Before and After

Background and Commentary

“‘Before and After’ is the key song on the debut album to understanding where Rush would go next. What sounds like an acoustic guitar dominates a long instrumental introduction, before Geddy and Alex have some fine moments together. That and the extended introduction show a different side of the band, even if the song is a great Led Zeppelin rip-off.—Bill Banasiewicz, Rush Visions

“‘Before and After’ is perhaps a bit more dated [than some of the other songs on the debut album], something closer to what U.K. or U.S. boogie rockers of the day might have written.”—Martin Popoff, Contents Under Pressure

“‘Before and After’ is a solid track which begins with a somber guitar riff and a slow tempo. Lots of harmonics and clean chords. Distortion kicks in at about a minute, and once the verse kicks in, the song shifts tempo up a bit. Geddy’s vocals are varied, and the simple chorus (yeah . . . yeeeeaah) is quite effective. Alex unfolds another fantastic solo, which sounds perfectly in place with the rest of the song.”—Rush Appreciator XIII

Lyrics

Love won’t see me comin’
On a Sunday noon today
Still don’t believe we’re fadin’
But now the world should wait

And now you’re finally listenin’
To what I have to say
Well, the time is right
And it is today

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Maybe we could talk about it
And try to get it straight
After all these years, baby
Maybe it’s too late

But I really need to
Have you by my side
And that’s the only feelin’
Baby, I can’t hide

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well you aren’t listenin’
I ain’t talkin’
We ain’t gettin’ nowhere

I keep tryin’ to get through to you baby
All you do is stare

I don’t wanna see that
I need you by my side
Well, I don’t want to be your lover
Babe, I wanna be your man

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well, now my story’s over, baby
And I ain’t gonna tell it twice
Well, you better start listenin’
Or get out of my life

Or you’re gonna be left out
I said left out in the cold
Yeah, before you get my lovin’
Babe, you’ll be too old

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well, I’m talkin’ to you baby
Well, I said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Tablature

By Tony Zimmermann

Excerpted from Fretplay.

Gtr. 1 (clean elec.)
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Gtr. 2 (clean elec.)
—–0—————0—————0———0———————-
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—-13—————8—————6———1———————-
—-14—o//o——–9—o//o——–7—o//o–2—o//o—————
—-14—————9—————7———2———————-
—-12—————7—————5———0———————-
E(XII) Badd4 Aadd2 E
Double Gtr. 2 with 12-string Acoustic 2nd time
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————————-9———————————–
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–0—0——–0—0—–0———–0——————————–
–0——0—–0——0–0——-2—0——————————–
–x————x———6——-2—1——————————–
–4————6———7—6—4—2——————————–
–4————6———7—6——-2——————————–
–2————4———5—4——-0——————————–

==
———0—————-0————0——————–0———
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————8—————-8———–6———————6——
——-9——–9——-9———–7———7———-7———-7-
—–9——–9——9————7——–7———-7———–7—
–7—————7————-5——————5——————

For complete tab, go to Fretplay.