The Joker | Chords + Lyrics
Verse 1
||: F Bb | C Bb :||
Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah.
Some call me the gangster of love.
Some people call me Maurice.
‘Cause I speak of the pompatus of love.
Verse 2
||: F Bb | C Bb :||
People talk about me, baby.
Say I’m doin’ you wrong, doin’ you wrong.
Well, don’t you worry, baby, don’t worry.
‘Cause I’m right here, right here, right here, right here at home.
Chorus 1
| F Bb | F Bb |
‘Cause I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I play my music in the sun.
| F Bb | F Bb |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I sure don’t want to hurt no one.
Chorus 2
| F Bb | F Bb |
I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I play my music in the sun.
| F Bb | F Bb |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| F Bb | C Csus4 | Csus4 |
I get my lovin’ on the run. Ooh, whoo, ooh, whoo.
Instrumental 1
||: F Bb | C Bb :|| x4
Verse 3
||: F Bb | C Bb :||
You’re the cutest thing that I ever did see.
I really love your peaches, wanna shake your tree.
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time.
Ooh wee baby, I’ll sure show you a good time.
Chorus 3
| F Bb | F Bb |
‘Cause I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I play my music in the sun.
| F Bb | F Bb |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I get my lovin’ on the run.
Chorus 4
| F Bb | F Bb |
I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I play my music in the sun.
| F Bb | F Bb |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| F Bb | C Bb |
I sure don’t want to hurt no one.
Instrumental 2
| F Bb | F Bb | F Bb | C Bb |
| F Bb | F Bb | F Bb | C Csus4 | Csus4 |
Ooh, whoo, ooh, whoo
Verse 4
||: F Bb | C Bb :||
People keep talkin’ about me, baby.
Say I’m doin’ you wrong.
Well, don’t you worry, don’t worry, no don’t worry mama.
‘Cause I’m right here at home.
Verse 5 (to fade)
||: F Bb | C Bb :||
You’re the cutest thing I ever did see.
I really love your peaches, wanna shake your tree.
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time.
Come on baby now, I’ll show you a good time.
The Joker chords, progressions, and TAB
Search the internet for The Joker chords and I can guarantee it’ll say that the chords are in the key of G. Looking at the video in the playlist above, you can clearly see how Steve Miller plays G, C, and D chords.
Listening to the recording and it’s all in the key of F. So he must have tuned down a whole step, right?
Playing along with the record and I’m actually not sure, I reckon it’s possible that it’s played in F. Or maybe there are two guitars, one in standard, one tuned down a whole step.
Anyway, to be the one that goes against what you’ll find everywhere else, I’m going to stick with the idea that The Joker’s chords should be played in the key of F.
I guess my ultimate point is that you’re not going to bring a guitar tuned down a whole step for just one tune to the gig.
Also, everyone else in the band won’t understand what you mean when you claim The Joker should be played a tone up from the original recording so it’s easier for you. They’ll just think you’re lazy.
So in the name of being professional, and adjusting to what seems like the truth, let’s play it in F.
Below is TAB and to me, the bass line riff now finally sounds right. I’ve also taken the liberty to turn this into a one acoustic guitar arrangement. This part would also work if you’re the only guitarist in the band.
Ultimately, it’s of course up to you how to play The Joker’s chords, I hope my take here has offered a nice alternative.
With all that said and done, here are The Joker’s chords as if in the key of G. So you’d either tune down a tone or sing a tone higher than the original recording.
The Joker | Chords + Lyrics (tune down a tone)
Verse 1
||: G C | D C :||
Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah.
Some call me the gangster of love.
Some people call me Maurice.
‘Cause I speak of the pompatus of love.
Verse 2
||: G C | D C :||
People talk about me, baby.
Say I’m doin’ you wrong, doin’ you wrong.
Well, don’t you worry, baby, don’t worry.
‘Cause I’m right here, right here, right here, right here at home.
Chorus 1
| G C | G C |
‘Cause I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| G C | D C |
I play my music in the sun.
| G C | G C |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| G C | D C |
I sure don’t want to hurt no one.
Chorus 2
| G C | G C |
I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| G C | D C |
I play my music in the sun.
| G C | G C |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| G C | D Dsus4 | Dsus4 |
I get my lovin’ on the run. Ooh, whoo, ooh, whoo.
Instrumental
||: G C | D C :|| x4
Verse 3
||: G C | D C :||
You’re the cutest thing that I ever did see.
I really love your peaches, wanna shake your tree.
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time.
Ooh wee baby, I’ll sure show you a good time.
Chorus 3
| G C | G C |
‘Cause I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| G C | D C |
I play my music in the sun.
| G C | G C |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| G C | D C |
I get my lovin’ on the run.
Chorus 4
| G C | G C |
I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner.
| G C | D C |
I play my music in the sun.
| G C | G C |
I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.
| G C | D C |
I sure don’t want to hurt no one.
Instrumental 2
| G C | G C | G C | D C |
| G C | G C | G C | D Dsus4 | Dsus4 |
Ooh, whoo, ooh, whoo
Verse 4
||: G C | D C :||
People keep talkin’ about me, baby.
Say I’m doin’ you wrong.
Well, don’t you worry, don’t worry, no don’t worry mama.
‘Cause I’m right here at home.
Verse 5 (to fade)
||: G C | D C :||
You’re the cutest thing I ever did see.
I really love your peaches, wanna shake your tree.
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time.
Come on baby now, I’ll show you a good time.
The Joker | Related pages
Five similar tunes
- (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay chords
- Angie chords
- Bad Moon Rising chords
- Me and Bobby McGee chords
- Stuck In The Middle With You chords
Steve Miller Band
Steve had his first success with a Blues band in Chicago but soon moved to San Fransico to set up what was to become the Steve Miller Band.
Their best-known tunes include The Joker, Abracadabra, Take the Money and Run, Fly Like An Eagle, and Rock’n Me.
Steve Miller Band on the web
