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.