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Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks Lyrics by Johnny Burnette

Sings

1961

A one-eyed Jack rode to Monterey in the heat of the blazing sun
When Sheriff Longworth saw Kid Rio, he strapped on his fast gun
The sheriff didn't trust the one eyed Jack nor the deadly smile he wore
An' when that night he shamed Louisa, in vengeance the sheriff swore
[Chorus:]
Beware of the one-eyed Jacks, especially if they're wild
One-eyed Jacks are deadly, even when they smile
Never trust a one-eyed Jack with his cold, cold heart of stone
He will only show one side to you, for his soul is the devil's own
Ten cracks of the sheriff's whip cut deep. The pain-filled Rio cursed
"You'd better kill me while you can or I will get you first."
The angry sheriff raised his gun butt high, then smashed Rio's trigger hand
"You're done for now, you one-eyed Jack, you will kill no other man."
[Chorus]
Beware of the one-eyed Jacks, especially if they're wild
One-eyed Jacks are deadly, even when they smile
Never trust a one-eyed Jack with his cold, cold heart of stone
He will only show one side to you, for his soul is the devil's own
The creaky iron doors slammed shut tight. The one-eyed Jack was jailed
With Louisa's help he soon escaped for his true love had not failed
The horses rode off with the lovers two as the smokin' six guns burst
The sheriff aimed his gun at the one-eyed Jack, but the one-eyed Jack shot first
[Chorus]
Beware of the one-eyed Jacks, especially if they're wild
One-eyed Jacks are deadly, even when they smile
Never trust a one-eyed Jack with his cold, cold heart of stone
He will only show one side to you, for his soul is the devil's own
Credits
Johnny Burnette

Johnny Burnette

About “Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks” by Johnny Burnette

Read the complete lyrics to "Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks" by Johnny Burnette from the album "Sings" in 1961. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks" is performed by Johnny Burnette. from the album "Sings" in 1961 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks", explore more songs by Johnny Burnette using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks" is credited to Johnny Burnette. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Ballad of the One Eyed Jacks" appears on "Sings" in 1961.

Visit the Johnny Burnette artist page at /artist/johnny-burnette for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.