Old Joe Clark Banjo Tab - Beginner and Intermediate Versions

Old Joe Clark! This is such a fun tune. Learn it now because, if you ever attend an old time jam, you're definitely gonna play this one.With its driving melody and repetitive verses, it’s easy to improvise and put your own spin on it.

We're going to dive into the history behind the tune, explore some of the NINETY verses this song has, break it down and and provide some free printable clawhammer tabs to get you going. Let's get to work!

The Elusive History of Old Joe Clark

While no one knows the true origins of “Old Joe Clark,” it likely emerged in the late 19th century American South. Depending on your source, Joe Clark could have been one of a bunch of people - Joe Clark not being a very uncommon name. 

The most popular story of Old Joe Clark is that he was a Kentucky general store owner and moonshiner in the mid-late 1800s. He made a lot of enemies and was murdered in 1885. There's a historical marker in his hometown of Sexton's Creek that reads

"Mountain ballad, about 90 stanzas sung during World War I and later wars by soldiers from eastern Kentucky. Early version as sung in Virginia, printed in 1918. Joe Clark born 1839, lived here; a shiftless and rough mountaineer of that day. His enemies were legion; he was murdered in 1885. In the moonshining days of the 1870s he ran a government supervised still."

What’s undisputed is how catchy and popular the melody became among old-time Appalachian musicians. It was a fiddle favorite at community dances. And its upbeat drive and repetitive verses made it perfect for clawhammer banjo as well.

Old Joe Clark was recorded commercially in the 1920s and 30s. Since then it has become a jam session staple. It spread into the bluegrass scene and is still played widely today. The tune welcomes improvisation, so every player can put their own spin on it while paying homage to the old mountain sound.

Let's talk about those 90 verses

Ninety is probably an understatement. This is one of those songs everyone made up their own words for and, since there's no "official" version, the best advice I can give you is to pick a few you like. Here are some of my favourites:

Old Joe Clark, the preacher's son
Preached all over the pain
The only text he ever knew
Was High, low, Jack and the game

Old Joe Clark had a house
Fifteen stories high
And every story in that house
Was filled with chicken pie

I wish I had me a sweetheart
I'd put her on a shelf
And if she'd ever smile at me
I'd climb up there myself

Well, I wouldn't marry that old maid
I'll tell you the reason why
Her neck's so long and stringy, boys
I fear she'd never die

I don’t give a damn for Old Joe Clark
and I’ll tell you the reason why
He blows his nose in old corn bread
and calls it chicken pie

The chorus isn't much more straightforward! Here's the 2 versions I like:

Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark
Goodbye Betsy Brown
Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark
I'm going to leave this town

Get out the way for Old Joe Clark
Hide away your wine
Get out the way for Old Joe Clark
He's no friend of mine

Or, just make up your own words! 

Free Clawhammer Banjo Tabs for Old Joe Clark

Drop your email below and I'll send you beginner and intermediate tabs for Old Joe Clark. 

Let me know if you’d like more free classic banjo tabs. I hope these help you jam out on a beloved old-time tune. Happy playing!