Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
E · A · B · D
Don’t Mess Around with Jim Chords – Guitar
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: E, A, B and D.
Is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
It was written by Jim Croce, and released in 1972.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
E · A · B · D
Don’t Mess Around with Jim Chords – Ukulele
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: E, A, B and D.
Is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
It was written by Jim Croce, and released in 1972.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
E · A · B · D
Don’t Mess Around with Jim Chords – Piano
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: E, A, B and D.
Is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
It was written by Jim Croce, and released in 1972.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
E · A · B · D
Don’t Mess Around with Jim Chords – Banjo
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: E, A, B and D.
Is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
It was written by Jim Croce, and released in 1972.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
E · A · B · D
Don’t Mess Around with Jim Chords – Mandolin
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: E, A, B and D.
Is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
It was written by Jim Croce, and released in 1972.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Dtap to play
Key
E
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
E · A · B · D
Don’t Mess Around with Jim Chords – Harmonica
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
You need 4 beginner-friendly chords: E, A, B and D.
Is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated beginner and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Don’t Mess Around with Jim" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "Don’t Mess Around with Jim"?
It was written by Jim Croce, and released in 1972.