A
Standing on the waters casting your bread
           D                        E            
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are
 A
Glowing
A
Distant ships sailing into the mist
D                                          E    
You were born with a snake in both of your fists
                        A
While a hurricane was blowing
Bm      E                             A
Freedom just around the corner for you
             Bm                E                
But with the truth so far off, what good will it
  A   D
Do?

E                      D
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
A        E/G#        F#m           E
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
D              E                    A  
Ohhhhh, oh, oh,ohhhhh oh oh oh oh  Jokerman

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky
You rise up and say goodbye to no one
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't
Show one
Shedding off one more layer of skin
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the
Clouds
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care? Ain't nobody there would want
To marry your sister
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man
Without any name

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only
Teachers
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed
Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your
Features
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking
Your face

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh. oh. oh. Jokerman

Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame
Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first
Is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they
Spin
Only a matter of time 'til night comes steppin' in

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and
Dressed him in scarlet
He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to
The heat
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman