The Great Compromise
John Prine

C
I knew a girl who was almost a lady
          F                           C      
She had a way with all the men in her life
      G
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
        F                     C
She was born on the Fourth of July
  C
Well, she lived in an aluminum house trailer
        F                      C
And she worked in a juke-box saloon
         G
And she spent all the money I'd give her
        F                      C
Just to see the ol' man in the moon

C
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
    F                         C
And awake in the Dawn's early light
         F                     C
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
        G                         C
I was a victim of the great compromise

C
Well, we'd go out on Saturday evening
       F                       C 
To the Drive-in on Route Forty One
           G
And it was there that I first suspected
             F                        C
That she was doin' what she'd already done
          C
She said "Johnny want you get me some popcorn"
        F                         C
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
       G
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
           F                     C 
She hopped into a foreign sports car

C
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
    F                         C
And awake in the Dawn's early light
         F                     C
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
        G                         C
I was a victim of the great compromise
 
C
Well you know, I could'a beat up that fella
           F                             C
But it was her that had hopped in to his car
        G
As many times as I'd fought to protect her
         F                      C
But this time she was goin' too far
 C
And some folks they call me a coward
         F                             C
'Cause I left her at the Drive-in that night
        G
But I'd druther have names thrown at me
        F                            C
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right

C
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
    F                         C
And awake in the Dawn's early light
         F                     C
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
        G                         C
I was a victim of the great compromise

C
Well, she writes all the fellas love letters
       F                              C
Sayin' greetings come and see me real soon
         G
And they go and line up in the bar-room
           F                          C
To spend a night in that sick woman's room
C
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
      F                      C
And I wish she were my girl instead
    G
But she won't let me live with her
        F                   C
And she makes me live in my head

C
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
    F                         C
And awake in the Dawn's early light
         F                     C
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
        G                         C        F   C
I was a victim of the great compromise