"COMMON SENSE"
John Prine
1. MIDDLEMAN
2. COMMON SENSE
3. COME BACK TO US BARABRA LEWIS HARE KRISHNA BEAUREGARD
4. WEDDING DAY IN FUNERALVILLE
5. WAY DOWN
6. MY OWN BEST FRIEND
7. FORBIDDEN JIMMY
8. SADDLE IN THE RAIN
9. THAT CLOSE TO YOU
10. HE WAS IN HEAVEN BEFORE HE DIED
11. YOU NEVER CAN TELL
Atlantic Records, 1975
Middleman
John Prine
Intro:
[E] [A] [E] [B7] [E]
[E]I was sitting in a diner
With a girl named Flo
She wo[A]uldn't say yes
But she couldn't say no
She said "Da[E]rling, C[B7]an I get a middle m[E]an?"
She is engaged to a fellow
On the lay-a-way plan
Ca[A]rried all her money in a coffee can
She said "Dar[E]ling, C[B7]an I get a middle m[E]an?"
[A]The cook looked over
With a short order face
Dr[E]opped a fork
And he saw Flo's legs St[A]raighted his apron
And burnt my eggs
I got co[B7]mpetition everywhere I go these days
[E]Leaning on the juke box
Lookin' real good
Like Nat[A]alie Wood
On a Pontiac hood
I said "Dar[E]ling, I t[B7]hink I need a little h[E]and"
Ya see, I've seen my downs I've seen my ups
I've seen mi[A]niature dogs in coffee cups
But "Da[E]rling, I a[B7]in't never seen a middle m[E]an"
F[A]lo talked slow like real wet paint
She said "A mi[E]ddle man's there
When the other ones ain't
He's g[A]ot a left handed manner
That leans to the right
Sle[B7]eps all day
And keeps it up all night..."
I [E]got an Aunt in Ohio
And a boat that won't row
Some Ve[A]terans Insurance and nowhere to go
"Da[E]rling, C[B7]an I be your middle m[E]an?"
If [A]I could get the money in that coffee can
I could op[E]en me up a lemonade stand
Se[A]nd all the kids off to Pakistan
M[B7]ake Flo happy if I can
Instrumental:
[A] [E] [A] [B7]
[E]Jerry Jahoney and Johnny B. Goode
Are go[A]nna buy me a house in Hollywood
"Da[E]rling, I th[B7]ink I got the perfect p[E]lan"
Save half a dollars
A sell 'em to France
Bu[A]y us a record and learn how to dance
And Da[E]rling I'll a[B7]lways be your middle
Dar[E]ling go b[B7]uy a griddle
Dar[E]ling I w[B7]anna be your middle m[E]an" [E7]
Common Sense
John Prine
Intro:
[G] [C] [D] [G]
Y[G]ou can't live together
You can't live al[C]one
Co[D]nsidering the weather Oh, my, how you've gr[G]own
>From the men in the factories
To the wild kangar[C]oo
Like those bi[D]rds of a feather
They're gathering together
And feeling exactly like y[G]ou
T[G]hey got mesmerized by lullabies
And limbo danced in pa[C]irs
Please lock that d[D]oor
It don't make much sense that common sense
Don't make no sense no mo[G]re.
Just b[C]etween y[D]ou and [G]me
It's li[C]ke... pu[G]lling when you ou[D]ght to be sho[G]vin'
L[C]ike........ a n[G]un with her he[D]ad in the o[G]ven
Pl[C]ease...... don't t[G]ell me that this rea[D]lly wasn't not[G]hing
Instrumental:
[G] [C] [D] [G]
[G]One of these days
One of these ni[C]ghts
Y[D]ou'll take off your hat
And they'll read you your rig[G]hts
You'll wanna get high
Everytime you feel l[C]ow
Hey, Qu[D]een Isabella
Stay away from that fella
He'll just get you into trouble, you k[G]now?
But t[G]hey came here by boats
And they came here by pl[C]ane
T[D]hey blistered their hands
And they burned out their br[G]ain
All dreaming a dream
That'll never come t[C]rue
Hey, don't g[D]ive me no trouble
Or I'll call up my double
We'll play piggy-in-the-middle with y[G]ou
Y[G]ou'll get mesmerized by alibis
And limbo dance in p[C]airs
Please lock that d[D]oor
It don't make much sense that common sense
Don't make no sense no m[G]ore.
It don't ma[D]ke much sense that common sense
Don't make no sense no m[G]ore.
Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard
John Prine
Intro:
[F] [C] [G] [C]
T[C]he last time that I saw her
She was stan[F]ding [A7]in the r[D7]ain
With her ov[G]ercoat under her arm
Leaning on a horsehead c[C]ane
She said "Carl, take all the money"
She called e[F]veryb[A7]ody Ca[D7]rl
My sp[G]irit's broke
My mind's a joke,
And getting up's real h[C]ard.
Chorus:
Don't you k[F]now her when you see her?
She gr[C]ew up in your backy[F]ard
Come back to us
Barbara Le[C]wis Hare Krish[G]na Beaureg[C]ard
[F] [C] [G] [C]
[C]Selling Bibles at the airports
Buying qu[F]ayludes [A7]on the ph[D7]one
Hey, you t[G]alk about a paper route
She's a shut-in without a h[C]ome
God save her, please
She's nailed her knees to some d[F]rugstore pa[A7]rking l[D7]ot
Hey, Mr. Br[G]own turn the volume down
I believe this evening's sh[C]ot
Repeat Chorus:
[C]Can't you picture her next Thursday?
Can you pi[F]cture h[A7]er at a[D7]ll?
In the Ho[G]tel Boulderado
At the dark end of the h[C]all
I gotta shake myself and wonder
Why she e[F]ven bot[A7]hers [D7]me
For if hearta[G]ches were commercials
We'd all be on T.[C]V.
Don't you k[F]now her when you see her?
She gr[C]ew up in your backya[F]rd
Come back to us
Barbara Le[C]wis Hare Krish[G]na Beaureg[C]ard
Come b[F]ack to us
Barbara Le[C]wis Hare Kr[G]ishna Beaurega[C]rd [G] [C]
Wedding Day In Funeralville
John Prine
Intro:
[C] [G] [C] [G] [C] [G]
It's [C]Wedding Day in Funeralville
Your so[F]up spoon's on your ri[C]ght
The King and Queen will alt[E7]ernate
With the r[F]efrigerator li[G]ght
They'll be b[F]oxing on the T[C].V. show
The co[F]lored kids will s[G]ing
Hoo-r[F]ay for you and midn[C]ight's oil
Let's b[F]urn the wh[G]ole damn th[C]ing [F] [C]
[F] [G] [C] [F] [C]
F[C]elcia is my dark horse girl
I'll t[F]ake her if it ra[C]ins
She throws up punch up[E7]on the host
And says m[F]any stupid thi[G]ngs
But she a[F]in't so bad when we're a[C]ll alone
She as di[F]fferent as can [G]be
She's a pa[F]rt of my heart
Dont'cha p[C]ull us apart
She's like o[F]ne of the [G]fami[C]ly [F] [C]
Chorus:
[G]Oh no! Trouble in the attic
Won't som[F]ebody turn on a li[C]ght [F] [C]
[G]Got so, so many troubles
Can't e[F]ven tell wrong from ri[C]ght [F] [C]
I'm gonna comb my hair
Darn my socks
Tip my hat and say good ni[F]ght
It's Wedding Day in Fu[C]neralville
What sh[F]all I w[G]ear toni[C]ght? [F] [C]
It's Wedding Day in Funeralville
What sh[F]all I w[G]ear ton[C]ight? [F] [C]
Instrumental:
[C] [F] [C] [E7] [F] [G]
[F] [C] [F] [G]
[F] [C] [F] [G] [C] [F] [C]
[C]My car is stuck in Washington
And I c[F]annot find out w[C]hy
Come sit beside me [E7]on the swing
And wa[F]tch the angels c[G]ry
It's a[F]nybody's ballga[C]me
It's e[F]verybody's fi[G]ght
And the st[F]reetlamp said as he no[C]dded his head
It's lo[F]nesome o[G]ut toni[C]ght [F] [C]
Repeat Chorus:
Way Down
John Prine
Chorus:
W[C]ay d[G]own
W[F]ay down [C]it must be
[F]I can't stop this mis[C]ery
[G]It must be w[F]ay d[C]own [F] [C]
S[C]pring is just a sm[G]ile away
La[F]ughing at a s[C]ummer day
Tu[F]rn around lo[C]ok at Fall
Wi[G]nter, hear my lon[F]ely c[C]all
Repeat Chorus:
T[C]he air is thin and the s[G]ky is fat
I'm go[F]nna buy me a br[C]and new hat
W[F]ear it out and [C]go insane
Ch[G]rist, I hope it ne[F]ver ra[C]ins
Repeat Chorus:
Instrumental:
[C] [G]
[F] [C]
[F] [C]
[G] [F] [C] [F] [C]
Tho[C]ught I saw a n[G]eon sign
Fl[F]ash my name wi[C]th the time
Pr[F]obably didn't s[C]ee a thing
Cr[G]azy dreams and a b[F]roken w[C]ing
Repeat Chorus:
H[C]ow ya gonna g[G]et sunshine
Pe[F]eking thru venet[C]ian blinds
Do[F]n't you know a[C]ll that fear
Be[G]gins and ends the sa[F]me place a'h[C]ere
Repeat Chorus:
S[C]pring is just a s[G]mile away
Lau[F]ghing at a su[C]mmer day
Tu[F]rn around l[C]ook at Fall
Wi[G]nter, hear my l[F]onely c[C]all
My Own Best Friend
John Prine
Intro:
[G] [C] [G] [C] [G] [C]
I'm beginning to li[C]ke you
But, you know that ain't ri[G]ght
'Cause you'll just tw[D]ist and twist and twist
Till I'm all crooked in[G]side
Then you'll take all you g[C]ave me
Like it never was th[G]ere
And I th[D]ink that I might,
No! I know
Yes, I will help you th[G]ere
'Cause....
Chorus:
I've done it bef[G]ore
A[C]nd I'd do it ag[G]ain
'Cause it's the o[D]nly time
That makes me feel like I'm
My own best fri[G]end
I'm a victim of fric[C]tion
I got too close to s[G]ee
Yeah, we spa[D]rked in the dark
And God hung a light on [G]me
And the lamp gets real h[C]eavy
Hangs from my he[G]art
And it co[D]mes
And it goes
Till I can't tell the difference ap[G]art
But....
Repeat chorus:
So many pe[D]ople say
I'll never work out th[G]at way
You can't st[B7]and the heat
While you're watching your heart just m[C]elt away
In the basement on a r[A]ainy day
[D]La la la
[C]La la la
[Bm]La la la
La la la La [D]La.....
There's a motel in Shreve[C]port
Don't ask me where, pl[G]ease
They check [D]in
They check out
By the light of the color T.[G]V.'s
The maid calls you Ho[C]ney
She makes your bed sl[G]ow
And she spe[D]aks
Of the sheets That don't fit
But you know that she kn[G]ows
That.....
I've done it bef[G]ore
A[C]nd I'd do it ag[G]ain
'Cause it's the o[D]nly time
That makes me feel like I'm
My own best fr[G]iend
My own best friend
My own best friend
My own best friend
Forbidden Jimmy
John Prine
Intro:
[G] [C] [D] [G]
Fo[G]rbidden Jimmy
Has got a mighty sore to[D]oth
>From biting too many di[C]mes [D]in a telephone bo[G]oth
He's got half of his bootlace tied to the d[D]ial
Thank you o[C]perator [D]for getting Jimmy to sm[G]ile
"C[G]all out the Coast Guard" screamed the Po[D]lice
Forbidden Ji[C]mmy, [D]he's got three water s[G]kis
He put two on his wavelength
And gave one to his g[D]irl
She's a mighty fine pe[C]rson
[D]It's a mighty fine wo[G]rld
Chorus:
I[G]'m gonna make all your sor[C]rows bright
Set your soul f[G]ree
I'll see you to[C]morrow night
If I can still s[D]ee
Ginger C[G]aputo and Dorian Gr[D]ay
Oughtta stay out of pic[C]tures
[D]If they got nothin' to s[G]ay
Stack 'em back on the rack Jack
Ya know, you're hurting my e[D]ye
Forbidden Ji[C]mmy [D]he's getting ready to f[G]ly
Instrumental:
[G] [D]
[C] [D] [G]
[D] [C] [D] [G]
Repeat Chorus:
[G]I got caught cooking popcorn
And calling it H[D]ail
They wanna stick my h[C]ead i[D]nside a water p[G]ail
Ya know, they're gonna be sorry
They're gonna pay for it t[D]oo
Forbidden J[C]immy [D]he's coming straight at y[G]ou.
Instrumental and Ending:
[G] [D]
[C] [D] [G]
[D] [C] [D] [G]
Saddle In The Rain
John Prine
Intro:
[Em]
[Em]I wish, I hope, I wonder
Where you're at so[A]metimes
Is y[Em]our back against the wall?
Or just ac[A]ross the line
Have you been sta[Em]nding in the rain
Reciting nursery rh[A]ymes
Trying to re[Em]call some long lost kind of pe[A]ace of mind
Peace of m[D]ind
Try spending the n[G]ight sometime
All alone in a fr[D]ozen room
Afterneath you've l[A]ain
Your saddle in the r[Em]ain
Instrumental:
[Em]
[Em]I dreamed they locked God up
Down in my bas[A]ement
And he wai[Em]ted there for me
To have this acci[A]dent
So he could dr[Em]ink my wine
And eat me like a sacra[A]ment
And I just st[Em]ood there like I do
Then I came and w[A]ent
I came and w[D]ent
Like a bird in a for[G]eign sky
Couldn't even s[D]ay goodbye
Or come and share the p[A]ain
My Saddle's in the r[Em]ain.
[G]La la la la la la la [d]la la
[C]La la la la la la la la [B]la
[G]La la la la la la la la [D]la
[C]La la la la la la la la [B]la Instrumental:
[Em]
[Em]I saw a friend who doesn't know
If I'm his fri[A]end just yet
His eyes and m[Em]outh were widely open
And his j[A]aw was set
Like he'd f[Em]ell off a cliff
And hadn't hit the bo[A]ttom yet
I wish he wo[Em]uldn't pull those things on me
Without a n[A]et
Without a n[D]et
I had him up to the ho[G]use one time
And we was having a re[D]al good time
Then he went and la[A]in
His saddle in the r[Em]ain
[G]La la la la la la la la [D]la
[C]La la la la la la la la [B]la
[G]La la la la la la la la [D]la
[C]La la la la la la la la [B]la
Instrumental:
[Em]
In a lau[Em]ndromat not too far from the Al[A]amo
Sits a g[Em]irl who stole my records very lo[A]ng ago
And she w[Em]ishes, wants and washes out those di[A]rty clothers
As she sh[Em]uts her eyes and dreams about her O[A]ne-Eyed Joe
One-Eyed J[D]oe
Car parked on a di[G]rty road
Heaven knows the lo[D]ad she pulled
Couldn't take the st[A]rain
A saddle in the r[Em]ain
Instrumental:
[Em]
That Close to You
John Prine
Intro:
[D] [E] [A]
[D] [E] [A]
[D] [E] [A]
[D] [G] [A]
[D]Like a bolt of ligh[E]tning
Like a bolt of th[A]under
[D]Like a cloudy d[E]ay
Down at the Z[A]oo
[D]Like a drowing m[E]an
That will never go un[A]der That close to you
Y[G]eah, that close to y[D]ou
[F#m]In the middle of the night
You'd ask me to m[G]ake you smile
You'd come on like a o[D]ne armed child
With a hold in it's sh[A]oe
Poor you.
[F#m]Everybody oughta know
It only hurts ya for a li[G]ttle while
So stop putting yo[D]urself on trial
For something you didn't [A]do
Not you....to me....Can't we be just like..
[D]Lovers and mo[E]thers and brothers and s[A]orrow
[D]Can I find a little som[E]ething with a nicer v[A]iew
[D]I'm hating to pl[E]ead but I'm begging to bo[A]rrow
Just to be that close to y[D]ou
Y[G]eah, that close to y[D]ou
[F#m]In the middle of the night
You'd ask me to m[G]ake you smile
You'd come on like a o[D]ne armed child
With a hold in it's s[A]hoe
Poor you.
[F#m]Everybody oughta know
It only hurts ya for a l[G]ittle while
So stop putting you[D]rself on trial
For something you didn't [A]do
Not you....to me....Can't we be just like..
[D]Lovers and mothers and bro[E]thers and s[A]orrow
[D]Can I find a little som[E]ething with a nicer v[A]iew
[D]I'm hating to pl[E]ead but I'm begging to bo[A]rrow
Just to be that close to you
Y[G]eah, that close to y[D]ou
O[G]h, that close to y[D]ou
Ye[G]ah, that close to y[D]ou
He Was In Heaven Before He Died
John Prine
Intro:
[C]
[C]There's a rainbow of ba[F]bies
Draped o[G]ver the gravey[C]ard
Where a[F]ll the dead sai[C]lors
Wait for their br[G]ides
And the c[C]old bitter snow
Has stra[F]ngled each grassbl[C]ade
Where the s[F]alt from their te[C]ars
Washed o[G]ut with the ti[C]de
Chorus:
And I sm[F]iled on the Wab[G]ash
The last time I pa[C]ssed it
Yes, I g[F]ave here a w[C]ink
>From the passenger s[G]ide
And my f[C]oot fell asleep
As I swal[F]lowed my ca[C]ndy
Knowing [F]he was in Hea[C]ven b[G]efore he di[C]ed
N[C]ow the harbor's on f[F]ire
With the dr[G]eams and des[C]ires
Of a tho[F]usand young po[C]ets
Who failed 'cause they tr[G]ied
For a rh[C]yme without reason
Floats d[F]own to the bot[C]tom
Where the sca[F]vengers e[C]at 'em
And wa[G]sh in with the ti[C]de
Repeat Chorus:
T[C]he sun can play tri[F]cks
With your e[G]yes on the hig[C]hway
The m[F]oon can lay sidew[C]ays
Till the ocean stands st[G]ill
But a pe[C]rson can't tell
His b[F]est friend he lo[C]ves him
Till t[F]ime has stopped br[C]eathing
You're al[G]one on the h[C]ill
Repeat Chorus:
You Never Can Tell
Chuck Berry
Intro:
[B]
[F#]
[B]
[B]It was a teenage wedding
And the old folks wished 'em well
You could see that Pierre
Did truly love the Mademois[F#]elle.
And the young Monsieur and Madame
Have rung the chapel bell,
"C'est la vie,"
-Say the old folks
It goes to show that you never can t[B]ell
[B]They furnished off an apartment With a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was filled
With T.V. Dinners and ginger a[F#]le
But when Pierre found work,
The little money comin' worked out well
"C'est la vie,"
-Say the old folks
It goes to show that you never can t[B]ell
[B]They had a Hi-Fi phone
Boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records
All rock, rhythm and j[F#]azz
But when the sun went down
The rapid tempo of the music fell
"C'est la vie,"
-Say the old folks
It goes to show that you never can t[B]ell
[B]They bought a souped up jitney
'Twas a cherry and Fifty-three
They drove it down to New Orleans
To celebrate their anniver[F#]sary.
It was there where Pierre was wedded
To the lovely Mademoiselle,
"C'est la vie,"
-Say the old folks
It goes to show that you never can t[B]ell
Instrumental:
[B]
[F#]
[B]
[B]It was a teenage wedding
And the old folks wished 'em well
You could see that Pierre
Did truly love the Mademoise[F#]lle.
And the young Monsieur and Madame
Have rung the chapel bell,
"C'est la vie,"
-Say the old folks
It goes to show that you never can t[B]ell
Instrumental Repeat and Fade:
[B]
[F#]
[B]
