I Ought To Know, Jack
I’ve known Jack Hardy for over thirty years. I was already writing my own songs when I first heard him sing at Folk City in New York in 1976; I was immediately enchanted by his songwriting and singing. I was pleased to hear that Jack’s children had my recordings when they were growing up and we’ve gone full circle now that my son has discovered his recordings and plays and sings many of Jack’s songs. If our society valued poets and artists, he’d be a household name. I am happy to call him my friend.
One of my favorite songs of Jack’s is called I Ought To Know. After his last visit here, we were sitting around our kitchen table and I suggested he write a kids version of his song. He politely ignored the suggestion but allowed me to write and record this one. Ray Tilkens joins me on guitar and bass on this homage; check out Jack’s wonderfully crafted original song here.
BLP, 2006
I Ought To Know, Jack
Press arrow to hear the complete song
I ought to know, more than I know
I ought to know what makes the world go
I ought to know why the grass is so green
By every latrine
This I ought to know
I ought to know all about Jack and Jill
I ought to know what happened on that hill
I ought to know about Little Bo Peep
And what’s up with her sheep
This I ought to know, but I don’t
I ought to know all the nursery rhymes
I ought to know what they meant in their times
I ought to know who was there at the ball
And who took the fall
This I ought to know
I ought to know when to cross my T’s
I ought to know more than my ABC’s
I ought to know about the wolf at the door
And what not to fall for
This I ought to know, but I don’t
We don’t know nothing about nothing
And someone’s lost his crown
We don’t know nothing about nothing
London Bridge is fallin’ down
But no one hears a sound
We’ve marked our way but the bread crumbs can’t be found
I ought to know
I ought to know about the Gingerbread Man
I ought to know he got outfoxed as he ran
I ought to know every cautionary tale
That never gets stale
This I ought to know
I ought to know about Old Mother Hubbard
I ought to know about those bones in her cupboard
I ought to know who gets sent to the corner
Like Little Jack Horner
This I ought to know, but I don’t
I ought to know more than they teach us at school
I ought to know who is the real fool
I ought to know if this is all that there is
And will it be on the quiz
This I ought to know
I ought to know about the stories I’m told
I ought to know about the way that they’re sold
I ought to know what gets thrown out with the trash
And who gets the cash
This I ought to know, but I don’t
We don’t know nothing about nothing
And someone’s lost his crown
We don’t know nothing about nothing
London Bridge is fallin’ down
But no one hears a sound
We’ve marked our way but the bread crumbs can’t be found
I ought to know
Music © copyright by Jack Hardy Music
new lyrics © copyright by Barry Louis Polisar