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Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
E · A · B · D
Jim Croce’s storytelling classic about a pool hall confrontation and its consequences. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the narrative flow.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E A
Down on the corner of the city square
E B
They set up a poolroom, people came from everywhere
E A
And everybody knew, you didn’t give him no lip
E B E
Big Jim Walker was a mean, old son of a gun
Verse 2
E A
He stood about six-foot-six
E B
He had a .38 Special slung beneath his arm
E A
And all the boys would tell ya, ”Man, you better let him be”
E B E
‘Cause Big Jim was the man, even bad men turned around
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Verse 3
E A
Well, outta south Alabama came a country boy
E B
He said, “I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
E A
I am a pool-shootin’ boy, my name is Willie McCoy
E B E
But down home they call me Slim, yeah, I’m Slim”
Verse 4
E A
Now Jim heard what the fellow had to say
E B
But he just stood there rollin’ up a number slow
E A
And he said, “Now, boy, don’t you wanna take a fast walk?”
E B E
And Slim said, “I’m a-talkin’ to Jim, yeah, I’m talkin’ to Jim”
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Bridge
A E
Well, the word shot back to the chicken shack
A E
That a crazy pool-shootin’ boy was holdin’ nothin’ back
A E
He said, “One and one make two, two and one make three
B E
I came to get my money back, and Jim’s gonna give it to me”
Verse 5
E A
Well, a hush fell on the poolroom
E B
Now Jimmy’s reachin’ for his pistol on the shelf
E A
But the stranger said, “I’m fast as lightnin’
E B E
And I advise you not to move, or I’ll have to put you down”
Verse 6
E A
Now Big Jim had his problems with the IRS
E B
And everybody knew he had a license to sell the juice
E A
But the man was slow and Slim was quick
E B E
And Slim lit up a number, it was really somethin’ else
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Outro
E A
Yeah, Big Jim got his hat beat off
E B
Got his .38 took away
E A
And they say he mended his ways after that
E B E
And you know it’s kinda funny, but down home they still tell the story
A E
About the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E B
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E E
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
Practice tip: Master the E, A, and B chords first, then focus on the quick changes in the chorus, especially the A to E transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
E · A · B · D
Jim Croce’s storytelling classic about a pool hall confrontation and its consequences. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the narrative flow.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E A
Down on the corner of the city square
E B
They set up a poolroom, people came from everywhere
E A
And everybody knew, you didn’t give him no lip
E B E
Big Jim Walker was a mean, old son of a gun
Verse 2
E A
He stood about six-foot-six
E B
He had a .38 Special slung beneath his arm
E A
And all the boys would tell ya, ”Man, you better let him be”
E B E
‘Cause Big Jim was the man, even bad men turned around
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Verse 3
E A
Well, outta south Alabama came a country boy
E B
He said, “I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
E A
I am a pool-shootin’ boy, my name is Willie McCoy
E B E
But down home they call me Slim, yeah, I’m Slim”
Verse 4
E A
Now Jim heard what the fellow had to say
E B
But he just stood there rollin’ up a number slow
E A
And he said, “Now, boy, don’t you wanna take a fast walk?”
E B E
And Slim said, “I’m a-talkin’ to Jim, yeah, I’m talkin’ to Jim”
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Bridge
A E
Well, the word shot back to the chicken shack
A E
That a crazy pool-shootin’ boy was holdin’ nothin’ back
A E
He said, “One and one make two, two and one make three
B E
I came to get my money back, and Jim’s gonna give it to me”
Verse 5
E A
Well, a hush fell on the poolroom
E B
Now Jimmy’s reachin’ for his pistol on the shelf
E A
But the stranger said, “I’m fast as lightnin’
E B E
And I advise you not to move, or I’ll have to put you down”
Verse 6
E A
Now Big Jim had his problems with the IRS
E B
And everybody knew he had a license to sell the juice
E A
But the man was slow and Slim was quick
E B E
And Slim lit up a number, it was really somethin’ else
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Outro
E A
Yeah, Big Jim got his hat beat off
E B
Got his .38 took away
E A
And they say he mended his ways after that
E B E
And you know it’s kinda funny, but down home they still tell the story
A E
About the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E B
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E E
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
Practice tip: Master the E, A, and B chords first, then focus on the quick changes in the chorus, especially the A to E transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
E · A · B · D
Jim Croce’s storytelling classic about a pool hall confrontation and its consequences. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the narrative flow.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E A
Down on the corner of the city square
E B
They set up a poolroom, people came from everywhere
E A
And everybody knew, you didn’t give him no lip
E B E
Big Jim Walker was a mean, old son of a gun
Verse 2
E A
He stood about six-foot-six
E B
He had a .38 Special slung beneath his arm
E A
And all the boys would tell ya, ”Man, you better let him be”
E B E
‘Cause Big Jim was the man, even bad men turned around
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Verse 3
E A
Well, outta south Alabama came a country boy
E B
He said, “I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
E A
I am a pool-shootin’ boy, my name is Willie McCoy
E B E
But down home they call me Slim, yeah, I’m Slim”
Verse 4
E A
Now Jim heard what the fellow had to say
E B
But he just stood there rollin’ up a number slow
E A
And he said, “Now, boy, don’t you wanna take a fast walk?”
E B E
And Slim said, “I’m a-talkin’ to Jim, yeah, I’m talkin’ to Jim”
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Bridge
A E
Well, the word shot back to the chicken shack
A E
That a crazy pool-shootin’ boy was holdin’ nothin’ back
A E
He said, “One and one make two, two and one make three
B E
I came to get my money back, and Jim’s gonna give it to me”
Verse 5
E A
Well, a hush fell on the poolroom
E B
Now Jimmy’s reachin’ for his pistol on the shelf
E A
But the stranger said, “I’m fast as lightnin’
E B E
And I advise you not to move, or I’ll have to put you down”
Verse 6
E A
Now Big Jim had his problems with the IRS
E B
And everybody knew he had a license to sell the juice
E A
But the man was slow and Slim was quick
E B E
And Slim lit up a number, it was really somethin’ else
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Outro
E A
Yeah, Big Jim got his hat beat off
E B
Got his .38 took away
E A
And they say he mended his ways after that
E B E
And you know it’s kinda funny, but down home they still tell the story
A E
About the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E B
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E E
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
Practice tip: Master the E, A, and B chords first, then focus on the quick changes in the chorus, especially the A to E transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
E · A · B · D
Jim Croce’s storytelling classic about a pool hall confrontation and its consequences. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the narrative flow.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E A
Down on the corner of the city square
E B
They set up a poolroom, people came from everywhere
E A
And everybody knew, you didn’t give him no lip
E B E
Big Jim Walker was a mean, old son of a gun
Verse 2
E A
He stood about six-foot-six
E B
He had a .38 Special slung beneath his arm
E A
And all the boys would tell ya, ”Man, you better let him be”
E B E
‘Cause Big Jim was the man, even bad men turned around
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Verse 3
E A
Well, outta south Alabama came a country boy
E B
He said, “I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
E A
I am a pool-shootin’ boy, my name is Willie McCoy
E B E
But down home they call me Slim, yeah, I’m Slim”
Verse 4
E A
Now Jim heard what the fellow had to say
E B
But he just stood there rollin’ up a number slow
E A
And he said, “Now, boy, don’t you wanna take a fast walk?”
E B E
And Slim said, “I’m a-talkin’ to Jim, yeah, I’m talkin’ to Jim”
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Bridge
A E
Well, the word shot back to the chicken shack
A E
That a crazy pool-shootin’ boy was holdin’ nothin’ back
A E
He said, “One and one make two, two and one make three
B E
I came to get my money back, and Jim’s gonna give it to me”
Verse 5
E A
Well, a hush fell on the poolroom
E B
Now Jimmy’s reachin’ for his pistol on the shelf
E A
But the stranger said, “I’m fast as lightnin’
E B E
And I advise you not to move, or I’ll have to put you down”
Verse 6
E A
Now Big Jim had his problems with the IRS
E B
And everybody knew he had a license to sell the juice
E A
But the man was slow and Slim was quick
E B E
And Slim lit up a number, it was really somethin’ else
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Outro
E A
Yeah, Big Jim got his hat beat off
E B
Got his .38 took away
E A
And they say he mended his ways after that
E B E
And you know it’s kinda funny, but down home they still tell the story
A E
About the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E B
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E E
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
Practice tip: Master the E, A, and B chords first, then focus on the quick changes in the chorus, especially the A to E transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
E · A · B · D
Jim Croce’s storytelling classic about a pool hall confrontation and its consequences. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the narrative flow.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E A
Down on the corner of the city square
E B
They set up a poolroom, people came from everywhere
E A
And everybody knew, you didn’t give him no lip
E B E
Big Jim Walker was a mean, old son of a gun
Verse 2
E A
He stood about six-foot-six
E B
He had a .38 Special slung beneath his arm
E A
And all the boys would tell ya, ”Man, you better let him be”
E B E
‘Cause Big Jim was the man, even bad men turned around
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Verse 3
E A
Well, outta south Alabama came a country boy
E B
He said, “I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
E A
I am a pool-shootin’ boy, my name is Willie McCoy
E B E
But down home they call me Slim, yeah, I’m Slim”
Verse 4
E A
Now Jim heard what the fellow had to say
E B
But he just stood there rollin’ up a number slow
E A
And he said, “Now, boy, don’t you wanna take a fast walk?”
E B E
And Slim said, “I’m a-talkin’ to Jim, yeah, I’m talkin’ to Jim”
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Bridge
A E
Well, the word shot back to the chicken shack
A E
That a crazy pool-shootin’ boy was holdin’ nothin’ back
A E
He said, “One and one make two, two and one make three
B E
I came to get my money back, and Jim’s gonna give it to me”
Verse 5
E A
Well, a hush fell on the poolroom
E B
Now Jimmy’s reachin’ for his pistol on the shelf
E A
But the stranger said, “I’m fast as lightnin’
E B E
And I advise you not to move, or I’ll have to put you down”
Verse 6
E A
Now Big Jim had his problems with the IRS
E B
And everybody knew he had a license to sell the juice
E A
But the man was slow and Slim was quick
E B E
And Slim lit up a number, it was really somethin’ else
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Outro
E A
Yeah, Big Jim got his hat beat off
E B
Got his .38 took away
E A
And they say he mended his ways after that
E B E
And you know it’s kinda funny, but down home they still tell the story
A E
About the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E B
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E E
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
Practice tip: Master the E, A, and B chords first, then focus on the quick changes in the chorus, especially the A to E transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
E · A · B · D
Jim Croce’s storytelling classic about a pool hall confrontation and its consequences. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Folk Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the narrative flow.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E A
Down on the corner of the city square
E B
They set up a poolroom, people came from everywhere
E A
And everybody knew, you didn’t give him no lip
E B E
Big Jim Walker was a mean, old son of a gun
Verse 2
E A
He stood about six-foot-six
E B
He had a .38 Special slung beneath his arm
E A
And all the boys would tell ya, ”Man, you better let him be”
E B E
‘Cause Big Jim was the man, even bad men turned around
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Verse 3
E A
Well, outta south Alabama came a country boy
E B
He said, “I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
E A
I am a pool-shootin’ boy, my name is Willie McCoy
E B E
But down home they call me Slim, yeah, I’m Slim”
Verse 4
E A
Now Jim heard what the fellow had to say
E B
But he just stood there rollin’ up a number slow
E A
And he said, “Now, boy, don’t you wanna take a fast walk?”
E B E
And Slim said, “I’m a-talkin’ to Jim, yeah, I’m talkin’ to Jim”
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Bridge
A E
Well, the word shot back to the chicken shack
A E
That a crazy pool-shootin’ boy was holdin’ nothin’ back
A E
He said, “One and one make two, two and one make three
B E
I came to get my money back, and Jim’s gonna give it to me”
Verse 5
E A
Well, a hush fell on the poolroom
E B
Now Jimmy’s reachin’ for his pistol on the shelf
E A
But the stranger said, “I’m fast as lightnin’
E B E
And I advise you not to move, or I’ll have to put you down”
Verse 6
E A
Now Big Jim had his problems with the IRS
E B
And everybody knew he had a license to sell the juice
E A
But the man was slow and Slim was quick
E B E
And Slim lit up a number, it was really somethin’ else
Chorus
A
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
E
You don’t spit into the wind
A
You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger
B E
And you don’t mess around with Jim
Outro
E A
Yeah, Big Jim got his hat beat off
E B
Got his .38 took away
E A
And they say he mended his ways after that
E B E
And you know it’s kinda funny, but down home they still tell the story
A E
About the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E B
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
A E E
Yeah, the time that Slim beat Big Jim
Practice tip: Master the E, A, and B chords first, then focus on the quick changes in the chorus, especially the A to E transition.