The Great Compromise Lyrics by John Prine

The Great Compromise Lyrics

    I knew a girl who was almost a lady
    She had a way with all the men in her life
    Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
    And 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 give her
    Just to see the old man in the moon

    Chorus:
    I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
    And awake in the dawn's early light
    But much to my surprise
    When i opened my eyes
    I was a victim of the great compromise

    Well we'd go out on saturday evenings
    To the drive-in on route 41
    And it was there that i first suspected
    That she was doin' what she'd already done
    She said "johnny won't 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

    (repeat chorus)

    Well you know i could have beat up that fellow
    But it was her that had hopped into his car
    Many times i'd fought to protect her
    But this time she was goin' too far
    Now some folks they call me a coward
    'cause i left her at the drive-in that night
    But i'd druther have names thrown at me
    Than to fight for a thing that ain't right

    (repeat chorus)

    Now she writes all the fellows love letters
    Saying "greetings, come and see me real soon"
    And they go and line up in the barroom
    And spend the night in that sick woman's room
    But sometimes i get awful lonesome
    And i wish she was my girl instead
    But she won't let me live with her
    And she makes me live in my head

    (repeat chorus)


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