Jokerman is, without any doubt whatsoever, one of the great classics on a rollercoaster album such as Infidels. The single-guitar version on dylanchords, however, never really did it for me: great song, great harmonies, but so thin when you’re alone with your guitar, without the exquisite drums’n’bass work by Sly and Robbie.
Then, one day, on my way home from work, I was somehow humming Jokerman while thinking Moonlight (this was back when “Love and Theft” was recent news), and something clicked.
I’ve had it in the back of my head for some years now, so I figured it was time to record it.
Enjoy:
I suppose one could say that where Dylan’s Jokerman tends towards the enigmatic, mine is more of a joker.
For those so inclined: here are the chords:
Chords:
Bbo x12020
Co x34242
A/c# x42220 or x4222x with half-barre
D/a x04232
E+ 022110
A7/g 34222x
E7-9 076760
Bb 688700
G#+ 476500
|: A . Bbo . Bm7 . E7 . :|
A Bbo Bm7 Co
Standing on the waters casting your bread
A/c# /e F# Bm7 E7 A D/a A E+
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing.
A Bbo Bm7 Co
Distant ships sailing into the mist,
A/c# /e F# Bm7
You were born with a snake in both of your fists
E7 A D/a A Bbo
while a hurricane was blowing.
Bm /a-g#-f# E /f /f# /g# A D/a A Bbo
Freedom just around the corner for you
Bm /a -g#-f# E /f /f# /g# A /g# A7/g F#7
But with truth so far off, what good will it do?
Bm7 E7-9
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune,
A G F# F#7
Bird fly high by the light of the moon,
Bm7 Bb G#+ A
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.
Edit: Oh, and my friend Lars thought I started out too negative here, with the “I don’t like this and I don’t like that” and all, and that I should at least liven it up with a picture of U2. Go figure.
I so enjoy your dylanchords page and have for years.. This is very enjoyable and a wonderful musical interlude, nice connection. I have found a something similiar with Four Strong Winds and Tambourine Man….I dont have your great gift for music but noodling around one day I found an interesting way to “blend” the melodies of the songs quite naturallly. Just passing it on….Thanks for all the dylan songs and insights you have provided on your site.
Bill
to anyone who only knows infidels as the album that doesn’t have blind willie mctell, i would respond, “but it DOES have jokerman”. nice rendition.
Excellent point. And, I would say: It has I and I (at some point I was convinced that that is Dylan’s best song. I’m not so certain anymore, but it has imagery that is way up there in the league where angels sing) and Sweetheart like you (again: those images that are created, just by putting some words together).
lol, you’ve also dubbed “talkin’ world war iii blues” his best. and although you have a fine version here, forever my favorite version of jokerman will be the “wrong harmonica” version on letterman. for the uninitiated, it’s here :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwdUwxhjnYY i love ’80s bob.
I’ve never bothered to comment before, but I’ve been using this site for about 18 months now. After listening to this though, I had to comment. Amazing! It has a very mid-60’s Beatleish feel. Record an album, Eyolf!
@chris: yeah, I know – my “best song” category is fairly unstable — there are so many to choose from. But, yeah, nobody can touch the Letterman version of Jokerman, not even Dylan. I’m quite happy with a “fine” version.
@Shakti: I’m glad you mention the Beatles feel. Not that I was going after it, but when it happened (“Hm – would it be a jokermanly idea to record a near-identical mock-copy of this rather irregular improvised melody line?”) it occurred to me that it had this mid-60 Beatles feel…
I’m not going to record an album, though. But I may put up my killer version of It Ain’t Me Babe one of these days. :)
I didnt like it at first. But man, I surrender! Its great. Nice laidback vocals.
Thanks. Så du är från Uppsala, mitt gamla alma mater. Trevligt.
My favorite part is the
whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
;)
Nicely done
Great work! This is a wonderful, light & easy version of the song – I think it really suits the playful chorus in particular. I was just a reading an excellent link on this song the other day – can’t remember where….
Found it via expecting rain! This is the link….
http://damianbalassone.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/dylans-jokerman/
Very intresting version, indeed.
Wanted to thank you for this great page, many song chords been checked out from here. Tackar.
Kaj
nifty. i really enjoyed it.
This made me laugh with pleasure! it grows on you as the song goes on. Very inventive stuff….and oh yes thanks so much for this site….
This sounds quite a bit like M Ward. Nice lazy playing style.
That, in my book, is a huge compliment. Thanks!
Hello Eyolf, since i know dylanchords, i step by yur blog too, nice job you’ve been doing! Thanks a lot for it!
Cheers from Brazil!
Nice ! Sounds like a Syd Barrett demo!
Greetings from Greece .
Haven’t heard that comparison before, but thanks!
This is great! Have you made any other recordings we could listen to? I really enjoyed this so I wondered if there is more where that came from!
Hi Eyolf,
This is great..as bizarre as anything that Bob would do with it. Works great.