Blood on the Tracks (1975)
Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts
Bob Dylan
Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts
Testo
Testo
The festival was over,
the boys were all plannin’ for a fall
The cabaret was quiet
except for the drillin’ in the wall
The curfew had been lifted
and the gamblin’ wheel shut down
Anyone with any sense
had already left town
He was standin’ in the doorway
lookin’ like the Jack of Hearts
He moved across the mirrored room,
“Set it up for everyone,” he said
Then everyone commenced to do what they
were doin’ before he turned their heads
Then he walked up to a stranger
and he asked him with a grin
“Could you kindly tell me, friend,
what time the show begins?”
Then he moved into the corner,
face down like the Jack of Hearts
Backstage the girls were playin’
five-card stud by the stairs
Lily had two queens, she was hopin’
for a third to match her pair
Outside the streets were fillin’ up,
the window was open wide
A gentle breeze was blowin’,
you could feel it from inside
Lily called another bet
and drew up the Jack of Hearts
Big Jim was no one’s fool,
he owned the town’s only diamond mine
He made his usual entrance
lookin’ so dandy and so fine
With his bodyguards and silver cane
and every hair in place
He took whatever he wanted to
and he laid it all to waste
But his bodyguards and silver cane
were no match for the Jack of Hearts
Rosemary combed her hair
and took a carriage into town
She slipped in through the side door
lookin’ like a queen without a crown
She fluttered her false eyelashes
and whispered in his ear
“Sorry, darlin’, that I’m late,”
but he didn’t seem to hear
He was starin’ into space
over at the Jack of Hearts
“I know I’ve seen that face before,”
Big Jim was thinkin’ to himself
“Maybe down in Mexico or a picture
up on somebody’s shelf”
But then the crowd began to stamp their feet
and the houselights did dim
And in the darkness of the room
there was only Jim and him
Starin’ at the butterfly
who just drew the Jack of Hearts
Lily was a princess, she was fair-skinned
and precious as a child
She did whatever she had to do,
she had that certain flash every time she smiled
She’d come away from a broken home,
had lots of strange affairs
With men in every walk of life
which took her everywhere
But she’d never met anyone
quite like the Jack of Hearts
The hangin’ judge came in unnoticed
and was being wined and dined
The drillin’ in the wall kept up
but no one seemed to pay it any mind
It was known all around
that Lily had Jim’s ring
And nothing would ever come
between Lily and the king
No, nothin’ ever would except
maybe the Jack of Hearts
Rosemary started drinkin’ hard
and seein’ her reflection in the knife
She was tired of the attention,
tired of playin’ the role of Big Jim’s wife
She had done a lot of bad things,
even once tried suicide
Was lookin’ to do just one good deed
before she died
She was gazin’ to the future,
riding on the Jack of Hearts
Lily washed her face, took her dress off
and buried it away
“Has your luck run out?” she laughed at him,
“Well, I guess you must
have known it would someday
Be careful not to touch the wall,
there’s a brand-new coat of paint
I’m glad to see you’re still alive,
you’re lookin’ like a saint”
Down the hallway footsteps
were comin’ for the Jack of Hearts
The backstage manager was pacing
all around by his chair
“There’s something funny going on,” he said,
“I can just feel it in the air”
He went to get the hangin’ judge,
but the hangin’ judge was drunk
As the leading actor hurried
by in the costume of a monk
There was no actor anywhere
better than the Jack of Hearts
No one knew the circumstance
but they say that it happened pretty quick
The door to the dressing room burst open
and a cold revolver clicked
And Big Jim was standin’ there,
ya couldn’t say surprised
Rosemary right beside him,
steady in her eyes
She was with Big Jim
but she was leanin’ to the Jack of Hearts
Two doors down the boys
finally made it through the wall
And cleaned out the bank safe,
it’s said that they got off with quite a haul
In the darkness by the riverbed
they waited on the ground
For one more member
who had business back in town
But they couldn’t go no further
without the Jack of Hearts
The next day was hangin’ day,
the sky was overcast and black
Big Jim lay covered up,
killed by a penknife in the back
And Rosemary on the gallows,
she didn’t even blink
The hangin’ judge was sober,
he hadn’t had a drink
The only person on the scene
missin’ was the Jack of Hearts
The cabaret was empty now,
a sign said, “Closed for repair”
Lily had already taken
all of the dye out of her hair
She was thinkin’ ’bout her father,
who she very rarely saw
Thinkin’ ’bout Rosemary
and thinkin’ about the law
But most of all she was thinkin’
’bout the Jack of Hearts
the boys were all plannin’ for a fall
The cabaret was quiet
except for the drillin’ in the wall
The curfew had been lifted
and the gamblin’ wheel shut down
Anyone with any sense
had already left town
He was standin’ in the doorway
lookin’ like the Jack of Hearts
He moved across the mirrored room,
“Set it up for everyone,” he said
Then everyone commenced to do what they
were doin’ before he turned their heads
Then he walked up to a stranger
and he asked him with a grin
“Could you kindly tell me, friend,
what time the show begins?”
Then he moved into the corner,
face down like the Jack of Hearts
Backstage the girls were playin’
five-card stud by the stairs
Lily had two queens, she was hopin’
for a third to match her pair
Outside the streets were fillin’ up,
the window was open wide
A gentle breeze was blowin’,
you could feel it from inside
Lily called another bet
and drew up the Jack of Hearts
Big Jim was no one’s fool,
he owned the town’s only diamond mine
He made his usual entrance
lookin’ so dandy and so fine
With his bodyguards and silver cane
and every hair in place
He took whatever he wanted to
and he laid it all to waste
But his bodyguards and silver cane
were no match for the Jack of Hearts
Rosemary combed her hair
and took a carriage into town
She slipped in through the side door
lookin’ like a queen without a crown
She fluttered her false eyelashes
and whispered in his ear
“Sorry, darlin’, that I’m late,”
but he didn’t seem to hear
He was starin’ into space
over at the Jack of Hearts
“I know I’ve seen that face before,”
Big Jim was thinkin’ to himself
“Maybe down in Mexico or a picture
up on somebody’s shelf”
But then the crowd began to stamp their feet
and the houselights did dim
And in the darkness of the room
there was only Jim and him
Starin’ at the butterfly
who just drew the Jack of Hearts
Lily was a princess, she was fair-skinned
and precious as a child
She did whatever she had to do,
she had that certain flash every time she smiled
She’d come away from a broken home,
had lots of strange affairs
With men in every walk of life
which took her everywhere
But she’d never met anyone
quite like the Jack of Hearts
The hangin’ judge came in unnoticed
and was being wined and dined
The drillin’ in the wall kept up
but no one seemed to pay it any mind
It was known all around
that Lily had Jim’s ring
And nothing would ever come
between Lily and the king
No, nothin’ ever would except
maybe the Jack of Hearts
Rosemary started drinkin’ hard
and seein’ her reflection in the knife
She was tired of the attention,
tired of playin’ the role of Big Jim’s wife
She had done a lot of bad things,
even once tried suicide
Was lookin’ to do just one good deed
before she died
She was gazin’ to the future,
riding on the Jack of Hearts
Lily washed her face, took her dress off
and buried it away
“Has your luck run out?” she laughed at him,
“Well, I guess you must
have known it would someday
Be careful not to touch the wall,
there’s a brand-new coat of paint
I’m glad to see you’re still alive,
you’re lookin’ like a saint”
Down the hallway footsteps
were comin’ for the Jack of Hearts
The backstage manager was pacing
all around by his chair
“There’s something funny going on,” he said,
“I can just feel it in the air”
He went to get the hangin’ judge,
but the hangin’ judge was drunk
As the leading actor hurried
by in the costume of a monk
There was no actor anywhere
better than the Jack of Hearts
No one knew the circumstance
but they say that it happened pretty quick
The door to the dressing room burst open
and a cold revolver clicked
And Big Jim was standin’ there,
ya couldn’t say surprised
Rosemary right beside him,
steady in her eyes
She was with Big Jim
but she was leanin’ to the Jack of Hearts
Two doors down the boys
finally made it through the wall
And cleaned out the bank safe,
it’s said that they got off with quite a haul
In the darkness by the riverbed
they waited on the ground
For one more member
who had business back in town
But they couldn’t go no further
without the Jack of Hearts
The next day was hangin’ day,
the sky was overcast and black
Big Jim lay covered up,
killed by a penknife in the back
And Rosemary on the gallows,
she didn’t even blink
The hangin’ judge was sober,
he hadn’t had a drink
The only person on the scene
missin’ was the Jack of Hearts
The cabaret was empty now,
a sign said, “Closed for repair”
Lily had already taken
all of the dye out of her hair
She was thinkin’ ’bout her father,
who she very rarely saw
Thinkin’ ’bout Rosemary
and thinkin’ about the law
But most of all she was thinkin’
’bout the Jack of Hearts
Lily, Rosemary e il Jack di Cuori
Traduzione
Traduzione
Il festival era finito,
i ragazzi preparavano il loro attacco
Il cabaret era tranquillo
a parte per quel suono di trapano
il coprifuoco era stato annullato
e la roulette era ferma
Quelli con un briciolo di senso
avevano già lasciato la città
Lui era fermo sulla soglia
sembrava un Jack di Cuori
Si spostò nella sala degli specchi,
“Fate che accada a tutti,” disse
poi tutti cominciarono a fare quello che
stavano facendo prima di essersi voltati
Poi raggiunse uno straniero
e gli chiese con un ghigno
“potresti dirmi, amico,
a che ora inizia lo spettacolo?”
infine si mise in un angolo,
guardando in giù come il Jack di Cuori
Dietro le quinte le ragazze giocavano
a poker sulle scale
Lily aveva due regine, sperava
in una terza per completare il tris
fuori le strade di stavano riempiendo,
la finestra era spalancata
una dolce brezza soffiava,
potevi avvertirla stando dentro
Lily continuò il turno
ed estrasse il Jack di Cuori
Big Jim non era uno da lasciarsi fregare,
possedeva l'unica miniera di diamanti del paese
fece la sua classica entrata
era vestito bene e con classe
con guardie del corpo e bastone d'argento
e tutti i capelli in ordine
Prendeva quello che voleva
e poi lasciava che finisse tra i rifiuti
Ma le sue guardie del corpo e il suo bastone
non erano all'altezza del Jack di Cuori
Rosemary si pettinava i capelli
prese una carrozza fino in paese
entrò da una porticina laterale
sembrava una regina senza corona
sbattè le sue ciglia finte
e gli sussurrò in un orecchio
“Scusa, tesoro, ho fatto tardi,”
ma lui non sembrava ascoltare
guardava nel vuoto
verso il Jack di Cuori
“So di aver visto quella faccia prima,”
Big Jim pensava tra se
“Forse in Messico, o nel portafoto
sulla mensola di qualcuno”
Ma poi la folla cominciò a sbattere i piedi
e le luci si abbassarono
e nell'oscurità della stanza
c'erano solo Jim e lui
che guardavano la farfalla
che aveva appena estratto il Jack di Cuori
Lily era una principessa, con una pelle soffice
e preziosa come quella di un bambino
Faceva quello che doveva,
aveva quella luce ogni volta che sorrideva
era fuggita da una casa a pezzi,
e gestiva un sacco di affari bizzarri
con uomini di ogni età
che la portavano ovunque
ma non aveva mai incontrato nessuno
che assomigliasse al Jack di Cuori
Il giudice forcaiolo arrivò senza farsi notare
gli venne servito vino e una buona cena
il suono del trapano continuava
ma non sembrava importasse a nessuno
tutti sapevano
che Lily aveva l'anello di Jim
e non sarebbe successo nulla
tra Lily e il re
No, proprio nulla a parte
forse il Jack di Cuori
Rosemary cominciò a bere parecchio
e vedendo il suo riflesso sul coltello
si sentì stanca di tante attenzioni,
stanca di giocare alla moglie di Big Jim
aveva fatto un sacco di cose orrende,
una volta tentò addirittura il suicidio
voleva aver fatto almeno una cosa buona
prima di morire
guardava al futuro,
cavalcando il Jack di Cuori
Lily si lavò la faccia, e si tolse il vestito
nascondendolo
“Non hai pià fortuna?” gli disse ridendo,
“Beh, suppongo che sapevi
sarebbe successo un giorno
Stai attenta a non toccare il muro,
c'è una nuova mano di vernice
sono contento di vederti ancora viva,
sembri quasi una santa”
Giù nel salone si sentivano passi
arrivati apposta per il Jack di Cuori
Il direttore dello spettacolo camminava
intorno alla sua sedia
“C'è qualcosa di strano,” disse,
“lo avverto nell'aria”
andò a cercare il giudice forcaiolo,
ma questi era ubriaco
e mentre l'attore principale si affrettava
a mettersi il costume da monaco
non c'erano attori
migliori del Jack di Cuori
Nessuno sapeva dire come
ma tutti concordano che avvenne tutto in fretta
la porta negli spogliatoi si aprì di colpo
e un freddo revolver scattò
E Big Jim stava lì,
non posso dire sorpreso
Rosemary al suo fianco,
con gli occhi fissi
era con Big Jim
ma preferiva il Jack di Cuori
Due porte di sotte i ragazzi
riuscirò a forzare il muro
e ripulirono la cassaforte,
e se ne andarono con un bel gruzzolo
nell'oscurità del letto del fiume
attesero in terra
per un altro socio
che aveva degli affari in città
ma non riuscirono ad andarsene
senza il Jack di Cuori
Il giorno dopo era giorno d'impiccagione,
il cielo era coperto e oscuro
Big Jim era coperto,
ucciso da un coltello nella schiena
E Rosemary pendeva dalla forca,
non aveva nemmeno chiuso gli occhi
il giudice forcaiolo era sobrio,
non aveva toccato un bicchiere
l'unica persona che non fosse
sulla scena era il Jack di Cuori
Il cabaret era vuoto ora,
un cartello diceva, “Chiuso per lavori”
Lily aveva già tolto
il colore dai suoi capelli
Pensava a suo padre,
che vedeva molto raramente
Pensava a Rosemary
e alla legge
ma soprattutto pensava
al Jack di Cuori
i ragazzi preparavano il loro attacco
Il cabaret era tranquillo
a parte per quel suono di trapano
il coprifuoco era stato annullato
e la roulette era ferma
Quelli con un briciolo di senso
avevano già lasciato la città
Lui era fermo sulla soglia
sembrava un Jack di Cuori
Si spostò nella sala degli specchi,
“Fate che accada a tutti,” disse
poi tutti cominciarono a fare quello che
stavano facendo prima di essersi voltati
Poi raggiunse uno straniero
e gli chiese con un ghigno
“potresti dirmi, amico,
a che ora inizia lo spettacolo?”
infine si mise in un angolo,
guardando in giù come il Jack di Cuori
Dietro le quinte le ragazze giocavano
a poker sulle scale
Lily aveva due regine, sperava
in una terza per completare il tris
fuori le strade di stavano riempiendo,
la finestra era spalancata
una dolce brezza soffiava,
potevi avvertirla stando dentro
Lily continuò il turno
ed estrasse il Jack di Cuori
Big Jim non era uno da lasciarsi fregare,
possedeva l'unica miniera di diamanti del paese
fece la sua classica entrata
era vestito bene e con classe
con guardie del corpo e bastone d'argento
e tutti i capelli in ordine
Prendeva quello che voleva
e poi lasciava che finisse tra i rifiuti
Ma le sue guardie del corpo e il suo bastone
non erano all'altezza del Jack di Cuori
Rosemary si pettinava i capelli
prese una carrozza fino in paese
entrò da una porticina laterale
sembrava una regina senza corona
sbattè le sue ciglia finte
e gli sussurrò in un orecchio
“Scusa, tesoro, ho fatto tardi,”
ma lui non sembrava ascoltare
guardava nel vuoto
verso il Jack di Cuori
“So di aver visto quella faccia prima,”
Big Jim pensava tra se
“Forse in Messico, o nel portafoto
sulla mensola di qualcuno”
Ma poi la folla cominciò a sbattere i piedi
e le luci si abbassarono
e nell'oscurità della stanza
c'erano solo Jim e lui
che guardavano la farfalla
che aveva appena estratto il Jack di Cuori
Lily era una principessa, con una pelle soffice
e preziosa come quella di un bambino
Faceva quello che doveva,
aveva quella luce ogni volta che sorrideva
era fuggita da una casa a pezzi,
e gestiva un sacco di affari bizzarri
con uomini di ogni età
che la portavano ovunque
ma non aveva mai incontrato nessuno
che assomigliasse al Jack di Cuori
Il giudice forcaiolo arrivò senza farsi notare
gli venne servito vino e una buona cena
il suono del trapano continuava
ma non sembrava importasse a nessuno
tutti sapevano
che Lily aveva l'anello di Jim
e non sarebbe successo nulla
tra Lily e il re
No, proprio nulla a parte
forse il Jack di Cuori
Rosemary cominciò a bere parecchio
e vedendo il suo riflesso sul coltello
si sentì stanca di tante attenzioni,
stanca di giocare alla moglie di Big Jim
aveva fatto un sacco di cose orrende,
una volta tentò addirittura il suicidio
voleva aver fatto almeno una cosa buona
prima di morire
guardava al futuro,
cavalcando il Jack di Cuori
Lily si lavò la faccia, e si tolse il vestito
nascondendolo
“Non hai pià fortuna?” gli disse ridendo,
“Beh, suppongo che sapevi
sarebbe successo un giorno
Stai attenta a non toccare il muro,
c'è una nuova mano di vernice
sono contento di vederti ancora viva,
sembri quasi una santa”
Giù nel salone si sentivano passi
arrivati apposta per il Jack di Cuori
Il direttore dello spettacolo camminava
intorno alla sua sedia
“C'è qualcosa di strano,” disse,
“lo avverto nell'aria”
andò a cercare il giudice forcaiolo,
ma questi era ubriaco
e mentre l'attore principale si affrettava
a mettersi il costume da monaco
non c'erano attori
migliori del Jack di Cuori
Nessuno sapeva dire come
ma tutti concordano che avvenne tutto in fretta
la porta negli spogliatoi si aprì di colpo
e un freddo revolver scattò
E Big Jim stava lì,
non posso dire sorpreso
Rosemary al suo fianco,
con gli occhi fissi
era con Big Jim
ma preferiva il Jack di Cuori
Due porte di sotte i ragazzi
riuscirò a forzare il muro
e ripulirono la cassaforte,
e se ne andarono con un bel gruzzolo
nell'oscurità del letto del fiume
attesero in terra
per un altro socio
che aveva degli affari in città
ma non riuscirono ad andarsene
senza il Jack di Cuori
Il giorno dopo era giorno d'impiccagione,
il cielo era coperto e oscuro
Big Jim era coperto,
ucciso da un coltello nella schiena
E Rosemary pendeva dalla forca,
non aveva nemmeno chiuso gli occhi
il giudice forcaiolo era sobrio,
non aveva toccato un bicchiere
l'unica persona che non fosse
sulla scena era il Jack di Cuori
Il cabaret era vuoto ora,
un cartello diceva, “Chiuso per lavori”
Lily aveva già tolto
il colore dai suoi capelli
Pensava a suo padre,
che vedeva molto raramente
Pensava a Rosemary
e alla legge
ma soprattutto pensava
al Jack di Cuori
Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts
note e significato
note e significato
Forse a causa della lunghezza, Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts è stata cantata in concerto una sola volta. Secondo Joan Baez, Dylan le fece ascoltare una prima versione delle canzone, ispirando la stesura di Diamonds and Rust.
La seguente strofa, la dodicesima per essere precisi, viene cantata in diverse registrazioni non ufficiali di Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts ma non nella versione studio:
Lily’s arms were locked around the man
that she dearly loved to touch
She forgot all about the man
she couldn’t stand who hounded her so much
“I’ve missed you so,” she said to him,
and he felt she was sincere
But just beyond the door
he felt jealousy and fear
Just another night
in the life of the Jack of Hearts
Le braccia di Lily si stringevano intorno all'uomo
che amava così tanto poter toccare
Aveva dimenticato tutto dell'uomo
che non poteva sopportare tanto l'assillava
“Mi sei mancato tanto,” gli disse,
e lui capì che era sincera
Ma appena oltre la soglia
lui avvertì gelosia e paura
Una notte come tante
nella vita del Jack di Cuori
Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts
tablatura e accordi
tablatura e accordi
| D
The | festival was over, and
| G | D
The | boys were all plannin' for a | fall.
| D
The | cabaret was quiet,
| G | D
Ex - | cept for the drillin' in the | wall.
| G - D
The | curfew had been lifted and
| A - D
The | gamblin' wheel shut down,
G - D
Anyone with any sense,
| A - A
Had | a - ready left town.
| D
He was | standin' in the doorway
G - A | D | |
Lookin' like the Jack of Hear - | arts. | |
Verse 2
| D
He | moved across the mirrored room,
| G | D
"Set em up for everyone," he | said,
| D
Then | everyone commenced to do,
| G |
What | they'd been doin',
| G - | D
Be - fore he moved their | heads.
| G - D
Then he | walked up to a stranger, and
| A - D
He | asked him with a grin,
| G - D
"Could you | kindly tell me, mister,
|A A
What | time the show be - gins?"
| D
He | moved into the corner,
G - A | D | |
Face down like the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 3
| D
Back - stage the girls were playin'
|G | D
Five-card stud by the | stairs,
| D
Lily had two queens,
| G | D
She was | hopin' for a third,
| G |D
To match her | pair.
| G - D
Out - | side the streets were fillin' up, and
|A - D
A | window was open wide,
| G - D
A | gentle breeze was blowin',
A A
You could | feel it from in - side.
| D
Lily called a - nother bet, and
G - A | D | |
Drew up the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 4
| D
Big Jim was no one's fool,
| G | D
He owned the town's only diamond | mine,
| D
He | made his usual entrance,
| G | D
Lookin' all so dandy and so | fine.
| G - D
With his | bodyguards and silver cane, and
| A - D
Every hair in place,
|G - D
He | took whatever he wanted to, and
| A - A
He | laid it all to waste,.
| D
But his | bodyguards and his silver cane,
G - A | D | |
They were | no match for the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 5
| D
Rose - | mary co - ombed her hair, and
| G | D
Took the carriage into | town,
| D
She | slipped into the side door,
| G | D
Lookin' like a queen without a | crown.
| G - D
She | fluttered her false eyelashes and
| A - D
Whispered in his ear,
|G - D
"I'm | sorry, darlin', that I'm late,"
| A - A
But he | didn't seem to hear.
| D
He was | starin' into space,
G - A | D | |
Over at the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 6
| D
"Well I | know I've seen that face somewhere,"
| G | D
Big Jim was thinkin' to him - | self,
| D
"Maybe down in Mexico or
| G | D
A | picture up - on some - body's | shelf."
| G - D
But then the | crowd began to stamp their feet, and
| A - D
The | house lights did dim, and
G - D
In the darkness of the room,
| A - A
There was | only Jim and him,
| D
Starin' at the butterfly,
G - A | D | |
Who | just up drew up the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 7
| D
Lily was a princess,
| G | D
She was | fair-skinned and precious as a | child,
| D
She | had that certain something
| G |
Was a kind of a flash,,
| D
Every time she | smiled.
| G - D
She'd | come away from a broken home,
|A - D
Had | lots of strange af - fairs,
| G - D
With | men in every walk of life,
|A A
Who | took her every - where.
| D
But she'd | never met any - one
G - A | D | |
Quite like the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 8
| D |G
The | hangin' judge came in un - | noticed, and
|G | D
Was being wined and | dined,
| D
The | drillin' in the wall kept up,
| G | D
But | no one seemed to pay it any | mind.
| G - D
It was | known all a - round,
| A - D
That | Lily had Jim's ring, and
G - D
Nothing would ever come,
| A - A
Between | Lily and the king.
| D
No, | nothin' ever could,
G - A | D | |
Ex - | cept maybe the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 9
| D
Rosemary started drinkin' hard and
| G | D
Seein' her re - flection in the | knife,
| D
She was | tired of the at - tention,
| G | D
Tired of playin' the role of Big Jim's | wife.
| G - D
She had | done a lot of bad things,
| A - D
Even | once tried sui - cide,
|G - |A
Was | lookin' to do just one good | deed
- A
Before she died.
| D
She was | gazin' to the future,
G - A | D | |
Riding on the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 10
| D
Lily took her dress off,
| G | D
Buried it a - | way.
| D
"Has your | luck run out?" she laughed at him,
| G | D
"I | guess you must have known it would some - | day.
|G D
Be|careful not to touch the wall’
| A D
There’s a |brand-new coat of paint,
|G - D
I'm | glad to see you're still alive, and
| A - A
You're | lookin' like a saint."
| D
Down the hallway footsteps
|G - A | D | |
Were | comin' for the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 11
| D |G
The | Backstage manager was | pacin',
| G | D
All a - round by his | chair.
| D
"There's | somethin' funny going on,
| G | D
" I | know, I can just feel it in the | air."
| G - D
He | went to get the hangin' judge,
| A - D
But the | hangin' judge was drunk, and
|G - D
The | leading actor hurried by
| A - A
In the | costume of a monk.
| D
But there was no | actor any - where,
G - A | D | |
Better than the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 12
| D |G
Lili had her arms a - round the | man
| G | D
She dearly loved to | touch,
| D
She for - | got all a - bout the man,
| G | D
She | hated who hounded her so | much,
| G - D
I | missed you so she said to him, and
| A - D
He | thought she was sincere
|G - D
But | in the hallway he fou - ound
| A - A
Jealousy and fear
| D
Just another night in the |
G - A | D | |
life of the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 13
| D
No one knew the circumstance
| G | D
But | they say that it happened pretty | quick,
| D |G
The | door to the dressing room burst | open and
| G | D
A cold revolver | clicked, and
| G - D
Big Jim was standin' there,
| A - D
You | couldn't say sur - prised,
|G - D
Rose - | mary right be - side him,
|A - A
Steady in her eyes.
| D
She was | with Big Jim,
G - |A | D | |
But she was | leanin' to the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 14
| D
Two doors down and the | boys,
| G | D
Finally made it through the | wall, and
| D
They | cleaned out the bank safe,
| G | D
Said they got off with quite a | haul, and
| G - D
In the | darkness of the riverbed,
| A - D
They | waited on the ground,
|G - D
For | one more member,
| A - A
Who had | business back in town.
| D
But they | couldn't go no further,
G - A | D | |
With - out the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 15
| D
Well the | next day was hangin' day,
| G | D
The | sky was overcast and | black,
| D
Big Jim lay covered up,
| G | D
Killed by a penknife in the | back, and
| G - D
Rose - | mary on the gallows,
| A - D
Lord she | didn't even blink,
|G - D
The | hangin' judge was sober,
| A - A
Lord, he | hadn't had a drink and,
| D
The | only person on the scene
G - A | D | |
Missing was the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 16
| D
Well the | cabaret was quiet now, and
| G | D
A | sign said, "Closed for re - | pair,"
| D
Lily had already taken | all of the dye
| G | D
Out of her | hair.
| G - D
She was | thinkin' about her father,
| A - D
Who she | very rarely saw,
G - D
Thinkin' about Rosemary, and
|A - A
Thinkin' about the law.
| D |G
But, | most of a - all she was | thinkin'
- A | D | |
About the Jack of Hear - | arts.
The | festival was over, and
| G | D
The | boys were all plannin' for a | fall.
| D
The | cabaret was quiet,
| G | D
Ex - | cept for the drillin' in the | wall.
| G - D
The | curfew had been lifted and
| A - D
The | gamblin' wheel shut down,
G - D
Anyone with any sense,
| A - A
Had | a - ready left town.
| D
He was | standin' in the doorway
G - A | D | |
Lookin' like the Jack of Hear - | arts. | |
Verse 2
| D
He | moved across the mirrored room,
| G | D
"Set em up for everyone," he | said,
| D
Then | everyone commenced to do,
| G |
What | they'd been doin',
| G - | D
Be - fore he moved their | heads.
| G - D
Then he | walked up to a stranger, and
| A - D
He | asked him with a grin,
| G - D
"Could you | kindly tell me, mister,
|A A
What | time the show be - gins?"
| D
He | moved into the corner,
G - A | D | |
Face down like the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 3
| D
Back - stage the girls were playin'
|G | D
Five-card stud by the | stairs,
| D
Lily had two queens,
| G | D
She was | hopin' for a third,
| G |D
To match her | pair.
| G - D
Out - | side the streets were fillin' up, and
|A - D
A | window was open wide,
| G - D
A | gentle breeze was blowin',
A A
You could | feel it from in - side.
| D
Lily called a - nother bet, and
G - A | D | |
Drew up the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 4
| D
Big Jim was no one's fool,
| G | D
He owned the town's only diamond | mine,
| D
He | made his usual entrance,
| G | D
Lookin' all so dandy and so | fine.
| G - D
With his | bodyguards and silver cane, and
| A - D
Every hair in place,
|G - D
He | took whatever he wanted to, and
| A - A
He | laid it all to waste,.
| D
But his | bodyguards and his silver cane,
G - A | D | |
They were | no match for the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 5
| D
Rose - | mary co - ombed her hair, and
| G | D
Took the carriage into | town,
| D
She | slipped into the side door,
| G | D
Lookin' like a queen without a | crown.
| G - D
She | fluttered her false eyelashes and
| A - D
Whispered in his ear,
|G - D
"I'm | sorry, darlin', that I'm late,"
| A - A
But he | didn't seem to hear.
| D
He was | starin' into space,
G - A | D | |
Over at the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 6
| D
"Well I | know I've seen that face somewhere,"
| G | D
Big Jim was thinkin' to him - | self,
| D
"Maybe down in Mexico or
| G | D
A | picture up - on some - body's | shelf."
| G - D
But then the | crowd began to stamp their feet, and
| A - D
The | house lights did dim, and
G - D
In the darkness of the room,
| A - A
There was | only Jim and him,
| D
Starin' at the butterfly,
G - A | D | |
Who | just up drew up the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 7
| D
Lily was a princess,
| G | D
She was | fair-skinned and precious as a | child,
| D
She | had that certain something
| G |
Was a kind of a flash,,
| D
Every time she | smiled.
| G - D
She'd | come away from a broken home,
|A - D
Had | lots of strange af - fairs,
| G - D
With | men in every walk of life,
|A A
Who | took her every - where.
| D
But she'd | never met any - one
G - A | D | |
Quite like the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 8
| D |G
The | hangin' judge came in un - | noticed, and
|G | D
Was being wined and | dined,
| D
The | drillin' in the wall kept up,
| G | D
But | no one seemed to pay it any | mind.
| G - D
It was | known all a - round,
| A - D
That | Lily had Jim's ring, and
G - D
Nothing would ever come,
| A - A
Between | Lily and the king.
| D
No, | nothin' ever could,
G - A | D | |
Ex - | cept maybe the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 9
| D
Rosemary started drinkin' hard and
| G | D
Seein' her re - flection in the | knife,
| D
She was | tired of the at - tention,
| G | D
Tired of playin' the role of Big Jim's | wife.
| G - D
She had | done a lot of bad things,
| A - D
Even | once tried sui - cide,
|G - |A
Was | lookin' to do just one good | deed
- A
Before she died.
| D
She was | gazin' to the future,
G - A | D | |
Riding on the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 10
| D
Lily took her dress off,
| G | D
Buried it a - | way.
| D
"Has your | luck run out?" she laughed at him,
| G | D
"I | guess you must have known it would some - | day.
|G D
Be|careful not to touch the wall’
| A D
There’s a |brand-new coat of paint,
|G - D
I'm | glad to see you're still alive, and
| A - A
You're | lookin' like a saint."
| D
Down the hallway footsteps
|G - A | D | |
Were | comin' for the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 11
| D |G
The | Backstage manager was | pacin',
| G | D
All a - round by his | chair.
| D
"There's | somethin' funny going on,
| G | D
" I | know, I can just feel it in the | air."
| G - D
He | went to get the hangin' judge,
| A - D
But the | hangin' judge was drunk, and
|G - D
The | leading actor hurried by
| A - A
In the | costume of a monk.
| D
But there was no | actor any - where,
G - A | D | |
Better than the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 12
| D |G
Lili had her arms a - round the | man
| G | D
She dearly loved to | touch,
| D
She for - | got all a - bout the man,
| G | D
She | hated who hounded her so | much,
| G - D
I | missed you so she said to him, and
| A - D
He | thought she was sincere
|G - D
But | in the hallway he fou - ound
| A - A
Jealousy and fear
| D
Just another night in the |
G - A | D | |
life of the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 13
| D
No one knew the circumstance
| G | D
But | they say that it happened pretty | quick,
| D |G
The | door to the dressing room burst | open and
| G | D
A cold revolver | clicked, and
| G - D
Big Jim was standin' there,
| A - D
You | couldn't say sur - prised,
|G - D
Rose - | mary right be - side him,
|A - A
Steady in her eyes.
| D
She was | with Big Jim,
G - |A | D | |
But she was | leanin' to the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 14
| D
Two doors down and the | boys,
| G | D
Finally made it through the | wall, and
| D
They | cleaned out the bank safe,
| G | D
Said they got off with quite a | haul, and
| G - D
In the | darkness of the riverbed,
| A - D
They | waited on the ground,
|G - D
For | one more member,
| A - A
Who had | business back in town.
| D
But they | couldn't go no further,
G - A | D | |
With - out the Jack of Hear - | arts.
Verse 15
| D
Well the | next day was hangin' day,
| G | D
The | sky was overcast and | black,
| D
Big Jim lay covered up,
| G | D
Killed by a penknife in the | back, and
| G - D
Rose - | mary on the gallows,
| A - D
Lord she | didn't even blink,
|G - D
The | hangin' judge was sober,
| A - A
Lord, he | hadn't had a drink and,
| D
The | only person on the scene
G - A | D | |
Missing was the Jack of Hear - | arts
Verse 16
| D
Well the | cabaret was quiet now, and
| G | D
A | sign said, "Closed for re - | pair,"
| D
Lily had already taken | all of the dye
| G | D
Out of her | hair.
| G - D
She was | thinkin' about her father,
| A - D
Who she | very rarely saw,
G - D
Thinkin' about Rosemary, and
|A - A
Thinkin' about the law.
| D |G
But, | most of a - all she was | thinkin'
- A | D | |
About the Jack of Hear - | arts.