John Gorka Home videos
25th homemade video (September 20, 2020)
''Jack's Crows"

On September 20, 2020 John wrote:" Home Video # 25 is a new version of the title song from my 3rd CD - Jack’s Crows. I hope you like it!

Jack's Crows is the title song of John Gorka's third album (1991)

"Jack's Crows" is a song about Jack Hardy
Jack Hardy was an important figure in the Greenwich Village folk scene and his songs are sung by singers around the world. Jack was the host and organizer for a long running songwriter's circle in New York City that at times included Shawn Colvin, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, David Massingill and many other well known writers as regulars. Gorka's song "Jack's Crows" was a tongue in cheek tribute to the circle. He was the founder of the Fast Folk Musical Magazine and its series of recordings that are now available from Smithsonian Folkways. Jack's own recordings were made for labels both here and in Europe and there was a 10 disc retrospective of his work from 1965 to 1995. His recent work is on his own Great Divide label. Jack will be missed by his friends and fans worldwide.

John Gorka (on Facebook) about Jack: (March 14, 2011): Goodbye Jack -- Give 'em hell Jack Hardy was a hero of mine who became a friend. He encouraged me to write songs when I needed encouragement the most. I attempted a version of his song "Potter's Field" on Friday night after hearing the news of his passing. I can't believe he's gone. The first opening act I did at Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse was in June of 1979. Russ Rentler and I did a set as The Razzy Dazzy Brothers opening for Jack. That whole summer I listened to Mirror of My Madness and The Nameless One. Hearing Jack play that night and talking to him about songwriting changed my life. I'm very glad to have known him, but I wish he were still here.

Click here to listen to John Gorka talking about Jack Hardy in 2005 on npr (and the song "Potter's Field")

- Click here for Red River Valley (April 5, 2020)
- Click here for Better times Will Come (April 12, 2020)
- Click here for Polly Wally (April 19, 2020)
- Click here for Soap Opera (April 26, 2020)
- Click here for Maya May I, (May 1, 2020)
- Click here for My Creole Belle (May 10, 2020)
- Click here for Careless Love (May 17, 2020)
- Click here for You Can Run (May 24, 2020)
- Muting the Sea (May 31,2020)
- Click here for Ignorance and Privilege (June 7, 2020)
- Click here for The Mercy of the Wheels. (June 14, 2020)
- If I Could Forget To Breathe (June 21, 2020)
- Let them in (June 28, 2020)
- Unblind The Referee (July 5, 2020)
- The Dutchman (July 12, 2020)
- Morningside (July 19, 2020)
- Cowboy Song (July 26, 2020)
- That's How Legends Are Made (August 2, 2020)
- If Not Now (August 9, 2020)
- Arroyo Seco (August 16, 2020)
- Shenandoah (August 23, 2020)
- Outside (August 30, 2020)
- Outnumbered (September 6, 2020)
- Brown shirts (September 13, 2020)
- Jack’s Crows (September 20, 2020)
- Where No Monument Stands (September 27, 2020)
- Blue Chalk (October 4, 2020)
- Zuly (October 11, 2020)
- The Sentinel (October 18, 2020)
- Where The Bottles Break (October 25 2020)
- If I Could (November 1, 2020)
- Particle & Wave (November 8, 2020)
- True in Time (November 15, 2020)
- Edgar The Party Man ( November 22, 2020)
- The Water is Wide (November 29, 2020)
- The Streets of Laredo (December 6, 2020)
- Spanish is the Loving Tongue (December 13, 2020)
- Christmas Bells (December 20, 2020)
- Riverside (December 27. 2020) Recorded earlier
- Auld Lang Syne (January 3, 2021)

Click here to go to the John Gorka "Home videos homepage"

Jack’s Crows (Lyrics)

Jack's crows are loud in the morning
They're critical of other birds
Farmers don't appreciate 'em
Though they don't say it in so many words

Jack's crows Jack's crows
Where everybody's from
And nobody goes
That's where you're gonna find Jack's crows

Jack's crows have a bad reputation
Some of them are known as thieves
They're involved in strange celebrations
And magic on All Hallow's Eve

Jack's crows Jack's crows
Where everybody's from
And nobody goes
That's where you're gonna find Jack's crows

Jack's crows are all very ancient
No relation to the crows of Jim
Jim was driven to the shadows
But now you're seeing more of him

With Jack's crows Jack's crows
Where everybody's from
And nobody goes
That's where you're gonna find Jack's crows

Jack's crows are in for a murder
A murder is a gathering
Some watch some go a little further
Some eat what the others bring

To Jack's crows Jack's crows
Where everybody's from
And nobody goes
That's where you're gonna find Jack's crows.