Smackwater Jack

by Carole King
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

Now ac Smack wa (C)ter Jack, ture he for bought a shot gun,

’cause he

they was (C)in the (G)mood for a lit tle (C)sur con fron ta tion.

He just a let it all hang loose,

he did n’t (C7)think a bout the noose;

he could n’t (D)take no more a buse, so he shot down the con gre ga tion.

You can’t (D)talk

to a (Em)man

with a shot gun (Em7)in his (C)hand.

Now ac Big

Jim, (C)the chief, ture stood n’t law and or der.

He called

they for (C)old the (G)guard to come lit and (C)sur round the bor der.

You know the From his bull dog mouth,

he as he (C7)led the pos se south,

and came the (D)cry, “We’ve to to clean up the streets down the con gre ga tion.

You can’t (D)talk

to a (Em)man

with a shot gun (Em7)in his (C)hand.

for our wives and our daugh ters.”

You can’t (D)talk to a (Em)man

with a shot gun (Em)in his (C)hand.

for the un der tak er.

You can’t (D)talk to a (Em)man

with a (D)shot gun (Em7)in his (C)hand,

a (C7)shot gun in his hand.

(G)Smack wa ter Jack bought a shot gun.

Yeah!

Smack wa ter Jack bought (C)a shot gun.

(C)Yeah!

(G)Smack wa ter Jack bought a shot gun.

Yeah!

Smack wa ter Jack bought (C)a shot gun.

(C)Yeah!

Smackwater Jack — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

7 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Smackwater Jack" by Carole King: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of G, 100 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Smackwater Jack”

What key is "Smackwater Jack" by Carole King played in?
Smackwater Jack is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Smackwater Jack"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Smackwater Jack" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Smackwater Jack"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Smackwater Jack"?
"Smackwater Jack" was originally performed by Carole King. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Carole King can I play here?
Try "YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND", "TAPESTRY", "I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Smackwater Jack" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Smackwater Jack" by Carole King. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Smackwater Jack" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in G, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Smackwater Jack" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.