Jack Slim Lyrics - Singles - Good Times Boys

Meet Jack Slim, a decent man 

Who'll always do the best he can 

An upright guy, he'll always stand 

In his home down by the sea 

Amongst the groves and tupelos 

From boy to man did our Jack grow 

He never faltered, sinned, or hoed 

Or lived but righteously 

He grew up tall and grew up strong 

An honest man, knew right from wrong 

He tended fields and studied long 

How proud we were of he 

To but one party he did go 

And there's the Devil with seeds to sow 

A poisoned soul that didn't know 

The bane that was on he 

Her eyes were black, as was her hair 

And in the light, just standing there 

She caught Jack's eye without a care 

Jack Slim, the fool to be 

Now hear the bells of bronze and steel 

Ringing out the coming ills 

Of a man I'd rather kill 

Than see suffer endlessly 

Into the home of Jack she came 

Her kith and kin, drunk and insane 

The broke just damn near everything 

To stay for good was their true aim 

Jack's wife's bed always hot 

All the town did have their shot 

The football team, the team's mascot 

All comers came and came a lot 

Jack walked round with grinding teeth 

To yell or scream or cry beneath 

His subtle pride and courtesy 

Tested hard and frequently 

One foul day, our Jack just snapped 

And kicked the sorry bums and that 

Out his door without a chat 

To the road down by the sea 

The wife, she didn't take this well 

Told him to go to straight to hell 

An evil man with a sulfur smell 

Oh hate old Jack did she 

She took their boy and ran away 

To a slick-haired shark who was the man 

To lay the blame and lend and a hand 

To the sinners by the sea 

Opposite the judge old Jack stood 

Staring down, knowing no good 

Could come from souls who harbor hate 

For an honest man as he 

He lost his house. He lost his heart 

Lost all he earned or cared about 

His boy was gone and he was out 

Of luck or love or glee 

Now Jack lives inside a tent 

No money left for food or rent 

The homeless man's already spent 

Keeping Johnny Law at bay 

One day Jack woke with an aching head 

His gums bled; his face was red 

He wept a little and then said, I think this will kill me 

No money for a doctor's trip 

Jack took an awl and placed the tip 

Against his rotting tooth, his rotting tooth 

He hammered once. He hammered twice 

Let out a scream that wasn't nice 

The tooth was stuck like dirt in ice 

And stayed just where it was 

So into town stumbled our Jack 

He found a gun inside a sack 

In the sheriff's car parked way out back 

Behind the country club 

He took that gun and stole a knife 

Intent on taking his own life 

To put an end to all his strife 

And die just painlessly 

He placed the gun against his head 

Thinking he would soon be dead 

As would his misery 

He pulled the gun 

But the gun misspoke 

The knife shattered and the bullet broke 

What a poor and sad unlucky bloke 

In his cave down by the sea 

So finally Jack made a plan 

And took the gun inside his hand 

Approached my boat just like a man 

Who was going out to sea 

Going out to sea 

From the dock, concrete and rocks 

A few large chains and extra locks 

Heavy stuff I've not forgot 

And a bucket made of iron 

He waved the gun and out we went 

I'll surely die, from this earth sent 

I said to myself 

I said to me 

Old man, I mean you no harm 

Please don't fear, don't be alarmed 

Your life I'll spare despite my arms 

Back home you soon will be 

Further out we went and went 

Past the buoys and all the scents 

Of life and liberty 

And liberty 

Into the bucket Jack's feet went 

The concrete followed and I sensed 

That death that day wasn't meant for me 

Around his waist he chained the rocks 

Secured them tight with all the locks 

And then he ordered that I stop 

And turned his back to me 

Mother, please invite me home 

Your son's tired, no wish to roam 

Any way away from thee 

Away from thee 

Without another word Jack dived 

But soon righted to upward side 

From the concrete at his feet 

The bubbles, they stopped soon enough 

And I could breath when Jack could not 

As he sank into the sea 

Into the sea 

Now he rests far down below 

One thousand fathoms deep or so 

With fish for company, for company 

I looked and saw a storm approach 

And aimed my girl for harbor close 

But glancing up I saw the coast 

And Jack's house by the sea 

Jack's house down by the sea