dsus2
E q E hw E q E hw
|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|
|---------9-------|-----------------|---------5-------|-----------------|
|o--------9-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|o--------9-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|---------7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
A7sus4 Cadd9
E q E hw E q E hw
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
The riv-er...
Csus2 G/B Asus4 Csus2 G/B Asus4 E
Q Q Q Q q q e q e he Q q q
|-----------------|-----------------|---------4-------|---4-----4---4---|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3---3---|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0---2---|---------4-------|---4-----4---4---|
|-x-----x-----x---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---3-----2---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
Dsus2 A7sus4 D/E A7sus4
e q e he Q q q e q e he Q h
|---------0-------|---0-----0---0---|---------3-------|---2-----3-------|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------3-------|---3-----3-------|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2-------|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2-------|
|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
And what you say about his company...
Csus2 G/B A7sus4 G G/F#E Repeat 4 times
Q Q Q Q q q Q h he w h Q h he w h
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3-------|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0-------|o----------4-----|-----------4-----|
|-x-----x-----2---|---0-----0---2---|o----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-------0---------|
|-----------------|---3-----2---0---|-0-----2---------|-3---------------|
_________________ _________________
| 1st-3rd ending | 4th ending | Bsus2
Q Q h hew | Q H Q q | Q H Q q | wH
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----0-------0---|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|-2---------------|
|-----------4-----|----------------o|-------------4--o|-4---------------|
|-2---------------|----------------o|-------------2--o|-4---------------|
|-------3---------|-2-----0---------|-2-----0-----0---|-2---------------|
|-----------------|-------------3---|-----------------|-----------------|
A5
q H q wH q q q q q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-----------------|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Gsus2 A5 B5 A5 Gsus2
q q q q q q q q q q q q h h q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---2---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-2-------2-------|
|-0---0---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-0---0-------0---|
|-x---x---0---2---|-----2---2---2---|-0---0---0---0---|-x---------------|
|-3---3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|
A5 Eno3rd
w + +
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|---------4-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0---------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
- Guitar rests for 13 measures -
Repeat 4 times
w Q q q E E E E E q q E E E E E
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
7o--------------|--------------o|---------------|---------------|
8o2-------------|-4---------4--o|-7---6---4-----|-7-----6-------|
|-2-------------|-4-----4-------|---9---7---5---|-----9---7-5---|
|-0-------------|-2-------------|---------------|-------------7-|
E E E E E q q E E E E E
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-7---6---4-----|-7-----6-------|---------------|---------------|
|---9---7---5---|-----9---7-5---|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------7-|---------------|---------------|
- Guitar solo (tab expanded for clarity 7/8 except where noted) -
Heavily overdriven with short delay to get a "doubling" effect.
h Q eHw
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-1-----------/---4-------/---|-7-----~---------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
s s E E q s s E E E
|------------------p----------|----------h-p----------------|
|-----------------9-7-9---10--|-9-------7-9-7---------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------7-/-9-------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
S S S e q q q
|-----------p-----------------|-------------------------|
|---------10-9-10-12\---------|-------------------------|
|-----------------------------3-------------------------|
|-----------------------------4-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------5-------|
|-----------------------------|-5-------7---------------|
h s s q eH
|--1---------------p----------|---2-------------------------|
|-5^--------------3-0-2-------|[3]^-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E E E E E E s s s E E eq
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|--------[5]-[7]-[5]-----[5]--|-------------------------5---|
|-----------------------------|-6--[7]--6---4---6---7-------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E s s E E E s E E
|---------------------------p-|-----12--------------h-------|
|---------------------15--1512|-14------14--------1215--12--|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
e e e q q q q
|---------12------------------|-------------------------|
|-12--14------14--------------|-----------------15------|
|-----------------------------3-14------16--------------|
|-----------------------------4-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
Q q e qw
1
|---2-----------r---------16^-|-----------------------------|
|-15^-------(15)^-----17------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
S S S S S S S S S S S S S e E
r 2
|----(16)---16-17-19-17-16-17-|-19-17-16-17-16-19-17-16--19^|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E E E Q q E E E E
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
|-----19^-19^-19^-19^---------|-19^-----19^-19^-19^-19^-----|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
q q Q q E E E E
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
|-19^-----19^-----19^---------|(19)^----19^-19^-19^-19^\----|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
- Tab returned to normal width -
E E E E E q q E E E E E E E E E E q q q q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-----------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-----------------|
7---------------|---------------|---------------4-----------------|
8-7---6---4-----|-7-----6-------|-7---6---4-----4-----------------|
|---9---7---5---|-----9---7-5---|---9---7---5---|---------5---7---|
|---------------|-------------7-|---------------|-5---7-----------|
E Dsus2
e q hw e q hw
|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|
|---------9-------|-----------------|---------5-------|-----------------|
|o--------9-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|o--------9-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|---------7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
A7sus4 Cadd9
e q hw e q hw
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
But change...
Csus2 G/B Asus Csus2 G/B Asus4 E
Q Q Q Q q q e q e he Q e e q
|-----------------|-----------------|---------4-------|---4-----4-5-4---|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3---3---|---------5-------|---5-----5-5-5---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0---2---|---------4-------|---4-----4-4-4---|
|-x-----x-----2---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---3-----2---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/r/rush/tom_sawyer_tab_ver_2.html ]
Dsus2 A7sus4 D/E A7s4D/E
e q e he Q q q e q e he Q q q
|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|---2-----3---2---|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------3-------|---3-----3---3---|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2---2---|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2---2---|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------0-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|
What you say about his company...
Cs2 G/B A7sus4 G G/F#E Repeat 4 times
Q Q Q Q q q Q h he w h Q h he w h
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-------------|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0-------|o----------4-----|-----------4-----|
|-x-----x-----2---|---0-----0---2---|o----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-------0---------|
|-----------------|---3-----2---0---|-0-----2---------|-3---------------|
_________________ _________________
| 1st-3rd ending | 4th ending | Bsus2
Q Q h hew | Q H Q q | Q H Q e q | wH
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----0-------0---|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|-2---------------|
|-----------4-----|----------------o|-----------4-4---|-4---------------|
|-2---------------|----------------o|-----------2-2---|-4---------------|
|-------3---------|-2-----0---------|-2-----0---0-0---|-2---------------|
|-----------------|-------------3---|-----------------|-----------------|
The world is... A5
q H q wH q q q q q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-----------------|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Gs2 A5 B5 A5 Gsus2
q q q q q q q q q q q q h h q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---2---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-2-------2-------|
|-0---0---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-0---0-------0---|
|-x---x---0---2---|-----2---2---2---|-0---0---0---0---|-x---------------|
|-3---3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|
A5 Eno3rd
w + +
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|---------4-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0---------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
- Guitar Rests for 7 measures -
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e Q q q q q q e q Q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
7---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
8-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4---4---------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e Q q q q q q e q q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------3-------------|
|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|-2-------2---2-4-4-------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4---4-------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|-0-----------0-|-2-----------|
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e Q q q q q q e Q q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
7---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
8-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e Q q q q q q e Q q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|
Start fade -------------------
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e q q q q q q e Q q q
|---------------|-------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------3-------------7---------------|---------------|
|-2-------2---2-4-4-------4---8-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4---4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-----------|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e Q q q q q q e Q q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|
- - - - - - - - - -
Eno 3rd F#no3rd Eno 3rd F#no3rd
q q q e Q q q q q q e q q q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------3-------------|
|-2-------2---2-|-4---------4---|-2-------2---2-4-4-------4---|
|-2---2-------2-|-4-----4-------|-2---2-------2-|-4---4-------|
|-0-----------0-|-2-------------|-0-----------0-|-2-----------|
- Pre-guitar solo synth arranged for guitar -
Repeat 8 times
E E E E E q q E E E E E E E E E E q q E E E E E
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
7o14--13--11----|-14----13--11-o7-14--13--11----|-14----13------|
8o--16--14--12--|-----16--14---o4---16--14--12--|-----16--141214|
|---------------|-------------14|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E E E E E +
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-14--13--11----|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---16--14--12--|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
- Ending Synth arranged for guitar -
E E E E QH +
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-14--13--11----|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---16--14------|---------------|-14------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
q q q e e e e e w S S
|---------------|-------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------3---------11--7-14---13--11---|------------1411
|---------------4-----11------8----16--14-----|---------------|
|---------------|-9-----------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|-------------|---------------|---------------|
+
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-14------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E E E E E q +
|-17--16--14----|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---19--17--15--|-17------------|---------------|---------------|
7---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
4---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
A note about the "Taurus Pedal 'Sweep' sound" - this is actually an analog
synth (probably an Oberheim) playing octaves. The resonance of the synth is
set high and filter is set to sweep from top to bottom. Play the lowest E
on
the synth plus an octave above simultaneously and you'll get this sound.
Live, Alex triggers this sound with his pedals. While it's probably just a
sampled sound now, in the good old days before MIDI, Alex had Moog Taurus
pedals interfaced with an Oberheim synth off-stage. The Taurus pedals
didn't
actually make this sound but rather doubled it with a thick bass pedal tone
(or else the Taurus pedal settings would have had to be changed throughout
the
set and I don't believe that the pedals were programmable).
Lyrics
A modern-day warrior
Mean mean stride,
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean mean pride.
Though his mind is not for rent,
Don't put him down as arrogant.
His reserve, a quiet defense,
Riding out the day's events.
The river.
And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift.
The world is, the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his eyes are wide.
Today's Tom Sawyer,
He gets high on you,
And the space he invades
He gets by on you.
Guitar Solo
No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government.
Always hopeful, yet discontent,
He knows changes aren't permanent,
But change is.
And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the witness, catch the wit,
Catch the spirit, catch the spit.
The world is, the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his skies are wide.
Exit the warrior,
Today's Tom Sawyer,
He gets high on you,
And the energy you trade,
He gets right on to the friction of the day.
Tablature Contributors:
This transcription was created by C. D. Bruce (charlesdbruce@hotmail.com)
in the format described below. It was previously transcribed by James
Bender and Jimmy Pena (jimmy_pena@juno.com). Other significant
contributions were made by Tony Kennedy (TKennedy@buckeye.com), Jim
Cirronella (twozbar@verizon.net) and Sean Carroll (xamolleh@ix.netcom.com).
Special thanks to Tony Kennedy (tonykennedy@entermail.net) for the 1/2 speed
wav file of the guitar solo. Special thanks to Rich Soto
(hrhkinglerxst@home.com) for the video footage. Thanks to Keith H Nelson
(ob1gynob@hotmail.com) for identifying an error in the ending.
Disclaimer:
This tablature represents how the song is played as closely as reasonably
achievable to the studio recording. Video footage was utilized as much
as possible to validate the information (Exit Station Left, LeStudio
version, A Show of Hands). Alex Lifeson may have played it slightly
differently.
Revision History:
Revision 00: No date information available. Initial submittal by
C. D. Bruce.
Revision 01: 07-15-1998. Reformatted to condense tab. Made changes
to D chords and E chords, moved synth tab to the end
of the file.
Revision 02: 09-02-1998. Changed time signature in pre-solo and
solo sections from 4/4 and 3/4 to 7/4. Made some
minor changes to the outro.
Revision 03: 09-03-1998. Credited Rich Soto for video footage which
was instrumental in creating this tablature.
Revision 04: 08-24-2001. Changed opening chords and other associated
chords based on discussions with Jim Cirronella.
Revision 05: 01-17-2002. Changed various places from one measure of
7/4 to two measures of 7/8. Corrected ending to show
the 3/4 measure in it.
Revision 06: 06-16-2003. Fixed some more errors in the measures at
the end.
Tablature Explanation:
NT = Nashville Tuning is when the low E, A and D strings are replaced with
lighter gauge strings and tuned one octave higher than normal.
| = bar separating measures
~ = vibrato
x = percussive note with no pitch; muted note
. = staccato; mute the note immediately after striking it
h = hammer
p = pull
s = slide (used when \ or / don't fit)
^ = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret shown in parenthesis ()
r = release bend (string/fret may be indicated)
t = fret board tap (not many of these with Rush)
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
x/ = pick slide up
x\ = pick slide down
<5> = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated)
[5] = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack)
(5) = note sustained from previous measure
o =\ repeat sign
o =/
DC = "Da capo" - means "from the head", when you see these initials
you go back to the beginning of the piece of music.
DS = "Dal segno" - means "from the sign", go back in the tabulature
only as far as the (%) sign.
Coda = A passage at the end of a movement or composition that brings
it to a formal close.
Al
Coda = means "to the tail", tells you that you must go to the end
section which starts with the Coda sign (+).
RF = repeat and fade
rit = "ritardando" - Gradually slowing in tempo; retarding.
Other pertinent information:
Tempo: 1/4 note = ???
Tuning: Standard [EADGBe].
Key signature:
Effects: Overdrive, Chorus, Short Delay
