You Don't Mess Around With Jim

by Jim Croce
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Lyrics

(E)Up town got its hus tlers,

the Bow ’ry got its bums.

For ty sec ond Street got big Jim Walk er; he a pool shoot in’ son of a gun

Yeah, (E7)he big and dumb as a man can come but he (A)strong er than a (D)coun try hoss.

And when the (B7)bad folks all get to (A7)geth er at night, you know they (B7)all call big Jim “Boss”

just be cause.

And they say, “You don’t (A7)tug on Su per man’s (E)cape, you don’t (A7)spit in to the (E7)wind, you don’t (A7)pull the mask off the old Lone Rang er, and you (B7)don’t mess a round with Jim.”

Well, out a (E)south Al a bam a come a coun try boy.

He said, “I’m look in’ for a man named Jim.

I am a pool shoot in’ boy, my name is Wil lie Mc Coy, but down home they call me “Slim.”

Yeah, (E7)I’m look in’ for the (D)king of For ty (A7)sec ond Street, he (D)driv in’ a drop top (D)Cad il lac.

(D)Last week he took all my mon ey and it (A7)may sound fun ny but I (B7)come to get my mon ey back.” And ev ’ry bod y (E)say, “Jack, don’t you (E7)know that you don’t

Well, a hush fell o ver the pool room, Jim my come bop pin’ in off the street.

And when the cut tin’ were done the on ly part that was n’t blood y was the soles of the big man’s feet.

Yeah, (E7)he were (A)cut in ’bout a (D)hun dred plac es, and he were (A7)shot in a (D)cou ple more.

And you (B7)bet ter be lieve they sung a (A7)dif f’rent kind of sto ry when a (B7)big Jim hit the floor, oh.

Now they say you don’t (A7)tug on Su per man’s (E)cape, you don’t (A7)spit in to the (E7)wind, you don’t (A7)pull the mask off the old Lone Rang ger and you (B7)don’t mess a round with “Slim.”

You Don't Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce

6 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of E at 145 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “You Don't Mess Around With Jim

What key is "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" in?
"You Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce is in the key of E with a tempo of 145 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" easy to play on piano?
This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.

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