Excerpts from a teenage opera    (video)    (intro)

 

    F - C - G - C      - F - G - F - G - C

 

       C

1. Count the days into years, his eighty two brings many fears,

      F

    yesterday's laughter turned to tears.

            F

    His arms and legs don't feel so strong,

             C

    his heart is weak, there's something wrong,

     G

    opens windows in despair, tries to breathe in some fresh air.

            F

    His conscience cries: "Get on your feet,

           C

    without you, Jack, the town can't eat!"

 

    C                   G                     F

Grocer Jack, Grocer Jack, get off your back,

     G                       C                                Am

go into town, don`t let them down, oh no, no.

    C                   G                     F

Grocer Jack, Grocer Jack, get off your back,

      G                      C                                 Am    - F - G

go into town, don`t let them down, oh no, no.

 

              C

2. The people that live in the town, don`t understand

              F

    he`s never been known to miss his round.

           F                                                           

    It`s ten o`clock, the housewives yell,

                 C

    ”When Jack turns up, we`ll give him hell!”

      G

    Husbands moaning, breakfast tables,

 

    no milk, no eggs, no marmalade labels.

       F                                              

    Mothers send their children out,

    C

    to Jack`s house to scream and shout. 

 

 

 

 

                                               

    C                   G                     F

Grocer Jack, Grocer Jack, get off your back,

          G                       C                            Am

come into town, don`t let us down, oh no, no.

    C                   G                     F

Grocer Jack, Grocer Jack, get off your back,

      G                      C                            Am    

go into town, don`t let us down, oh no, no.

 

+ F - G - C - Am       - Em - Am - F - G        - F - C - G - C

 

            C

3. It`s Sunday morning, bright and clear, lovely flowers

      F

    decorate a marvellous square.

        F                                             C

    People cry and walk away and think about the fateful day,

      G    

    now they wish, they`d given Jack more attention and respect.

     F                                                             C

    Little children, dressed in black, don`t know what happened to old Jack.

 

        C                   G               F                      G

    Grocer Jack, Grocer Jack, is it true what mummy says,

             C                                     Am

    you won`t come back ? Oh no, no!  (5x)    

 

+ C - G - F - G - C - Am  (4x) ...

 

(orig. = capo 4th)    (Keith West)