The Word Bass

by The Beatles
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Capo: no capo
Author PJVILL [a] 8,472. Last edit on Feb 13, 2014
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----------------------------------------------------------
 
      THE BEATLES - THE WORD (Lennon/McCartney) From RUBBER SOUL
                    album. Released on December, 3rd, 1965.
 
      ----------------------------------------------------------
 
      Bass tab by:PJVillanueva
 
 
 
 
 
     Paul's bass sounds very good and his playing is simply great.
     He surely used his Hofner violin bass in this recording, but
     the sound is so pasty and deep, and it is so present in the
     mix, that I wonder how first engineer, Norman Smith, got it.
     It's impressive. Bass and drums did sound better in RUBBER
     SOUL than they had done in HELP. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU, YOU
     WON'T SEE ME, WHAT GOES ON or THE WORD are good examples, but
     this track is the best sounding. Paul gives his part a groovy
     flavor and plays some fantastic flourishes (01:14, 02:21).
     His vocal part is also doubled and split to both sides and he
     can be heard distinctly singing in his usual black vein. This,
     added to his playing, gives us a curious flash, doesn't it?
 
 
 
 
 
     Say the word and you'll be free
     Say the word and be like me
     Say the word I'm thinking of
     Have you heard? The word is love
     It's so fine, it's sunshine
     It's the word, Love.
 
     In the beginning I misunderstood
     But now I got it, the word is good.
 
     Spread the word and you'll be free
     Spread the word and be like me
     Spread the word I'm thinking of
     Have you heard? The word is love
     It's so fine, it's sunshine
     It's the word, Love.
 
     Everywhere I go I hear it said
     In the good and the bad books that I have read.
 
     Say the word and you'll be free
     Say the word and be like me
     Say the word I'm thinking of
     Have you heard? The word is love
     It's so fine, it's sunshine
     It's the word, Love.
 
     Now that I know that for you must be right
     I mean to show everybody the light.
 
     Give the word a chance to say
     That the word is just the way
     It's the word I'm thinking of
     And the only word is love
     It's so fine, It's sunshine
     It's the word, love
 
     Say the word, love
     Say the word, love
     Say the word, love
     Say the word, love.
 
 
 
 
                                                     PIANO INTRO
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------3-4|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
                                                             Say the
 
 
    CHORUS
    00:05
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------3-4|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                and you'll  free                    say the
                                 be 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|----------------------------0-3|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-3-0---0----------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                and be      me                      say the
                                 like
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|5---5-------5---0---0-------0-3|5---5-------5-3-0---0----------|
   A|-------------------------------|------------------------3---0--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                I'm thinking                        Have
                                   of                            you
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5P0-0---0-------0H3|5---5-------5-3-0---0---3---0--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     heard?              the word    love                        It's
                                 is
 
 
     00:21
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|------------7------------------|------------5------------------|
   A|0---5---7----------------------|----3---5----------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|3------------------------------|
     so          fine                sunshine                It's
                                 it's                            the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5P0-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5---0---0----------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
    word                            Love.
 
 
 
     VERSE
     00:28
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-------5-------5------|3-------3-------3-------3------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
         In  the beginning       I   misunderstood,
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- ----5--|
   D|3-------3-------3-------3------|5-------5-------7------/7------|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
         but now I   got it      the word        good.       Spread
                                         is                      the
 
 
     CHORUS
     00:36
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-----------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-x-0---0-------3-4|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                and you'll  free                    spread
                                 be                              the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|----------------------------0-3|
   A|5---5-------5---0---0-------0-3|5---5-------5-3-0---0----------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                and be      me                      spread
                                 like                            the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|5---5-------5P0-0---0-------3--|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------3--|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                I'm thinking                        Have
                                     of                          you
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------0-3|5---5---3----------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|----------------5---5---3------|
     heard?              the word    love                        It's
                                 is
 
 
     00:52
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|------------7------------------|------------5------------------|
   A|----5---7----------------------|----3---5----------------------|
   E|5------------------------------|3------------------------------|
     so          fine                sunshine                It's
                                 it's                            the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-----------5-x-0---0-------0-3|5---5-------5-3-0---0----------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                            Love.
 
 
 
    VERSE
    00:59
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-------5-------5------|3-------3-------3-------3------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
         Everywhere  go          I   hear        said
                 I                       it
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- ----5--|
   D|3-------3-------3-------3------|5-------5-------5-----5/7------|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
         In  good the    books   that    have    read.       Say the
           the and   bad             I
 
 
    CHORUS
    01:07
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-----------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-3-0---0---3---0--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                and you'll  free                    say the
                                 be
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ----5-- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|--------------3-5/7---7\5-3----|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------0-3|5---5-------5---------------5--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                and be      me                      say the
                                 like 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|5---5-------5---0---0-------0-3|5---5-------5-3-0---0----------|
   A|-------------------------------|------------------------0---0--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                I'm thinking                        Have
                                   of                            you
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------0-3|5---5---3----------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|----------------5---5---3------|
     heard?              the word    love                        It's
                                 is
 
 
     01:23
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|------------7------------------|------------5------------------|
   A|----5---7----------------------|----3---5----------------------|
   E|5------------------------------|3------------------------------|
     so          fine                sunshine                It's
                                 it's                            the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-----------5P0-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5---0---0----------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                            Love.
 
 
 
     VERSE
     01:31
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-------5-------5------|3-------3-------3-------3------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
         Now     that        that  for   must    be  right
                   I know            you
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- 5------|
   D|3-------3-------3-------3------|5-------5-------5-/-7----------|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
         I   mean    show    everybody       the light.      Give
                 to                                              the
 
 
 
     CHORUS
     01:38
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-----------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-3-0---0---3---4--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                a   chance  say                     that
                                 to                              the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------0-3|5---5---3----------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|----------------5---5---3------|
     word                is just the way                     It's
                                                                 the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|5---5-------5---0---0-------0-3|5---5-------5-3-0---0----------|
   A|-------------------------------|------------------------3---5--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                I'm thinking                        and the
                                   of
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------0-3|5---5---3----------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|----------------5---5---3------|
     only                    word    love.                       It's
                                 is
 
 
     01:44
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|------------7------------------|------------5------------------|
   A|----5---7----------------------|----3---5----------------------|
   E|5------------------------------|3------------------------------|
     so          fine,           It's                        It's
                                     sunshine                    the
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-----------5-3-0---0-------3-4|5---5-------5-3-0---0-------0--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                            love.
 
 
 
     INTERLUDE
     02:02
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-------5-------5------|3-------3-------3-------3------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ----5\- ----5--|
   D|3-------3-------3-------3------|5-------5-------5/7-----5/7----|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 
 
 
     02:10
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-----3-0---0---3---4--|5-------5-----5-0---0---3---4--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
                                                             Say the
 
 
    CODA
    02:14
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|----------------------------3--|
   A|5-------5-----0-0---0---3---4--|5-------5-----3-0---3---5------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                            Love                    Say the
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ----5-- -------|
   D|5-------5-----5-0---0---3---4--|5-------5---3---5/7---7\5-3----|
   A|-------------------------------|----------------------------5--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                            Love                    Say the
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5---5---5---3---0---0---3---4--|5---5-------5-3-0---0---3---0--|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     word                            Love                    Say the
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|------------7------------------|------------5------------------|
   A|----5---7----------------------|----3---5----------------------|
   E\5------------------------------|3------------------------------|
     word
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-----3-0---0---3---4--|5-------5-----3-0-------0------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     Love.
 
 
 
     02:34
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   A|5-------5-------5-------5------|3-------3-------3-------3------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     .......................... Fade out ...........................
 
 
 
 
   G|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
   D|3-------3-------3-------3------|5-------5----------------------|
   A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
   E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
     .........................................
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        B  Bend
        R  Release
        /  slide up
        \  slide down
        H  hammer-on
        P  pull-off
        ~  vibrato
        +  harmonic
        x  Mute note
        . - play note like a dot in standard notation
        ^ - ties two notes together
        (.  Pause
X
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The Word – The Beatles
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3 comments
basseologist
just wondering, but why do you think that the hofner was used on it. listening back i thought it was the rickenbacker. please reply, -basseologist
+1
PJVILL
I read on "The Beatles Gear" that the Rickenbacker bass was given to Paul in 1965, but most photografs of the period show Paul with his Hofner until 1967. Of course he could have used his Rick before that date in the studio.
0
basseologist
thanks, i think i will buy that book. and your tabs are great i always look for PJVILL when i get beatles tabs. thanks! -basseologist
0