[tomcrocus]

Sometimes life it's hard
show your hand make the joker your card
sometimes when you're down on your knees
you can't see the wood cos there's too many trees
sometimes life it's hard
show your hand make the joker your card
you'd better all smile while you're poking the witch
cos sometimes life it's a son of a bitch

a school called life you might just learn
at every other corner there's another turn
that cat called billy he was a bard
don't make it hard make the joker your card

deal the aces show your hand
we're all just faces understand
the king of the swingers could be the queen
but that's just life man you know what i mean

a school called life you might just learn
at every other corner there's another turn
that cat called billy he was a bard
don't make it hard make the joker your card

sometimes life it's hard
show your hand make the joker your card
sometimes when you're down on your knees
you can't see the wood cos there's too many trees
sometimes life it's hard
show your hand make the joker your card
you'd better all smile while you're poking the witch
cos sometimes life it's a son of a bitch
yeah just smile while you're poking the witch
cos sometimes life it's a son of a bitch.

[Bernd]

Cool!

I'd simplify it a bit, though:

Sometimes life is hard  [why "it's"? When sung it can't be heard properly anyway]
show your hand make the joker your card
sometimes you're down on your knees
can't see the wood cos there's too many trees
sometimes life is hard
show your hand make the joker your card
you'd better all smile while you're poking the witch
cos sometimes life is a son of a bitch

Also:
"a school called life that's where you learn" [why future tense?], could also read "where we learn" or "where we all learn".

Kudos!

Bernd

[PopTodd]

First off: I LOVE the title of this song: "Make the Joker Your Card" can mean so many different things. It's a brilliant phrase that's a nice little play on a cliché; gives it just enough of a twist to make it cool.

And I like the way that you play with other clichés throughout the lyric, too: "sometimes life, it's a son of a bitch."
No, life isn't a bitch, but it's a son of a bitch.
I smiled.

And, what I presume to be the chorus, is wonderful:
a school called life that's where you'll learn
at every other corner there's another turn
that cat called billy he was a bard
don't make it hard make the joker your card

BUT…
I do agree with Bernd in that it does get a little busy. Unless you know he melody already and how it's all going to fit, this would be a tough lyric for somebody else to write a melody for.
Also, even if you do have it all written, melody and all, another singer might have a hard time fitting all those words in their mouth.
If you can, see if you can trim a little of the verbal fat. Sometimes, leaner is meaner and easier to swallow, too.
(see what I did there? )

[tomcrocus]

Bernd,PopTodd,
                     yes i agree this may need a bit of tweaking,i may have been a little
bit hasty when i posted it,i wrote it and thought i'll stick it straight on the forum,hindsight!!!
i also think the line,

"You'd better all smile while you're poking the witch"
should have been
"You'd better all smile while you're drinking the witch"

Cheers chaps,
                    Tom.

[Paulski]

Hi Tom - your usual rhythmic excellence shines through here. Man, when am I going to get to hear one of these sung! I loved this section:

you'd better all smile while you're poking the witch
cos sometimes life it's a son of a bitch

"poking the witch" can be interpreted a number of ways here in Canada anyway.

Good stuff Tom!
Paul

[tomcrocus]

Thanks a lot paul,
                         i'm chuffed with that feedback,
 
"Poking the witch",it's a little bit naughty and i thought it might
need changing but after your feedback maybe not,cheers,
                                                                               tom.

[Vintage54]

     Hi Tom,
         Not your'e best post. The cliches pile up, or was that intentional. But whatever i think are it's failings, you always manage to throw in a line or two, that sets you aside from the mundane. Worthy, for that alone.

                           Vintage54

[PopTodd]

     Hi Tom,
         Not your'e best post. The cliches pile up, or was that intentional. But whatever i think are it's failings, you always manage to throw in a line or two, that sets you aside from the mundane. Worthy, for that alone.

                           Vintage54

The way I was reading it, it seemed intentional.