I recorded an old song that’s been kicking around for a few years and its sort of a theme song for my college band, Jack Swift. For those of you who are not familiar with Jack Swift, the band was started by myself and Darryle Brown, who was a sax player that lived across the hall in my college dorm. Jack Swift then grew with members from another band on campus called Tito and the Blue Mosquito and the rest is history.
We loved to jam. In fact that was our main thing. Our ever popular song “Hey, Weatherman” would often go on for twenty minutes and it was easy to go that long with multiple horns, keys, bass and drums. Everybody had to take a turn soloing.
So I wrote “Jack Be Nimble” as a hope for success for us because we were working really hard throughout college to gain a following. We did eventually get that success after we went on a 5 week tour across the northwest United States. It was a hell of a time.
I decided to dust off this song and add it back into the song rotation for live shows a couple of months ago so I figured I’d record it and make a simple music video to go along with it since I do want to put out more videos.
I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think!
Lyrics:
I sent in the package just the other day
And I know that you told me it's not the only way
We’ll go about masquerading before the day is through
And dance down melody lane like too few ever do
You'll hear the horns blowing and the notes carried by the wind
And you better listen close, love. You won’t hear it the same again.
But Jack now I’m in an alley and I’m up against the wall
With all my friends so far away, you’re the closest one to call
Jack be nimble and Jack be swift
Jack come around now and give me a lift
For you know I have been feeling just a little low
And I need a good friend to come around and sing 'hello'
Last week I took Aunt Paula just a piece of your clothes
She said wanted to see how it wrinkled and how it flowed
I don’t know what she thinks, I haven’t spoken with her since
It might be weeks or months or we might never see her again
But Jack won’t you still help me and move with haste
For you know we have not much more time to waste
And the mirror is my fear in future years
I don’t want to visit you in the graveyard on Sundays with my eyes full of tears
Jack be nimble and Jack be swift
Jack come around now and give me a lift
For you know I have been feeling just a little low
And I need a good friend to come around and sing 'hello'
The crowd will watch as we cross the bassline
And they’ll see us safe on the other side
But for now Jack, the eye is on you
Go with me safe and go with me true