The Great Compromise
John Prine
D
Knew a girl who was almost a lady
G D
had a way with all the men in her life
A
every inch of her blossomin' beauty
G D
she was born on the fourth of july
well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
and she worked in a juke-box saloon
and she spent all the money i'd give her
just to see the ol' man in the moon
CHORUS:
D
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
G D
and awake in the dawns early light
G D
but much to my surprise when i opened my eyes
A D
i was a victim of the great compromise
------
we used to go out on saturday evening
to the drive in on route forty one
and it was there that I first suspected
she was doin' what she'd already done
she said 'johnny would you get me some popcorn
and she knew i had to walk pretty far
and as soon as i passed through the moonlight
she hopped into a foreign sports car
CHORUS
well you know, i could'a beat up that fella
but it was her that hopped in to his car
as many times as i'd fought to protect her
well this time she'd gone too far
and some folks call me a coward
'cause i left her at the drive in that night
but i'd rather have names thrown at me
than to fight for a thing that aint right
CHORUS
now she writes all the fellas love letters
sayin' greetings come and see me real soon
and they go and line up in the bar-room
to spend a night in that sick womans room
and sometimes i get awful lonesome
and i wish she were my girl instead
but she won't let me live with her
she makes me live in my head
CHORUS
-----
The Great Compromise
John Prine
Intro:
[C]
[C]I knew a girl who was almost a lady
She had a [F]way with all the men in her l[C]ife
Every [G]inch of her blossomed in beauty
She was [F]born on the Fourth of J[C]uly
W[C]ell, she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she wo[F]rked in a juke-box sa[C]loon
And she s[G]pent all the money I'd give her
Just to [F]see the ol' man in the m[C]oon
Chorus:
[C]I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And aw[F]ake in the Dawn's early l[C]ight
But much [F]to my surprise when I op[C]ened my eyes
I was a vi[G]ctim of the great compro[C]mise
Wel[C]l, we'd go out on Saturday evening
To the D[F]rive-in on Route Forty [C]One
And it was t[G]here that I first suspected
That she was d[F]oin' what she'd already d[C]one
S[C]he said "Johnny want you get me some popcorn"
And she k[F]new I had to walk pretty f[C]ar
And as s[G]oon as I passed through the moonlight
She hopped i[F]nto a foreign sports c[C]ar
Repeat Chorus:
W[C]ell you know, I could'a beat up that fella
But it was [F]her that had hopped in to his c[C]ar
As many t[G]imes as I'd fought to protect her
But this t[F]ime she was goin' too f[C]ar
A[C]nd some folks they call me a coward
'Cause I l[F]eft her at the Drive-in that n[C]ight
But I'd d[G]ruther have names thrown at me
Than to fi[F]ght for a thing that ain't ri[C]ght
Repeat Chorus:
Wel[C]l, she writes all the fellas love letters
Sayin' gr[F]eetings come and see me real s[C]oon
And they [G]go and line up in the bar-room
To spend a n[F]ight in that sick woman's r[C]oom
B[C]ut sometimes I get awful lonesome
And I w[F]ish she were my girl ins[C]tead
But she [G]won't let me live with her
And she m[F]akes me live in my he[C]ad
Ending:
[C]I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And aw[F]ake in the Dawn's early l[C]ight
But much [F]to my surprise when I op[C]ened my eyes
I was a vi[G]ctim of the great compro[C]mise [F] [C]
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