Jackson C. Frank - Jimmy Clay
This song seems to be a bit obscure. It was originally written by Patrick Sky on his
Album "Reality is Bad Enough" and covered by Frank on the John Peel show in 68. Said
version made its way online sometime ago. Itīs a great song, in my opinion one of the
best protest songs of the vietnam era.
This version is a bit of a mixture of both versions, Jackson simplified it a bit, but I
based the lyrics off his version anyway.
I'm not sure about that weird esus7/4 (021200) chord. Itīs what a chord book I have
tells me it is and it seems to fit best. Also, itīs best to play the F as a barre chord.
Tuning: Standard
Capo on the 5th fret (or 3rd in Patrick Skyīs version)
Starts in Am
Dm G Am
As you walk down the street, who will follow you?
Dm G Am
Six o'clock, the hourīs getting late.
Dm G Am
The moon it is rising as the sticky dew
F G Am
Mold is on the ground by the gate.
With your rifle on your shoulder as you walk along
Listening to your boot-heels hit the sod
Smoking a cigar as you hum a song
Thinking of your mother, and your God
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/jackson_c_frank/jimmy_clay_crd.html ]
C Em Am
Ah, but you're alone, Jimmy Clay
C Esus7/4 Am
As you smoke your cigar and you earn your pay.
Dm G Am
And fifty thousand soldiers just marching by your side
F G Am
But still you're alone, Jimmy Clay.
Remember New York town, good old New York town?
The friends, the drinks, the cops and all
And the whores who took your money when you couldn't stand
And all those roaring nights you can't recall?
And remember Alice Fay, good old Alice Fay?
Well, she'd been through life at least ten times around
But when she said she loved you, yeah she meant it, boy
Remember the night you nearly drowned?
Ah, but you're alone, Jimmy Clay
As you smoke your cigar and you think on yesterday
Well, yesterday don't matter when its gone away
Whereīs it gone, Jimmy Clay?
So as you lie there in the mud, who will talk to you?
Nobody, Jimmy Clay
For when you're gone mankind will follow after you
Doesn't it, Jimmy Clay?
And your face is growing moldy where they kissed your lips
And said "Please die for us, Jimmy Clay"
And so you died a soldier and a hero's death
Congratulations, Jimmy Clay.
Now you are alone, Jimmy Clay
You can smoke your cigar, you have earned your pay
And somewhere in the distance you can hear the fiddler play
But not one note will change, Jimmy Clay
Now you are alone, Jimmy Clay