{"id":328,"date":"2013-07-01T09:37:07","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T13:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=328"},"modified":"2019-10-31T09:22:07","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T13:22:07","slug":"crooked-jack","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=328","title":{"rendered":"Crooked Jack"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h2>\n

Lyrics by Dominic Behan<\/a>, but the melody is a variation of the tune used for “Star of the County Down”, commonly ascribed as “traditional”; Cliff uses this melody for “The Lancaster Lads” on the Living Folk Records release “Here’s A Health to the Man & the Maid<\/a>“, Cambridge, Mass. 1976.\u00a0 \u00a0The tune is believed by musicologists to date to the Middle Ages and is actually known as “Kingsfold”, although in the 18th century was also known as “Gilderoy”, is used for several old and popular church hymns (the hymn Kingsfold was arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1906), Child Ballad #56 named “Dives and Lazarus”, the ballad “The Unquiet Grave” (Child #78), and quite a few others.<\/p>\n

This song is an account of Irish and Scottish workers and their horrid working conditions on a hydro dam project.\u00a0 This song is not specifically American for it is in reference to work back in the “old country”, but Irish and Scots coming to America looking for work and a freer life were all too often obligated to take hard labour jobs such as building the railroad or, in this case, large dams for a power source.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 G \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D
\nCome Irishmen both young and stern<\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D
\nWith adventure in your soul<\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 G \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0D
\nThere are better ways to spend your days<\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Em
\nThan in working down a hole<\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0G \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0D
\nI was tall and true, all of 6 foot 2<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D
\nBut they broke me across the back<\/em><\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 G \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D
\n By a name I’m known, but it’s not my own<\/em><\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n

. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Em \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Em
\nThey call me Crooked Jack<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ganger’s* blue-eyed boy
\nBig Jack could do no wrong
\nAnd the reason simply was because
\nI could work hard hours and long<\/p>\n

I’ve seen men old before their time
\nTheir faces drawn and gray
\nBut I never thought so soon would mine
\nBe lined the self-same way<\/p>\n

I cursed the day I went away
\nTo work on the hydro dams
\nOur sweat and tears, our hopes and fears
\nBound up in shuttering jams<\/p>\n

They say that honest toil is good
\nFor the spirit and the soul
\nBut believe me, boys, it’s for sweat and blood
\nThat they want you down the hole<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n