Rush: Cygnus X-1
From the album A Farewell to Kings (Mercury Records)
Copyright 1977 Core Music Publishing
Music by Lee, Lifeson and Peart
Lyrics by Peart

Comments/corrections to Jimmy Pena <jimmy@walrus.com>

Transcribed by Jimmy Pena and Blake Butterworth


Chord legend:

A   : [x0222x]
G   : [320033]
C   : [x3555x]
F   : [xx3211]
D   : [xx0232]
Cm  : [x35543]
Ab  : [466544]


[Intro]
   N.C.
e:---------------|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|
B:---------------|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|
G:---------------|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|
D:-------------5-|------------5-5b-|-------------5-|-------------5-5-5b-|
A:----7---5------|----7--5---------|----7--5-------|----7--5------------|
E:-0---------7---|-0--------7------|-0--------7----|-0--------7---------|

[Riff 1a]                            [Riff 1b]
   A5                                C5
e:---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G:-2-2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2-|-5-5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5|
D:-2-------------------------------|-5------------------------------|
A:-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3--|
E:---------------------------------|--------------------------------|

                                [Riff 2b]
[Riff 2a]                          C
   C5                              +--3--+   +--3--+
e:-----------------------------|---8--8--8---8--8--8--------------|
B:-----------------------------|---8--8--8---8--8--8--------------|
G:-5-5-5-5---5-5-5-5--5-5------|---9--9--9---9--9--9--------------|
D:-5-5-5-5---5-5-5-5--5-5------|---10-10-10--10-10-10-------------|
A:-3-3-3-3---3-3-3-3--3-3------|---10-10-10--10-10-10-------------|
E:-----------------------------|---8--8--8---8--8--8--------------|

[Riff 3]
   D5 C#5 B4    B5  F#7sus4                 Asus2
e:--------0~----------0~----------0~~~--|----0~---------------------|
B:--------0~----------0~----------0~~~--|----0~---------------------|
G:--7--6--4~--5--4----3~----7--6--4--5--|----2~---------------------|
D:--7--6--4~--5--4----4~----7--6--4--5--|----2~---------------------|
A:--5--4--2~--3--2----4~----5--4--2--3--|----0~---------------------|
E:--------------------2~----------------|---------------------------|

[Riff 4a]               [Riff 4b]             [Riff 4c]
   C#m        Em         Ab         G Ab  G     Ab        G
e:--------------------|----------------------|--4-4--4~---3-3--3~-|
B:--5-5--5~---8-8--8~-|--4--4-4~----3--4--3--|--4-4--4~---3-3--3~-|
G:--6-6--6~---9-9--9~-|--5--5-5~----4--5--4--|--5-5--5~---4-4--4~-|
D:--6-6--6~---9-9--9~-|--6--6-6~----5--6--5--|--6-6--6~---5-5--5~-|
A:--4-4--4~---7-7--7~-|--6--6-6~----5--6--5--|--6-6--6~---5-5--5~-|
E:--------------------|--4--4-4~----3--4--3--|--4-4--4~---3-3--3~-|

[Riff 5a]                              [Riff 5b]
   C#m    +-3-+   Em    +-3-+            Ab    +-3-+   G     +-3-+
e:------------------------------------|--4--4--4-4-4---3--3--3-3-3-|
B:--5--5--5-5-5---8--8--8-8-8---------|--4--4--4-4-4---3--3--3-3-3-|
G:--6--6--6-6-6---9--9--9-9-9---------|--5--5--5-5-5---4--4--4-4-4-|
D:--6--6--6-6-6---9--9--9-9-9---------|--6--6--6-6-6---5--5--5-5-5-|
A:--4--4--4-4-4---7--7--7-7-7---------|--6--6--6-6-6---5--5--5-5-5-|
E:------------------------------------|--4--4--4-4-4---3--3--3-3-3-|

[Riff 6a]
     Cm              Bm F#                   Ebm             Dm
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:---4--4-4--4-4--4-4-3-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2--7--7-7--7-7--7-7-6------|
G:o--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3--8--8-8--8-8--8-8-7-----o|
D:o--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4--8--8-8--8-8--8-8-7-----o|
A:---3--3-3--3-3--3-3-2-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4--6--6-6--6-6--6-6-5------|
E:----------------------2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2--------------------------|

[Riff 6b]
e:------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--4--4-4--4-4--4-4-3-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2----|
G:--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3----|
D:--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4----|
A:--3--3-3--3-3--3-3-2-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4----|
E:---------------------2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2----|

Song progression:

[Misc sound effects]

[Spoken]:

In this constellation of Cygnus
There lurks a mysterious, invisible force
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1.
Six Stars of the Northern Cross
In mourning for their sister's loss
In a final flash of glory
Nevermore to grace the night...

[Intro] x4 (after fade-in repeats and drum/bass intro)

[Riff 1a] x1
[Riff 1b] x1
[Riff 1a] x1

[Riff 2a] x1

[Riff 3] x2 (no Asus2 second time)

[Riff 4a] x1
[Riff 4b] x1
[Riff 4a] x1

(tacet during drum fill)

[Riff 4a] x1
[Riff 4b] x1
[Riff 4a] x1

[Fill 1]:
e:---------------------------|
B:---------------------------|
G:---------------------------|
D:---------------------------|
A:-------2~-3~s5~-6~s9~-10~--|
E:--3~-4~--------------------|

[Riff 6a] x9
[Riff 6b] x1

Invisible to telescopic eye.
Infinity, the star that would not die.

 A                         [Riff 2a] x1
All who dare to cross her course

      A                     [Riff 2a] x1
are swallowed by a fearsome force,

[Fill 2] x2 /w lyrics:
e:-------0~--------0--------------0~--------0------------------------|
B:-------0~------0---0------------0~------0---0------------0~--------|
G:-7--6--4~----4---------5--4-----3~----3---------7-6-4-5--2~--------|
D:-7--6--4~--4-----------5--4-----4~--4-----------7-6-4-5--2~--------|
A:-5--4--2~--------------3--2-----4~--------------5-4-2-3--0~--------|
E:--------------------------------2~---------------------------------|

Through the void, to be destroyed, or is there something more?
Atomized at the core, or through the Astral Door,

 G  G
to soar...

Play: C~ F~ D~ G~, then:

e:------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-9~---10~---7~----12b14r12~---------------------------------------|
D:------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:------------------------------------------------------------------|

                   [133211]
   C                  F           D              G
I set a course just east of Lyra,   northwest of Pegasus.
             [133211]
  C             F             D                   G
Flew into the light of Deneb,   sailed across the Milky Way.
              [133211]
 C               F          D                    G
On my ship, the Rocinante, wheeling through the galaxies,
              [133211]
 C               F              D              G
headed for the heart of Cygnus,   headlong into mystery.

    G
e:-------------------------------------------------|
B:--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3-------------|
G:--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4-------------|
D:--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5-------------|
A:--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5-------------|
E:--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3-------------|

     Cm
The X-ray is her siren song;

    Ab
my ship cannot resist her long.

  F                      [Riff 4c] x1                 [Begin Solo]
Nearer to my deadly goal until the Black Hole gains control.

[Guitar Solo] /w wah-wah pedal

e:-20~-20-20-18-17--------------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------20-18-18~--20-18-17~-----------------------------|
G:--------------------------------------12-12-13-13-14-14-15-15-16--|
D:------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:------------------------------------------------------------------|

e:--------------------20-18-17------17-----------------------------|
B:------------------------------20-----20--18~\--------------------|
G:-16-17-17b19~~r17-----------------------------------14--------12-|
D:----------------------------------------------12-12----12--10----|
A:-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------------------------|

e:-----------------------------------------------------|-10~-15~-18~|
B:-----------------------------------------------------|------------|
G:-----------------------------------------------------|------------|
D:-------10~\-----15p13p12---------------------/17\----|------------|
A:--------------------------15p13p12-------------------|------------|
E:-------------------------------------14--14----------|------------|
                                                            /\
[Riff 4c] x1, then end of solo (/w wah-wah) ----------------||


[Interlude] - This tab assumes that this section begins right at the last
        Cm chord of the solo
     C
e:----------------------------------------------------------|
B:----------------------------------------------------------|
G:o--------------------------------------------------------o|
D:o---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---o|
A:----------------------------------------------------------|
E:---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8------|

    Ab          B
e:----------------------------------------------|
B:----------------------------------------------|
G:o--------------------------------------------o|
D:o---6----6------9---9-----10--10--10--10-----o|
A:----------------------------------------------|
E:--4----4------7---7-----8---8---8---8---------|

e:------------------------------------------|
B:------------------------------------------|
G:o----------------------------------------o|
D:o---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--o|
A:------------------------------------------|
E:---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-----|

e:-----------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------|
G:o---------------------------------------------o|
D:o---6----6------9---9-----10--10--10--10------o|
A:-----------------------------------------------|
E:--4----4------7---7-----8---8---8---8----------|

e:-----------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------|
G:-----------------------------------------|
D:---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---|
A:-----------------------------------------|
E:--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-----|

                       [bass and drums fill on 2nd repeat]
e:-----------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------|
G:o---------------------------------------------o|
D:o---6----6------9---9-----10--10--10--10------o|
A:-----------------------------------------------|
E:--4----4------7---7-----8---8---8---8----------|

e:-----------------------------------------|-----------------|
B:-----------------------------------------|-----------------|
G:o---------------------------------------o|-----------------|
D:o--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--o|----10-10--------|
A:-----------------------------------------|-----------------|
E:--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-----|---8--8----------|

                   Bb      A       Ab  G   F#  F
e:-------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------|
D:---9---9---9---9---8---8---7---7---6---5---4---3-|
A:-------------------------------------------------|
E:-7---7---7---7---6---6---5---5---4---3---2---1---|

[Repeat 8 times]            [Repeat 4 times]
    E                             F#
e:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
G:o-----------------------o|o---------------------------o|
D:o---2~----------2-------o|o-------4~-----------4------o|
A:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
E:--0~---0-0--0-0---0------|----2~------2-2--2-2---2-----|


[Block 1]:
                 _
[Riff 4a] x1      |
[Riff 4c] x1      |
[Riff 4a] x1      |----repeat this whole block four times
[Riff 2b] x1     _|

[Block 1] x1 /w lyrics:

Spinning, whirling, still descending, like a spiral sea, unending!!!

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2b] x1

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2a] x1

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2b] x1

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2a] x1

Continue 1x With lyrics:

Sound and fury drown my heart, every nerve is torn apart!!!!!

Wallop C repeatedly

End on Cm

Strum while fading out:

   Cm         Ebm     Em(addF#) Em
e:--3----------6----------0-----0-|
B:--4----------7----------0-----0-|  (fade out on 3rd repeat)
G:--5----------8----------0-----0-|
D:--5----------8----------4-----2-|
A:--3----------6----------2-----2-|
E:------------------------0-----0-|


This is not wholly original. The solo was taken from a previous version
of the tab, done by Blake Butterworth <butterwo@rex.cs.tulane.edu>.
The rest of it appears similar, but that's just because it was mostly
done right the first time. I have included it here because it appears to
be correct, and my purpose is to merge all previous versions to make the
most comprehensive and correct tab, not necessarily an original version.
Standard tuning [EADGBe] (low to high). The key is C.

Jimmy Pena - jimmy@walrus.com

| = not a standard bar line; just used to separate music
~ = vibrato or held note
h = hammer on
p = pull off
s = slide
b = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret
r = release bend to indicated string/fret
/ = slide up from infinity
\ = slide down into infinity
o  \_
o  /   repeat sign (always look for these!)
[x35553] = fret box; this is a C chord - this is the same as standard
  tablature, only turned on its side. Tilt your head clockwise to read.
+-3-+ = this is a triplet indicator