Roll Away The Stone - Mott The Hoople

OK this one's for Teleplayer - I owe him one (or two or three!) for all the great Stones tabs,,,,

There are two versions of this, Mott recorded the single version in '73 - then Mick Ralphs left to
join Bad Company, and a guitarist with the unlikely name of Ariel Bender - AKA Luther Grosvenor,
formerly with Spooky Tooth, was drafted in - when the Album, "The Hoople" was released, there was
a new guitar track on "Roll Away" with the original backing track - courtesy of Mr Bender - it was
nowhere near as good as the single version, and Bender didn't last long - he was replaced by Mick
Ronson, I thought Mott were going to be REALLY big then - but sadly, egos got in the way, Hunter
and Ronson split, and MTH were no more.....so anyway, this is the last single Mott recorded with
the original (or nearly original - Verden Allen, keyboard player, left after the "Mott" album &
was replaced by Morgan Fisher) - Hunter on Guitar, Piano and vocals, Ralphs on lead, Overend on
Bass and Buffin on Drums......

OK here's the song - enough nostalgic waffling....!

Intro.....

Am G F Esus4 E
E----------------------------------------------------------|
B----12-13s17----12-13s17----12h13-15s17----17-------------|
G-14----------14----------14-------------------------------|
D----------------------------------------------------------|
A----------------------------------------------------------|
E----------------------------------------------------------|

(repeat, then...

E----------------------------------------------------------|
B-12-12p11-------------------------------------------------|
G----------14-13-12----------------------------------------|
D----------------------------------------------------------|
A----------------------------------------------------------|
E----------------------------------------------------------|

ok into the first verse.....

(C)Baby if (G)you'd just say you (E7)care, follow (Am)you most (G)anywhere,
(F)Roll away the (C)stone, roll away the (G)stone, (F)
(C) And in the (G)darkest night, (E7)I'll keep you (Am)safe and (G)all right,
(F)Roll away the (C)stone, roll away the (G)stone,

(Chorus......)

(C)Roll a(G)way the stone (F)shala-la-la (G)push, push..
Why be(C)come (G)so alone,(F)shala-la-la (G)push, push..
Won't you (C)roll a(G)way the (F)stone,(F)shala-la-la (G)push, push..
Don't you (G)let it (Am)die!

OK there's a bit of overlapping here.....

on the first line of the chorus, as the Thunderthings sing (Push, push) Hunter sings "Why become"
on the second line, Hunter goes into "won't you" (on the third line!) on the last G chord....
on the 3rd line, Hunter carries on singing, sraight into "don't you let it die!" just as the girls
go into (F)shala-la-la (G)push, push again......

and just as the rhythm guitar hits (Am)die!, the lead guitarist repeats the intro....

then onto the second verse......

(C) No matter if (G)fools say we can't (E7)win,I know I'll (Am)fall in (G)love again,
(F)Roll away the (C)stone, roll away the (G)stone, (F)
So (C)sing, we (G)still got a chance, (E7)baby at (Am)love and (G)sweet ro(F)mance,
Roll away the (C)stone, roll away the (G)stone, (F)won't you,

(Chorus......)

(C)Roll a(G)way the stone (F)shala-la-la (G)push, push..
Why be(C)come (G)so alone,(F)shala-la-la (G)push, push..
Won't you (C)roll a(G)way the (F)stone,(F)shala-la-la (G)push, push..
Don't you (G)let it (Am)die!

repeat the intro again.....then here comes a key change for the bridge......

from the Esus4 and E - the intro lick - the key changes to D.......

(E) there's a (D)rockabilly party on Saturday night,
Are (A)you gonna be there?
I got my invite,
(D)Gonna bring your records?
Oh - will do!

Esus4 - E - D - Dmaj7 - E.

(D)Wont you (A)roll a(E)way the (D)stone,
(E)Why be(A)come (E)so a(D)lone,
(E)Wont you (A)roll a(E)way the (D)stone,
Don't you (E)let it (F#m)die!

(E)(D)(E) come on roll, - and ad lib as the song fades out......

OK a bit of trivia - The female voice in the bridge (I got my invite and ow, will do!) belongs to
Lynsey De Paul - she had a couple of (rotten, IMO!) hit singles over here, even did a Eurovision
song contest entry - now that really is desperate! She had a relationship with James Coburn - he was
6'4", she was 4'11",,,,,,,,

OK Teleplayer - get that tele out and hit it!