Carole King - Smackwater Jack Lyrics






Now Smackwater Jack, he bought a shotgun
'Cause he was in the mood for a little confrontation
He just let it all hang loose
He didn't think about the noose
He couldn't take no more abuse
So he shot down the congregation

You can't talk to a man
With a shotgun in his hand
Shotgun

Now Big Jim the chief stood for law and order
He called for the guard to come and surround the border
Now from his bulldog mouth
As he led the posse south
Came the cry, we got to ride
Clean up the streets for our wives and our daughters

You can't talk to a man
When he don't want to understand
No, no, no, no, no, no

The account of the capture wasn't in the papers
But you know, they hanged ole Smack right then instead of later
You know the people were quite pleased
'Cause the outlaw had been seized
And on the whole, it was a very good year
For the undertaker

You know, you know, you can't talk to a man
With a shotgun in his hand
Shotgun in his hand

Smackwater Jack, yeah
Smackwater Jack bought a shotgun
Yeah, Smackwater Jack bought a shotgun
Smackwater Jack, yeah
Smackwater Jack, yeah

Talkin' about Smackwater Jack, yeah
Talkin' about Smackwater Jack, oh
Talkin' about Jack and his shotgun,
Talkin' about Smack, talkin' about Jack
Smackwater Jack, yeah





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Carole King Smackwater Jack Comments
  1. A.... S....

    This had a huge impact on me when I was 10 yrs old, I thought " oooh, that sounds ok"
    It has left an indelible impression on me.

  2. R.... J....

    Written more number one selling hits then any other female artist in the world ... Most were on sold but considering she not only wrote the lyrics but she also created the music with hot competition to compete with then .. the likes of Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin for example ... And still undeservently fails to get the recognition she richly deserves for a record that still stands the test of time ... Another example of people to busy ball watching to understand the significance of that ......

  3. P.... C....

    Love Love Love Ms Carole King!!! She was with me through so much....

  4. T.... M....

    So.......Jon Bellion got me here.



    So weird.

  5. D.... ....

    Anyone here after Walker Ryan’s Novia Part

    D.... ....

    It’s a skate video

  6. D.... E....

    Carole King needs to come to the Portland Zoo in Oregon for a concert. She would be very welcomed! Please come Carole!!

  7. F.... B....

    "Talkin' 'bout smack, talkin' 'bout Jack - Smackwater Jack, yeah!" LOL. What a fun, ridiculous song.

  8. L.... F....

    Excellence 💋

  9. W.... G....

    Just realized this great song was about a mass-shooting. Now it's hard to sing along and enjoy it. Way ahead of her time, Ol' Carol was.

  10. G.... M....

    you know they hanged ol smack right then instead of later. HHUUMMM!! poetetic justice???

  11. J.... B....

    My favorite artist of all time

  12. T.... P....

    Carole King … the prophet?

    T.... P....

    No, the Same Problem that Still Goes On Today. The Only Reason To Own A Gun Is Because You Want To Shoot SomeOne, GunOwners, START WITH YOURSELF

    T.... P....

    I've always thought that this song was about the Kent State massacre of dissident students, cleverly disguised in a wild west context.

  13. S.... F....

    .....This song has to be viewed in a new light since it first came out, seeing all the Church and Synagogue shootings in the USA. Now with Churches and schools having to have armed security during their services.

    S.... F....

    Well, it's just like that song of hers titled "I Feel The Earth Move." I've always loved that song. However, after I moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s, I didn't have such an easy time listening to that song right after an earthquake; but I always came back to listening to it anyhow. Now that I don't live in Southern California, I can look forward to listening to that song whenever I want to hear it. Your comment sort of falls along the same lines.

    S.... F....

    Great point. True, that.

    S.... F....

    It's a song. Rings about true but no shotgun now its AK"s

    S.... F....

    @Stephen Fiora . . . I lead a jam session once a week.  I was just getting ready to introduce this song to the group when one of the big church attacks came.  I asked the group what they thought about doing the song at that time(most all of them were familiar with it already) and most of them were okay with it, but one or two didn't think it was appropriate, so I ended up not introducing it.  At least one of the people that weren't comfortable with it is no longer in the group, so I'm considering it again.  It is, after all, a pretty good song.  That's what brought me back to the song today.

  14. L.... H....

    Thank god I had awesome parents that taught me to love good music. <3 This 41 year old kid still likes this :)

  15. P.... R....

    This song and Raindance by the Guess Who will always remind of driving Hwy 26 from my parents house in Portland Oregon. To go snow skiing at Snow Bunny Lodge on Mt Hood Oregon.

  16. S.... D....

    Great song, and so happy to play this in band

  17. o.... k....

    beautiful song

  18. J.... M....

    Great tune....

  19. P.... K....

    Very few albums where every song is good; this is one of them. Definitely one of those "if you were stranded on a desert isle and could only have a very limited number of albums to listen to" choices.

  20. D.... C....

    Classic and timeless by the king!! Jazzy and rockin at the same time... Great piano stuff...

    D.... C....

    Donald Cook I guess you could say this track is like R&B infused rock

  21. A.... T....

    Carole was popular before I was born. My mom taught me about Carole. For that I'm forever thankful!

    A.... T....

    I grew up listening to it when I was little. When I looked for a CD these days, I recognized the picture on the outside.

  22. a.... w....

    My moms housecleaning music and now mine too
    💙💙💙💙

    a.... w....

    That’s swell 💋

    a.... w....

    It's always feels great to clean house

    a.... w....

    Same here!

  23. a.... w....

    You can't talk to a man
    With a shotgun in his hand

    a.... w....

    But, you can listen to a man with a bass guitar in his hands! (This guy was good! Or, was it a girl?)

    a.... w....

    @Devil's Offspring smackwater Jack bought a shotgun 💜🌹💜
    Hee hee ....not sure now that You mention it but I love the bass guitar too....love Carole king with all of my heart 💜

    a.... w....

    Or a naked man holding a machete with snot running down his nose..lol

  24. d.... l....

    Great musicians playing on this one.

  25. J.... O....

    Gotta love it !

  26. J.... W....

    This was the time of the greatest Women singers, Take it from Jack, she singing about me.

  27. K.... K....

    👍👍❤️

  28. T.... ....

    Carole King – piano, vocals
    Curtis Amy – baritone saxophone
    Merry Clayton – background vocals
    Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar – electric guitar
    Charles "Charlie" Larkey – bass guitar
    Joel O'Brien – drums
    Ralph Schuckett – electric piano

    T.... ....

    She is one amazing artist!

    T.... ....

    Wow...thanks for the personnel breakdown on an awesome song contained.on an awesome album!

  29. S.... I....

    Now, Smackwater Jack
    He bought a shotgun
    'Cause he was in the mood
    For a little confrontation
    He just a-let it all hang loose
    He didn't think about the noose
    He couldn't take no more abuse
    So he shot down the congregation
    You can't talk to a man
    With a shotgun in his hand
    (Shotgun)
    Now, Big Jim the chief
    Stood for law and order
    He called for the guard to come
    And surround the border
    Now, from his bulldog mouth
    As he led the posse south
    Came the cry, "We got to ride
    To clean up the streets
    For our wives and our daughters" (oh, no no)
    You can't talk to a man
    When he don't wanna understand
    No, no, no, no, no, no
    The account of the capture
    Wasn't in the papers
    But you know, they hanged ol' Smack right then
    Instead of later
    You know, the people were quite pleased
    'Cause the outlaw had been seized
    And on the whole, it was a very good year
    For the undertaker
    You know, you know, you can't talk to a man
    With a shotgun in his hand
    A shotgun in his hand
    (Smackwater Jack, yeah)
    Smackwater Jack bought a shotgun
    Yeah, Smackwater Jack bought a shotgun
    Oh, Smackwater Jack, yeah
    (Smackwater Jack, yeah)
    Talkin' 'bout Smackwater Jack, yeah
    (Ooh, and his shotgun)
    Talkin' 'bout a-Smackwater Jack, now
    (Ooh, talkin' 'bout Jack and his shotgun)
    (Talkin' 'bout Smack)
    (Talkin' 'bout Jack)
    (Smackwater Jack, yeah)
    Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin
    Smackwater Jack lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

  30. S.... I....

    Now, Smackwater Jack
    He bought a shotgun
    'Cause he was in the mood
    For a little confrontation
    He just a-let it all hang loose
    He didn't think about the noose
    He couldn't take no more abuse
    So he shot down the congregation
    You can't talk to a man
    With a shotgun in his hand
    (Shotgun)
    Now, Big Jim the chief
    Stood for law and order
    He called for the guard to come
    And surround the border
    Now, from his bulldog mouth
    As he led the posse south
    Came the cry, "We got to ride
    To clean up the streets
    For our wives and our daughters" (oh, no no)
    You can't talk to a man
    When he don't wanna understand
    No, no, no, no, no, no
    The account of the capture
    Wasn't in the papers
    But you know, they hanged ol' Smack right then
    Instead of later
    You know, the people were quite pleased
    'Cause the outlaw had been seized
    And on the whole, it was a very good year
    For the undertaker
    You know, you know, you can't talk to a man
    With a shotgun in his hand
    A shotgun in his hand
    (Smackwater Jack, yeah)
    Smackwater Jack bought a shotgun
    Yeah, Smackwater Jack bought a shotgun
    Oh, Smackwater Jack, yeah
    (Smackwater Jack, yeah)
    Talkin' 'bout Smackwater Jack, yeah
    (Ooh, and his shotgun)
    Talkin' 'bout a-Smackwater Jack, now
    (Ooh, talkin' 'bout Jack and his shotgun)
    (Talkin' 'bout Smack)
    (Talkin' 'bout Jack)
    (Smackwater Jack, yeah)
    Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin
    Smackwater Jack lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

  31. K.... F....

    Best female solo of the 70s and maybe ever.

    K.... F....

    you do realise that they had two people playing on the piano? just watch her 1971 BBC performance of this song

    K.... F....

    no doubt best female song writer of all time

    K.... F....

    @Remy Swash I think on this recording there are two pianos, the second is an electric piano.

  32. A.... ....

    Carole is an amazing artist.

    A.... ....

    Awesome entertainer!

  33. s.... ....

    Still great after all these years.

    s.... ....

    totally holds up (no pun intended)

  34. J.... B....

    Awesome

  35. V.... C....

    Wonderful album.