Jack Johnson chords by Tom Russell (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

G5
Fsus2
Csus2
G
C
Dsus4
Bm7
Em
Am
D

Intro 1

Fsus2

Csus2

Fsus2

Csus2

Fsus2

Verse 1
G 
C 
He was born in 1890,
G 
C 
on the Gulf of Mexico
G 
C 
Fought his way around the world
G 
C 
with hand, and heart, and soul
G 
C 
He trot out all your Great White Hopes
G 
C 
But they'd better bring a gun
G 
C 
Jack Johnson's made of iron
G 
C 
he's all counter punch and run

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Chorus 1

Dsus4

Yonder comes Jack Johnson

Like he owns the town

Bm7

There's a lot of white Americans

Like to see a man go down

Like to see a black man

Interlude 1

Csus2

Fsus2

(drown)

Csus2

Fsus2

Csus2

Fsus2

Verse 2
G 
C 
Jack stood on the Titanic pier
G 
C 
with a thousand dollar roll
G 
C 
But the captain said, "Sorry boy
D 
C 
we ain't haulin' coal"
G 
C 
So Jack danced the Eagle Rock
G 
C 
in a tavern on the shore
G 
C 
While the captain danced his final dance
G 
C 
on the Atlantic Ocean floor

Chorus 2
G 
Dsus4 
Yonder comes Jack Johnson
G 
C 
Like he owns the town
Bm7 
Em 
There's a lot of white Americans
Am 
C 
Like to see a man go down
D 
Like to see a black man

Solo 1

Csus2

(drown)

Csus2

Verse 3
G 
C 
Jack Johnson beat Jim Jeffries,
G 
C 
till there weren't nothin' left
G 
C 
And every time he'd throw a punch
G 
C 
he'd say "Package for Mr. Jeff!"
G 
C 
Then he ran off with some white girl,
G 
C 
man that made 'em mad
G 
C 
All agreed and all decreed,
G 
C 
that Black Man was bad

Chorus 3
G 
Dsus4 
Yonder comes Jack Johnson
G 
C 
Like he owns the town
Bm7 
Em 
There's a lot of white Americans
Am 
C 
Like to see a man go down
D 
Like to see a black man

Interlude 2

Csus2

Fsus2

(drown)

Csus2

Fsus2

Verse 4

Csus2

Well, I stole a line from Lead Belly

Csus2

I don't think he'd mind

Csus2

'Cause Lead Belly and Jack,

They were cut from the same vine

Chorus 4
G 
Dsus4 
Yonder comes Jack Johnson
G 
C 
Like he owns the town
Bm7 
Em 
There's a lot of white Americans
Am 
C 
Like to see a man go down
D 
Like to see a black man

Outro 1

Csus2

Fsus2

(drown)

Csus2

Fsus2

Csus2

Fsus2

1991Folk

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GuitarPianoUkulele

G5
Fsus2
Csus2
G
C
Dsus4
Bm7
Em
Am
D

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: G majorBPM: 114

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

G5: 3-5-x-x-x-x
Fsus2: x-x-3-0-1-3
Csus2: x-3-0-0-1-x
G: 3-2-0-0-0-3
C: x-3-2-0-1-0
Dsus4: x-x-0-2-3-3
Bm7: x-2-4-2-3-x
Em: 0-2-2-0-0-0
Am: x-0-2-2-1-0
D: x-x-0-2-3-2

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Jack Johnson by Tom Russell, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of G major. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of Tom Russell's performance.