Jim Croce

James Joseph Croce (January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter.

Jim Croce in 1972

Song lyrics

You Don't Mess Around with Jim (1972)

• You don't tug on Superman's cape.
  You don't spit into the wind.
  You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger.
  And you don't mess around with Jim.
  • "You Don't Mess Around with Jim"

• Operator, well could you help me place this call?
  Cause I can't read the number that you just gave me.
  There's something in my eyes,
  You know it happens every time
  I think about the love that I thought would save me.

  But isn't that the way they say it goes?
  Well let's forget all that
  And give me the number if you can find it
  So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine, and to show
  I've overcome the blow,
  I've learned to take it well.
  I only wish my words could just convince myself
  That it just wasn't real.
  But that's not the way it feels.

  • "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)"

• If I could save time in a bottle,
  The first thing that I'd like to do
  Is to save every day till eternity passes away
  Just to spend them with you.
  • "Time in a Bottle"

• But there never seems to be enough time
  To do the things you want to do, once you find them.
  I've looked around enough to know
  That you're the one I want to go through time with.
  • "Time in a Bottle"

Life and Times (1973)

• But tomorrow's a dream away and today has turned to dust.
  Your silver tongue has turned to clay and your golden rule to rust.
  If that's the way that you want it well that's the way I want it more,
  Cause there'll be one less set of footprints on your floor in the mornin'.
  Oh there'll be one less set of footsteps on your floor in the mornin'.
  • "One Less Set of Footsteps"

• Well, the South side of Chicago is the baddest part of town.
  And if you go down there, you better just beware
  Of a man named Leroy Brown.
  Now, Leroy, more than trouble,
  You see, he stands, about, six foot four.
  All the downtown ladies call him "Treetop Lover",
  All the men just call him "Sir" (Right on).

  And he's bad, bad Leroy Brown,
  The baddest man in the whole damn town.
  Badder than old King Kong,
  Meaner than a junkyard dog.

  • "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"

• But it doesn't have to be that way;
  What we had should never have ended.
  I'll be dropping by today.
  We could easily get it together tonight,
  It's only right.
  • "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way"

I Got a Name (1973)

• Like the pine trees lining the winding road,
  I've got a name, I've got a name.
  Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad,
  I've got a name, I've got a name.

  And I carry it with me like my daddy did,
  But I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid.

  Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway,
  Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by.

  • "I Got a Name", written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel

• Well, I had just got out from the county prison,
  Doin' ninety days for non-support.
  Tried to find me an executive position,
  But no matter how smooth I talked,
  They wouldn't listen to the fact that I was genius.
  The man said, "We got all that we can use,"
  Now I got them

  Steadily depressin', low down mind-messin'
  Workin' at the carwash blues.

  • "Workin' at the Car Wash Blues"

• Well, I know it's kinda late;
  I hope I didn't wake you.
  But what I gotta say can't wait.
  I know you'd understand.

  Every time I tried to tell you
  The words just came out wrong.
  So, I'll have to say "I love you" in a song.

  • "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song"