Jokerman Bob Dylan
In the key of Bb major on the album, but played in A live, which is
much more comfortable. the following version is with a capo on the
first fret. The following chords for the first lines work quite well:
Here's a recording of it
[A]Standing on the waters [Amaj7]casting your bread
While the [Bm/A]eyes of the idol with the [E/A]iron head are [A]glowing.
[A]Distant ships sailing [Amaj7]into the mist,
You were [Bm/A]born with a snake in [E/A]both of your fists while a hurricane was [A]blowing.
[Bm]Freedom [E]just around the corner for [A]you
But with [Bm]truth so far off,[E] what good will it do?[A] [D]
[E]Jokerman dance to the [D]nightingale tune,
[A]Bird fly [/G#]high by the [F#m]light of the [D]moon,
[A(/C#)]Oh, [D]oh, [E]oh, [A]Jokerman.
So swiftly the sun sets in the sky,
You rise up and say goodbye to no one.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one.
Shedding off one more layer of skin,
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds,
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister.
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah,
But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister.
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame,
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy,
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers.
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed,
Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features.
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space,
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh. oh. oh. Jokerman.
Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame,
Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain.
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks,
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain,
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin,
Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray,
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet.
He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat,
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot.
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants,
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
The lyrics of the outtake version:
Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing.
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing.
Freedom just around the corner for you
But with truth so far off, what good will it do?
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
So swiftly the sun sets in the sky,
You rise up and say goodbye to no one.
No store-bought shirt for you on your back
One of the women must sit in the shack and sew one.
Shedding off one more layer of skin,
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds,
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister.
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah,
But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want to marry your sister.
Scratching the world with a fine-tooth comb
You're a king among nations, you're a stranger at home
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy,
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers.
No crystal ball do you need on your shelf
Michelangelo himself could have carved out your features.
So drunk, standing in the middle of the street
Directing traffic with a small dog at your feet.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Well, the Preacherman talkin' 'bout the deaf and the dumb
and a world to come that's already been predetermined.
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks,
Molotov cocktails and rocks can't drown out your sermon.
You let the wicked walk right into a trap.
You give away all the good things that fall in your lap.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray,
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and she's dressed in scarlet.
He'll turn priests into pimps that make old men bark
Take a woman who could have been Joan of Arc
And turn her into a harlot.
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants,
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response.
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Another version
I was never too happy with the single guitar version when I played it myself. Then, one day, on my way from work, I was humming Jokerman and Moonlight at the same time, and something clicked (to be played with two beats to a chord):
|: A . Bbo . Bm7 . E7 . :|
A Bbo Bm7 Co
Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the [A/C#]eyes [/E]of the [F#]idol with the[Bm7] iron [E7]head are [A]glowing.[D/A] [A] [E+]
A Bbo Bm7 Co
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
A/C# /E F# Bm7 E7 A D/A A Bbo
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing.
Bm /A-g#-f# E /F# /G /G# A D/A A Bbo
Freedom just around the corner for you
Bm /A -g#-f# E /F# /G /G# A /G# A7/G F#7
But with truth so far off, what good will it do?
[Bm7]Jokerman dance to the [E7-9]nightingale tune,
[A]Bird fly [G]high by the [F#]light of the [F#7]moon,
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem - dylanchords.info
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