------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAY YOU NEVER - John Martyn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tabbed by: Matthew Beckers E-mail: matthewlbeckers@gmail.com Tuning: Drop D (capo on 2nd fret) An important part of this song is the rhythmic thumb tap (noted as t) against the D string that John makes on every other beat. It never relinquishes, even when you need to be picking a note at the same time. This is done by "flicking" the string you want to play with your index finger(noted as [#]) as you bring your thumb down on the D string. The song is in 4:4 timing. However, apart from the correctly placed bar boundaries, the tab spacing does not strictly show timing between notes. Instead, I have tried to space it along to the lyrics as perfectly as possible. You should be able to get the timing down by listening to the record and the way that John is singing on it. I have labelled the alternative lyrics for each section as (1) and(2). The following is the structure of the whole song. Parts I and II for the CHORUS and VERSE are played one after the other except for the final chorus. CHORUS (1) - VERSE (1) - POST-VERSE CHORUS (1) - VERSE (2) - POST-VERSE CHORUS (1) - VERSE (1) - POST-VERSE CHORUS (2) - CHORUS (1) CHORUS (2-I) - OUTRO - FIN CHORUS I (Start here) e|---------------|---------------------|----------------|------------------------|-----0-[0]h2p0-----------| B|------10---8---|-3---------3-------3-|------------3---|----2---2------3----3---|-3---3-----------3-------| G|---------------|-2-----------------0-|----------------|----2---2------2----2---|-2---2-------------2-----| D|------11---9---|-0-------0---------0-|----------0-----|----2---2------4----5---|-0-------------0-------0-| A|-0-------------|-------------------2-|-(2)----2-------|-0------------(0)-------|-------------------------| D|---------------|-0-t---0------t------|-----t--------t-|-------------t--------t-|-0------t------------t---| 1) And may you never lay your head down without a hand to hold And may you 2) May you never lose your temper if you get in a bar room fight And may you CHORUS II e|----------------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------| B|-3---------3----|-2--------3--2----3-|-----------3-----3-|-3---------3-3---| G|-0--------------|-2--------2--2----2-|---[2]p0---0-----2-|-2-[2]p0---0-2---| D|-0-------0------|-2--2-----2--2----0-|-----------------0-|(0)--------------| A|-2-----2--------|-0------0-----------|---------2---0h2---|---------0-------| D|---t---------t--|------t---------t-0-|----t----------t-0-|----t----------t-| 1) never make your bed out in the cold 2) never lose your woman over night VERSE [x2] e|-------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------| B|-2-------------3---------------|-3----------3----------|-3------------------3----------3-|-3---------3-3---| G|-2-------------2---------------|-2----------2----------|-2----[2]p0---------0----------2-|-2-[2]p0---0-2---| D|-2-------------4---------------|-5----------4----------|-0-----------------------------0-|(0)--------------| A|-0----0------0-------0-------0-|-----0-----(0)-0h4-----|------------2-----------0h2------|---------0-------| D|---(t)---t---------------t-----|---------t--------t-(0)|-------t------------------t----0-|----t----------t-| 1) Just like a great and strong brother of mine you know that I'll love you true And you -- never talk dirty behind my back and I know that there's those that do 2) Just like a good and close sister to me you know that I'll love your true And you -- hold no blade to stab me in the back and I know that there's some that do POST-VERSE I e|--------------------------------|---------------------|--------------0------------0-------0----| B|-2----------------2-------------|---2----2-----2------|------------3--------3-----------3------| G|-2----------------2-------------|---2----2-----2------|-------0--------------------------------| D|-2--2-------------2--2----------|---2----2-----2------|-------0--------------------------------| A|-0------------0---------------0-|--------------0--0---|-2-------2--------2-----------2---------| D|--------t----------------t------|-----------t-------t-|----------------t-----------------------| Oh please won't you please won't you bear it in mind Love is a lesson to learn in our time POST-VERSE II e|--------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------| B|-----2----------------3---------------|-3----------3----------|-3-----------3-----3-|-3---------| G|-----2----------------2---------------|-2----------2----------|-2---[2]p0---0-----2-|-2-[2]p0---| D|-----2----------------4---------------|-5----------4----------|-0-----------------0-|(0)--------| A|-0------0---------0------0---------0--|------0----(0)--0------|-----------2---0h2---|---------0-| D|------------t----------------t--------|---------t---------t-0-|------t----------t-0-|----t------| Now please won't you please won't you bear it in mind for me (to chorus) OUTRO e|----------------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------| B|-3---------3----|-2--------3--2----3-|-----------3-----3-|-3---------3-----| G|-0--------------|-2--------2--2----2-|---[2]p0---0-----2-|-2-[2]p0---0-----| D|-0-------0------|-2--------2--2----0-|-----------------0-|(0)--------------| A|-2-----2--------|-0--0---0-----------|---------2---0h2---|---------2---0h2-| D|----t--------t--|------t---------t-0-|----t----------t-0-|----t----------t-| never lose your woman over night e|---------------------|-----------------| B|-3-----------3-----3-|-3---------3-----| G|-2---[2]p0---0-----2-|-2-[2]p0---0-----| D|-0-----------------0-|(0)--------------|[x3 then FIN] A|-----------2---0h2---|---------2---0h2-| D|-0----t----------t-0-|----t----------t-| FIN e|----------------------------------| B|-----------------------------3----| G|--2p0---0-------------------2-----| D|--0---4---2p0---0-------0--0------| A|--------------4---2p0-------------| D|----------------------4---0-------| ************************************ | h hammer-on | p pull-off | t thumb tap. These are all noted on the D string, but at times it might be easier to slap the A string instead - personal preference! |[#] flick this string! |(#) optional note ************************************