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)