Chuck Prophet (born Charles William Prophet on 28 June 1963) is an American… Read Full Bio ↴Chuck Prophet (born Charles William Prophet on 28 June 1963) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Based in San Francisco, Prophet initially gained recognition as the youngest member of 80's college rock stalwarts Green on Red, with whom he was featured on numerous albums and touring lineups. In the early 1990s, as Green on Red faded to black, Prophet began performing with his future wife Stefanie Finch and releasing independent records on a variety of small labels.

Prophet released his solo debut Brother Aldo in 1990 on Fire records,(later reissued in the late 1990's on Walter Yetnikoff's Velvel imprint. His immediate career path took him through mostly European touring markets and his followup "Balinese Dancer" came out in 1993 & later the Steve Berlin produced "Feast of Hearts" came out in Europe only through the Fire imprint. After a decade long bout with substance abuse, Prophet resurfaced refreshed and renewed on the critical breakthroughs 1998's "Homemade Blood", 2000's "The Hurting Business" and 2002's live "Turn The Pigeons Loose" (all available via Cooking Vinyl in UK). By 2000 he'd recorded a side project with his wife Stefanie called Go Go Market and begun incorporating electronic influences into his traditional roots rock formula, resulting in some mainstream radio play and expanded exposure, culminating in the wider distribution of albums "No Other Love" from 2002 and 2004's "Age of Miracles" on New West Records. Chuck signed a new arrangement in the US with North Carolina based Yep Roc for 2007's "Soap and Water", an album that saw the musician invited to play twice on National Public Radio, as well as on televison talk shows like Late Night With David Letterman, and The Carson Daly Show.

Over the years he also began collaborating with other songwriters like Kelly Willis, Steve Yerkey and contributing as a guitarist/musician to studio efforts from folks like Jonathan Richman, Warren Zevon, Kim Carnes, Cake, Tom Heyman and Jewel. Alejandro Escovedo's upcoming 2008 release produced by Tony Visconti entitled Real Animal was co-written and recorded with Prophet. In addition to having his songs recorded by artists like Solomon Burke, Heart & Cyndi Thomson he has also recorded with men who started out as his influences like Jim Dickinson, Dan Penn and the late Warren Zevon.

www.chuckprophet.com.

Diamond Jim
Chuck Prophet Lyrics

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The neophyte lays down the law
And the choir boy plays five card draw
All the news that's fit to print
Rolls right off, don't make a dent
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
When Diamond Jim gets back
Diamond Jim will know just what to do

The mannequin takes off her clothes
The clowns are laughing at your nose
The weatherman he is the news
And Dick Clark's got the tombstone Blues
Diamond Jim, where youu hiding
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
When diamond Jim gets back
Diamond Jim will know just what to do
Where you been so doggone long?
Diamond Jim, don't shine me on
Your homeboy's under house arrest
it all feels too real to be a test
The open mikes are out of poems
And the pleasure's leaking from the domes
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
When Diamond Jim gets back
Diamond Jim will know just what to do
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
Diamond Jim, where you hiding
When Diamond Jim gets back
Diamond Jim will know just what to do

When Diamond Jim gets back
Diamond Jim will know just what to do

Overall Meaning

At first glance, Chuck Prophet's Diamond Jim seems like a stream of consciousness of random images and non-sequiturs. However, upon closer inspection, the lyrics paint a picture of the disorienting effects of modern society on the human psyche. The singer is searching for Diamond Jim, who represents stability and a sense of direction. In a world where the "news that's fit to print" passes by without making an impact and where the weatherman is the news, the need for someone like Diamond Jim is apparent.

The lyrics highlight the absurdity of certain societal norms through the image of the mannequin taking off her clothes and the clowns laughing at the singer's nose. Additionally, the fact that the open mikes are out of poems and the pleasure is "leaking from the domes" indicates a sense of ennui and disillusionment with creative pursuits. The reference to Dick Clark's tombstone blues adds another layer to the sense of despair - even someone as iconic as Dick Clark cannot escape the inevitability of death.

Line by Line Meaning

The neophyte lays down the law
Someone inexperienced is imposing their authority

And the choir boy plays five card draw
Even the most innocent can indulge in vices

All the news that's fit to print
The media only shares what they want to

Rolls right off, don't make a dent
The news has no impact on most people

Diamond Jim, where you hiding
Asking where someone has been and why they're not around

When Diamond Jim gets back
Anticipating someone's return and their expected actions

Diamond Jim will know just what to do
Having confidence in someone's ability to handle a situation

The mannequin takes off her clothes
Even artificial things can shed their outer layer

The clowns are laughing at your nose
Others may be mocking or laughing at you

The weatherman he is the news
The media creates their own stories

And Dick Clark's got the tombstone Blues
Even famous people face mortality