> Folk Music > Songs > Alright Jack

Alright Jack

[John Tams]

John Tams sang his own song Alright Jack in 1986 as the title track of Home Service’s LP Alright Jack. A live recording from the same year was released in 2011 on their Fledg’ling CD Live 1986.

Lyrics

Home Service sing Alright Jack

You don’t need a man with a brick in his hand
Or a glass in your face so you know where you stand
Lift up your heads from out of the sands
You might see what a state we’re in

You don’t need the papers to tell you all the news
If you stand by the reds or you’re true unto the blues
Lift up your eyes instead of looking down at your shoes
You might see what a state we’re in

Chorus (after each verse):
And I’m alright Jack—pull up the ladder
Alright Jack—I’m safe on the wall
Alright Jack—and if you climb just a little bit higher
But the higher you climb the further you fall

You don’t need a number instead of a name
If you don’t like the smoke then don’t fan the flame
And if you look in the mirror you might see who is to blame
You might see what a state we’re in

You don’t need a salesman to prattle and to pose
If you buy one of these you get a free one of those
He could sell you a ring to put right through your nose
You might see what a state we’re in

You don’t need the queues for assistance and for dole
Taxation, inflation, population control
If you listen to the tills you can hear the bells toll
You might see what a state we’re in