Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds

Subject: THANKS BRIAN HOSKIN!
From: Mark Brown
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 08:27 PM

Thank you very much!! If you have a chance,do you know the words to Jack O' Diamonds? Also are you familiar with Kelly Joe Phelps and his lyrics?

Subject: RE: THANKS BRIAN HOSKIN!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 09:12 PM

Hi, Mark! The song is in our database, and you could have found it by entering a few words in the search box on the upper-right corner of most pages at this site. That one is a bit tricky to search for, though. Click here: JACK O'DIAMONDS and you'll be there.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: JACK O' DIAMONDS BLUES (Lemon Jefferson)
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 10:06 AM

Joe, Good of you to put a link through to Bob Dylan's 'Jack o' Diamonds', but I suspect that Mark is really after Blind Lemon Jefferson's version. BLJ recorded two takes of this song in May 1926, this is the first take:

JACK O' DIAMONDS BLUES

Jack o' Diam, Jack o' Diamonds,
Jack o' Diamonds, a hard card to play.
Jack o' Diamonds once in a time,
He did rob a friend of mine.
Jack o' Diamonds is a hard card to play.

Set the Jack against the Queen,
It's gonna turn your money green.
Jack o' Diamonds is a hard card to play.

Jack o' Diam, Jack o' Diamonds,
Jack o' Diamonds is a hard card to play.

Set the Jack against the Four,
You're gonna win right in the door.
Jack o' Diamonds is a hard card to play.

Jack o' Diamonds made me cry.
I expect to gamble until I die.
Jack o' Diamonds is a hard card to play.

Jack o' Diam, Jack o' Diamonds,
Jack o' Diamonds, a hard card to play.

As for Kelly Joe Phelps, I read an interesting interview with him early this year, in 'Folk Roots' magazine. However, I have never actually heard any of his playing. I have a very long list of CDs I would like to buy and a very limited amount of money with which to buy them!

Brian.

Subject: RE: THANKS BRIAN HOSKIN!
From: mark brown
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 01:55 PM

Thanks again to both of you!!

Brian I feel your pain...I think my motto in life right now is 'So many CDs, so little money..' But phelps is definitely worth checking out. He can be sort of repetitive in his style but he's a great singer and player, albeit often hard to understand. If you get a chance go to a CD store where they'll let you listen to it first or look for one of his sites on the web. I know one of them has sound clips. Or if you'd like I have a Phelps soudbyte I could e-mail you. If you'd like it mail me at [e-mail]

Thanks once more

Mark