Ian Janis

Ian Janis - Stars guitar tab

Janis Ian: "Stars" from the CD "Up 'til now"

Lyrics from the booklet and from the ear, capo on 1.

It's rather lengthy because I liked to put every detail there!

The rhythm is a bit chaotic, and I wasn't always sure of what to do

with it, but it is probably where part of the beauty of the song

comes from!

Erik Olofsen (olofsen@rullf2.leidenuniv.nl)

--------3------- | --------2------- | --------1------- | --------0------- |

------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0-------0--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----1-------1--- |

--0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- |

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

3--------------- | 2--------------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

Intro

---------------- | --------0------- | ---------------- | ----------0----- |

------1-------1- | ------1---1---1- | ------0-------0- | --------0---0--- |

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

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

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

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

I was never one for singing what I really feel

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

------1-----1--- | --1---1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ----1-----1---1- |

----2-----2----- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | --2------------- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

Except tonight I'm bringing everything I know that's real

3-------3------- | --------2------- | --------1------- | --------0------- |

------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0-------0--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----1-------1--- |

--0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- |

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

3--------------- | 2--------------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

Stars, they come and go, they come fast or slow

They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- |

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

And all you see is glory

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

------0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 2---2---1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0------------- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0--------------- |

Hey but it gets lonely there when there's no one here to share

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

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | --1---1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2----------- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

3-------3------- | --------2------- | --------1------- | --------0------- |

------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0-------0--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | 1---1-------1--- |

--0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- |

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

3--------------- | 2--------------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

People lust for fame like athletes in a game, we break our collarbones

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- |

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

and come up swinging, some of us are downed

some of us are crowned, and some are lost and never found

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

0-----0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0----- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0------- |

But most have seen it all, they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

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------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | --1---1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2----------- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

They always come up singing

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

0-----0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0----- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0------- |

Some people make it when they're young, before the world has done its dirty job

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

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | --1---1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2----------- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

and later on someone will say "You've had your day, now you must make way"

---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | --------0------- |

------0-------0- | ------0-------0- | ------1-------1- | ------1---1---1- |

----0---2---2--- | 2---2---1---1--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

---------------- | ---------------- | 0--------------- | ---------------- |

3-------2------- | 1-------0------- | --------3------- | 2--------------- |

But they'll never know the pain of living with a name you never owned

or the many years forgetting what you know too well

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

----0-------0--- | ----0-------0--- | ----0---0-----0- | ----1-----1---1- |

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

2-------1------- | 0--------------- | --2------------- | 0--------------- |

---------------- | --------4------- | 3--------------- | ---------------- |

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

That the ones who gave the crown have been let down

You try to make amends without defending

3-------3------- | --------2------- | --------1------- | --------0------- |

------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0-------0--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----1-------1--- |

--0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- |

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

3--------------- | 2--------------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes of grown men of twenty-five

that follow as you walk and ask for photographs

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------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

Or kiss you on the cheek and you never can believe they really loved you

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

0-----0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0----- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0------- |

Some make it when they're old

(Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare

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

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | --1---1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2----------- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

or perhaps there's nothing there)

3-------3------- | --------2------- | --------1------- | --------0------- |

------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0-------0--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | 2---2---1---1--- |

--0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- |

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

3--------------- | 2--------------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

Stars, they come and go, they come fast they come slow

They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- | 0-------0------- |

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

And all you see is glory

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

0-----0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0----- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0------- |

But most have seen it all, they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- |

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | 1-----1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

They always have a story

-------- | -------- | ---------------- | --------0------- |

0-----0- | ------0- | ------0-------0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2---2---2--- | 1---1-------1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0-------0----- | --0------------- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

Some women have a body men will want to see

and so they put it on display

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- | ------0--------- |

------1---1---1- | 1-----1---1---1- | 1-----1---1---1- | 1---1---1---0-1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | --2-------2----- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

Some people play a fine guitar, I could listen to them play all day

-------- | -------- | -------- | --------0------- |

------0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | ----1-------1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0------------- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0--------------- |

Some ladies really move across the stage and gee, they sure can dance

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------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | 1-----1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

I guess I could learn how, if I gave it half a chance

---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | --------0------- |

------0-------0- | ------0-------0- | ------1-------1- | ------1---1---1- |

----0---2---2--- | 2---2---1---1--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

---------------- | ---------------- | 0--------------- | ---------------- |

3-------2------- | 1-------0------- | --------3------- | 2--------------- |

But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar

And I seem to always worry about missing the next chord

-------- | -------- | -------- | --------0------- |

0-----0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | ----1-------1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0------------- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0--------------- |

I guess there isn't anything to put up on display

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- |

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

Except the tunes, and whatever else I say

-------- | -------- | -------- | ------0-----0--- |

----0--- | ----0--- | ----0--- | ----0---0-----0- |

--0---0- | --0---0- | --0---0- | --0-------0----- |

2------- | 1------- | 0------- | ---------------- |

-------- | -------- | -------- | 4--------------- |

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

But anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say

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

0--------------- | 1--------------- |

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

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

3--------------- | ---------------- |

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

I meant to tell a story, I live from day to day

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------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0-------0--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | 2---2---1---1--- |

--0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- | --0------------- |

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

3--------------- | 2--------------- | 1--------------- | 0--------------- |

Stars, they come and go, they're coming fast they come slow

They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

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

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | 1-----1---1---1- | --1---1---1---0- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

And all you see is glory

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

------0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0----- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0------- |

But most have seen it all, who live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

--------0------- | --------0------- | --------0------- |

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |

----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

And we always have a story

-------- | -------- | -------- | --------0------- |

------0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0---0---0- |

----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 2---2---1---1--- |

--0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0------------- |

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

3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0--------------- |

So if you don't lose patience with my fumbling around

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

------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------0-------0- | ------0-------0- |

----2-------2--- | 2---2-------2--- | ----0---2---2--- | 2---2---1---1--- |

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

------------3--- | 2--------------- | 3-------2------- | 1-------0------- |

I'll come up singing for you, even when I'm down

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

1-----0-1---0-1- | ------1---1---0- | ------0-1---1--- | ------0--------- |

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

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

0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |

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

End

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