Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)

Subject: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST,les
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 06:25 AM

Does anybody have the lyrics to this song.
There are many many versions of Jack O'Diamonds.
I am only interested in the original lyrics as sung by Lonnie Donegan on his single in 1957.
Many thanks for any help.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 07:13 AM

Sounds like a job for Roger the Skiffler!
All I can remember is Jack of diamonds, Jack of diamonds, Jack of diamonds is a hard card to find ... after that it seems to turn into Gamblin'Man:

I've gambled down in Washington, I've gambled up in Maine,
I'm going down to Georgia to lay down my last game,
I'm a gamblin' man, man, man, I'm a gamblin man.

It's been too many years...! Roger??

Steve

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST,Les
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 07:19 AM

Steve
Thanks for the quick response.
As I am new on this site, who is Roger the Skiffler?
I would assume somebody with a lot of knowledge on Lonnie.

This is the nearest I have got, but it is not exactly the same.

Had a girl she broke my heart,
lack of dough it made us part.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

She said, "Life is just a bet,
and I haven't won it yet."
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Hey, hey, Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds.
Diamonds it's a hard card to find.
Hey, hey, Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds.
Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

When you play that Diamond Jack
you will never once look back.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

They have luck and they have spells
but they haven't won their hells.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Some say the Ace is high
but I know that it's a lie.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

The Queen is way above
cause the highest thing is love.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: John Routledge
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 07:20 AM

"When you play the game of life you've got trouble you've got strife

Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find

Life is like a game of cards but it's very very hard

Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find"

Sorry can't remember any more - Hope extract jogs Roger's memory if necessary.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 07:34 AM

:-)

Only just found this site.

What is the main purpose of this website? It seems an interesting one.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST,Les
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 09:01 AM

Well I have this so far. Can anybody get the rest correct.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find

When you play the game of life
You've got trouble, you've got strife
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.
Life is like a game of cards
Buts its very hard to find
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find

Met a girl who loves my heart,
lack of money, made of spark.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.
She said, "Life is just a bet,
But I've never won it yet."
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds it's a hard card to find

Dig it up Jimmy
(Guitar instrumental)
Ye Lord

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds its a hard card to find

So when you throw diamond jack
You will never once look back
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.
You'll have luck and you'll have spells
But you haven't won your hells.
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds it's a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds it's a hard card to find

??????
????????
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.
But it's really very verb
Full of high steady nerve
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds it's a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds it's a hard card to find

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 09:24 AM

Oh, how it all comes back! How I wish I could put it back!

I remember at one point (or more) he sang "Jack o' diamonds, diamonds" ...

Roger is an old Mudcatter who plays washboard and ... "sings" is probably a close decsription! Yes, he's a big fan of Lonnie's. He'll be along presently, I'm sure.

You might find it useful to join up, Les. There's no charge, and plenty of advantages.

Guest: the main purpose of this site is ... well, that's a good question. It's for folks like us to ask each other questions! It helps if they are connected, however tenuously, with whatever you think "folk" music is, but that's not obligatory. You'll find plenty of discussion on that (and every other subject) on this website. There is also a huge database of songs. On a point of etiquette: it's considered good form to put a name in the "name" box (like Les has done); it doesn't have to be your real name, but it's just a way of being friendly. First time doesn't count, of course!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST,Les
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 09:39 AM

Steve
As I like folk music, I think I will join.
I forgot to put my name on one of my posts, so apologies for that.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 09:55 AM

You rang, sirs?

I hear it slightly differently, at the end he is a bit (unusually!) sotto voce behind Jimmy Currie's guitar and the band chanting "Jack o' Diamonds" so I'm not sure of the ???? section and the couple of words in italics.
Later versions vary, of course , his songs tended to get shorter and more perfunctary, with repeated choruses, as his career went on.
You could contact his sons, Peter and Anthony (soon to tour with a tribute show) on:
www.lonniedoneganinc.com

JACK O' DIAMONDS
(L.Donegan version)

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find

When you play the game of life
You've got trouble, you've got strife
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.
Life is like a game of cards
But it's very hard to find
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find

Met a girl who loves my heart,
lack of money, made of spark.
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.
She said, "Life is just a bet,
But I've never won it yet."
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find

Dig it up Jimmy (spoken)
(Guitar instrumental by Jimmy Currie)
Yeah Lord (spoken)

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find

So when you throw diamond jack
You will never once look back
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.
You'll have luck and you'll have spells
But you haven't won your hells. (?)
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find

??????
????????
Jack of Diamonds it's a hard card to find.
But it's really very verb(?)
Full of high steady nerve
Jack of Diamonds is a hard card to find.

Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find
Jack O'Diamonds
Jack O'Diamonds
Diamonds is a hard card to find


RtS
(Washboard of Mass Destruction & Voice that sank a thousand ships)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 10:00 AM

Les, I think that line is Lack of money, made us part.

I have Lonnie's recording at home and will check tonight

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST,Les
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 10:32 AM

This is great guys.
RtS. Thanks for correcting some of my post. Its that area with the question marks that is the confusing part.
"You could contact his sons, Peter and Anthony (soon to tour with a tribute show) on:
www.lonniedoneganinc.com
"
I have been on that site but coudn't see any contact e-mails. Maybe I haven't looked properly. I was going to get in touch with them, and then I found this site. Which is great.

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 11:12 AM

Is the other line "full of verve" not "very verb"??
I'd use "Ace is high....lie" lines to fill in the missing ones which just sounds like a "diddle diddle" mumble on the record to me.
Hope this helps.

RtS
(fogotten lyrics a speciality, I've forgotten more than most!)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 12:38 PM

"There are many many versions of Jack O'Diamonds. I am only interested in the original lyrics as sung by Lonnie Donegan on his single in 1957."

Those were hardly the "original" lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: GUEST,Les
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 12:50 PM

Sorry there. Didn't mean the original lyrics. You are quite correct.

I suppose I should have said the lyrics as sung by Lonnie Donegan.

RtS
Yes I think you may be right about Verve, and that is a good idea about the missing lines.

Now that the words are pretty accurate, they should be posted on some of the Lyric Sites, or is that not a good idea?

Thanks once again for all the help. I will still have a look to see if anybody has the correct words on the iffy area. :-)

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 02:11 PM

I have now joined so you will see me as The Villan instead of Les.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Barry Finn
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 05:53 PM

I don't know Lonnie does this but Spider John Koerner has to be one of the best & most unique (IMHO) singer doing this song that I've ever heard. I don't know where/if he's recorded this. Best luck.

Barry

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 06:14 PM

I've had a listen, but I can't make out what he's singing. Sorry Villan

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan - Jack O'Diamonds
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 11:14 AM

I received an e-mail from Paul Leegan who is a singalike Lonnie Donegan and he provided me with the correct words.
I have posted as a seperate thread with these words.

Lyrics Jack O'Diamonds Lonnie Donegan

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=66726&messages=3

Thanks everybody for the help especially RtS who almost got their. :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: GUEST,Tony-the-ace
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 09:14 AM

Hi Lonnie fans
I am trying to find the lyrics to "Roamin' Ramler"
Any help would be appreciated

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 11 - 06:52 AM

Will you permit a grammatical quibble?

Nearly everyone who has posted in this thread has used the spelling "O'Diamonds" as if it were an Irish name like "O'Connell." Actually, the "o" should be a separate word; it stands for "of" as in "jack of diamonds." Therefore there should be a space after the apostrophe. And since you wouldn't normally capitalize "of" in a title, the "o" should be lower case, thus: "Jack o' Diamonds" (or, if it's not part of a title, "jack o' diamonds").

The same is true for lots of other song titles, like "Peg o' My Heart," "The Muckin' o' Geordie's Byre," etc.

The space, or lack of it, might make a difference with a search engine. It definitely makes a difference with the Mudcat "filter."

(But of course, since lots of people have made the same mistake, you might need to search twice, using both spellings.)

I know you will see this mistake in lots of printed record labels, liner notes, etc., but it is still a mistake, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 11 - 07:10 AM

Tony-the-ace: It's not a good idea to post a request for a song onto a thread about a different song. More people will see your request if you start a new thread, and put the song title into the thread title, thus: "Lyr Req: Roamin' Rambler (Lonnie Donegan)". Of course, that's assuming there isn't already a thread about your song. (There isn't; I've checked.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 11 - 07:13 AM

Tony-the-ace: Never mind! I see you already started a thread. And you used the spelling "roaming" which is why I didn't find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: Joe_F
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 01:33 PM

What is it about the jack of diamonds, anyway? Not only is it a hard card to find, other songs tell us that it is also a hard card to play, that it robs our poor pockets of silver & gold, etc. I assume that poker is the game alluded to, but my knowledge of that game is small.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 03:13 PM

There is an article about the Jack and its history in Wikipedia.
Poker is the game in the song. Some mythology has become attached to the Jack, or knave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_(playing_card)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 05:23 PM

Surely all these songs are about pinochle. OK, maybe not, but the jack of diamonds has a special role in that game, whereas in poker it's just like any other jack. A pinochle is the queen of spades and the jack of diamonds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinochle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack o' Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 05:52 PM

BTW, John Lee Hooker's version is the shits (as if supa good)...

B~