"PRIME PRINE"
John Prine
1. SAM STONE
2. SADDLE IN THE RAIN
3. PLEASE DON'T BURY ME
4. THE GREAT COMPROMISE
5. GRANDPA WAS A CARPENTER
6. DONALD AND LYDIA
7. ILLEGAL SMILE
8. SWEET REVENGE
9. DEAR ABBY
10. SOUVENIRS
11. COME BACK TO US BARABARA LEWIS HARE KRISHNA BEAUREGARD
12. HELLO IN THERE
Atlantic Records, 1976
Sam Stone
^
John Prine
[F]Sam Stone came home,
To his w[Bb]ife and family
After s[C7]erving in the conflict overs[F]eas.
And the time that he served,
Had sha[Bb]ttered all his nerves,
And l[C7]eft a little shrapnel in his k[F]nee.[Bb] [F]
But the mor[Bb]hpine eased the pain,
And the grass grew round his brain,
And g[G7]ave him all the confidence he la[C7]cked,
With a P[G7]urple Heart and a monkey on his b[C7]ack.
Chorus:
There's a [F]hole in daddy's arm where all the mo[Gm]ney goes,
Je[Bb]sus Christ died for nothin I sup[C7]pose.
Little pi[F]tchers have big ears,
Don't st[Dm]op to count the years,
Sw[G7]eet songs never last too long on br[C7]oken radios.
Mm[F]m....
Sam S[F]tone's welcome home
Didn't l[Bb]ast too long.
H[C7]e went to work when he'd spent his last d[F]ime
And Sammy took to stealing
When he g[Bb]ot that empty feeling
For a h[C7]undred dollar habit wi[Bb]thout overti[F]me.[Bb] [F]
And the gold ro[Bb]lled through his veins
Like a thousand railroad trains,
And e[G7]ased his mind in the hours that he ch[C7]ose,
While the k[G7]ids ran around wearin' other peoples' clo[c7]thes...
Repeat Chorus:
S[F]am Stone was alone
When he p[Bb]opped his last balloon,
Cl[C7]imbing walls while sitting in a ch[F]air.
Well, he played his last request,
While the r[Bb]oom smelled just like death,
With an ove[C7]rdose hovering in the [F]air.[Bb] [F]
But lif[Bb]e had lost it's fun,
There was nothing to be done,
But t[G7]rade his house that he bought on the GI B[C7]ill,
For a fl[G7]ag-draped casket on a local hero's h[C7]ill.
Repeat Chorus:
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]
Please Don't Bury Me
^
John Prine
Intro - Record Key of E - Capo on 2:
D
E|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
B|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
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D|---|---|---|---|---|-0-|---
A|-0-|-0-|-2-|-2-|-4-|---|---
E|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
[D]Woke up this morning, p[G]ut on my slippers
[D]Walked in the kitchen and d[A]ied
And [D]oh what a feeling when my s[G]oul went through the ceiling
And [A]on up into heaven I did r[D]ise
When I [G]got there they did say John it [D]happened this-a-way
You slipped upon the floor and hit your h[A]ead
[A7]
And a[D]ll the angels say just b[G]efore you passed a[D]way
These are the very l[A]ast words that you s[D]aid
Chorus:
[G](But) Please don't bury me down i[D]n the cold cold ground
No, I'd 'druther have 'em cut me up and pass me all a[A]round
[D]Throw my brains in a hurricane
And the b[G]lind can have my e[D]yes
And the d[G]eaf can take b[D]oth of my ears
If t[A]hey don't mind the s[D]ize
Instrumental:
[G] [D] [A] [D]
[D]Give my stomach to Milwakee if they [G]run out of b[D]eer
Put my socks in a cedar box just g[E7]et 'em out'a h[A7]ere
Ve[D]nus de Milo can have my arms
Look o[G]ut! I've got your n[D]ose
S[G]ell my heart to the j[D]unk man
And gi[A7]ve my love to R[D]ose
Repeat Chorus:
Instrumental:
[D] [G] [D] [E7] [A7]
[D] [G] [D]
[G] [D] [A7] [D]
[D]Give my feet to the foot-loose
C[G]areless, fancy-f[D]ree
Give my knees to the needy
Don't p[E7]ull that stuff on [A7]me
H[D]and me down my walkin' cane, it's a s[G]in to tell a l[D]ie
S[G]end my mouth w[D]ay down south and k[A]iss my ass good[D]-bye
Repeat 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]
Grandpa Was A Carpenter
^
John Prine
Recorded Key of B - Capo on 4
Oh, Gr[G]andpa wore his suit to dinner nearly every d[C]ay
No particular re[G]ason, he just dressed that w[D]ay
Br[G]own necktie with a matching vest and both his wingtip s[C]hoes
He built a closet on o[G]ur back porch and put a pe[D]nny in a burned-out f[G]use
Chorus:
G[C]randpa was a carpenter, he built houses, stores and ba[G]nks
Ch[C]ain-smoked Camel ci[G]garettes and hammered nails in pl[D]anks
He was le[G]vel on the level, he shaved even every d[C]oor
And voted for Eisenh[G]ower, 'cause L[D]incoln won the w[G]ar
Instrumental
[C] [D] [G]
[G]Well, he used to sing me "Blood on the Saddle" and rock me on his k[C]nee
And let me listen to the ra[G]dio before we got [D]TV
Well, he'd d[G]rive to church on Sunday and he'd take me with him t[C]oo
Stained glass in every wi[G]ndow, hearing a[D]ids in every p[G]ew
Repeat Chorus:
[G]Well, my Grandma was a teacher, she went to school in Bowling Gr[C]een
Traded in a mi[G]lking cow for a Singer sewing mac[D]hine
Well, she ca[G]lled her husband "Mister," and she walked real tall in p[C]ride
She used to buy me co[G]mic books a[D]fter Grandpa d[G]ied
Repeat Chorus:
Donald And Lydia
^
John Prine
[C]Small town, bright lights, [F]Saturday nig[C]ht,
[C]Pinballs and Pool halls [D7]flashing their lig[G7]hts.
Making [C]change behind the counter in a [F]penny arca[C]de
Sat the fat girl daughter of Virgi[G7]nia and Ra[C]y
(Spoken:) Lydia
Lydia hid her thoug[F]hts like a c[C]at
Be[C]hind her small eyes sunk de[D7]ep in her f[G7]at.
She read ro[C]mance magazines [F]up in her ro[C]om
And [C]felt just like Sunday on S[G7]aturday afterno[C]on.
Chorus:
[C7]But dr[F]eaming just comes [C]natural
Like the fi[G7]rst breath from a b[C]aby,
[C7]Like s[F]unshine feeding [C]daisies,
Like the [G7]love hidden deep in your he[C]art. [F] [C] [F]
[C]Bunk beds, shaved heads, [F]Saturday ni[C]ght,
A warehouse of strangers with [D7]sixty watt li[G7]ghts.
[C]Staring through the ceiling, just wa[F]nting to b[C]e
Lay one of too many, a y[G7]oung PF[C]C:
(Spoken:) Donald
There were spaces between Donald and wha[F]tever he sa[C]id.
Strangers had forced him to li[D7]ve in his h[G7]ead.
He en[C]visioned the details of roma[F]ntic sc[C]enes
After midnight in the stillness of the bar[G7]racks latr[C]ine.
Repeat Chorus:
[C]Hot love, cold love, n[F]o love at a[C]ll.
A portrait of guilt is hu[D7]ng on the w[G7]all.
[C]Nothing is wrong, no[F]thing is ri[C]ght.
Donald and Lydia m[G7]ade love that ni[C]ght.
(Spoken:) Love
The made lo[C]ve in the mountains, they made lo[F]ve in the stre[C]ams,
They made love in the valleys, they made l[D7]ove in their dr[G7]eams.
But w[C]hen they were finished there was n[F]othing to s[C]ay,
'Cause mostly they made love from t[G7]en miles aw[C]ay.
Repeat Chorus:
Ending:
[C] [F] (Repeat and Fade)
Illegal Smile
^
John Prine
Intro:
[C]
[C]When I woke up this morni[G]ng, [F]things were lookin' b[C]ad
[F]Seem like total sil[C]ence was the only fr[G7]iend I h[C]ad
[G]Bowl of oatmeal tr[F]ied to stare me d[C]own... [F]and [C]won
And it was t[G]welve o'clock before I rea[F]lized
That I was ha[C]vin' .. [F]no [C]fun
Chorus:
But [G]fortunately I h[C]ave the key to esc[F]ape r[G7]eal[C]ity
And you may [F]see me tonight with an i[C]llegal smile
It don't [G7]cost very much, but it la[C]sts a long while
Won't you p[F]lease tell the man I didn't k[C]ill anyone
No I'm [G]just tryin' to [F]have me some f[C]un[F] [C] [F] [C] [F] [C]
Last[C] time I checked my bank[G]roll,
[F]It was gettin' t[C]hin
Som[F]etimes it seems like the bo[C]ttom
Is the only p[G7]lace I've be[C]en
I C[G]hased a rainbow do[F]wn a one-way st[C]reet... d[F]ead e[C]nd
And [G]all my friends turned o[F]ut to be insu[C]rance s[F]alesm[C]en
Repeat Chorus:
Well, I [C]sat down in my c[G]loset w[F]ith all my ove[C]ralls
T[F]ryin' to get a[C]way
>From all the ears ins[G7]ide my wa[C]lls
[G]I dreamed the police he[F]ard
Everything I tho[C]ught... w[F]hat t[C]hen?
Well I w[G]ent to court
And the ju[F]dge's name [C]was H[F]off[C]man
Ah but [G]fortunately I h[C]ave the key to esc[F]ape r[G7]eal[C]ity
And you may [F]see me tonight with an i[C]llegal smile
It don't [G7]cost very much, but it la[C]sts a long while
Won't you p[F]lease tell the man I didn't k[C]ill anyone
No I'm [G]just tryin' to [F]have me some f[C]un
W[F]ell d[C]one, h[F]ot dog b[C]un, my si[F]ster's a n[C]un
Sweet Revenge
^
John Prine
Intro:
I got k[G]icked off Noah's Ark
I turn my ch[C]eek to unkind re[G]marks
There was two of everything but one of [D7]me
And when the ra[G]ins came tumbling down
I held my b[C]reath and I stood my gr[G]ound
And I watched that ship go sa[D7]iling out to se[C]ee-e[G]a
Chorus:
Take it b[C]ack. Take it back.
Oh [G]no, you can't say that
All of my friends are not dead or in j[D7]ail
[G]Through rock and through stone
The bl[C]ack wind still mo[G]ans
Sweet Revenge, Sweet Re[D7]venge without [C]fai[G]l
[G]I caught an aisle seat on a plane
And drove an En[C]glish teacher half in[G]sane
Making up jokes about bicycle spokes and red ball[D7]oons
So I ca[G]lled up my local deejay
And he di[C]dn't have alot to s[G]ay
But the radio has learned a[D7]ll of my favorite [C]tun[G]es
Repeat Chorus:
[G]The white meat is on the run
And the d[C]ark meat is far too d[G]one
And the milkman left me a note yester[D7]day
Get o[G]ut of this town by Noon
You're co[C]ming on way too s[G]oon
And besides that we never li[D7]ked you a[C]nyw[G]ay
Repeat Chorus:
Sweet Re[G]venge, Sweet Re[D7]venge
Will pr[C]evail without f[G]ail
Dear Abby
^
John Prine
Recorded Key of B - Capo on 4
[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, my f[C]eet are too l[G]ong
[G]My hair's falling out and my r[A7]ights are all w[D7]rong
[G]My friends they all tell me, that'a [C]no friends at a[G]ll
[G]Won't you write me a letter, won't you g[D]ive me a c[G]all
[C]Sig[D]ned Be[G]wildered
[G]Bewildered, Bewildered you ha[C]ve no compl[G]aint
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C] [D] [G]
[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, my fo[C]untain pen le[G]aks
My wife hollers at me and my k[A7]ids are all fr[D7]eaks
Every s[G]ide I get up on is the wr[C]ong side of b[G]ed
If it weren't so expensive I'd w[D]ish I were d[G]ead
[C]Sig[D]ned Un[G]happy
[G]Unhappy, Unhappy, you ha[C]ve no compl[G]aint
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C] [D] [G]
[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, you w[C]on't believe t[G]his
But my stomache makes noises whene[A7]ver I k[D7]iss
My gi[G]rlfriend tells me it's a[C]ll in my h[G]ead
But my stomache tells me to wr[D]ite you inst[G]ead
S[C]ign[D]ed Noisem[G]aker.
[G]Noisemaker, Noisemaker, you h[C]ave no compl[G]aint ...
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C] [D] [G]
[G]Dear Abby, Dear Abby, well I n[C]ever tho[G]ught
That me and my girlfriend would e[A7]ver get ca[D7]ught
We were si[G]ttin' in the back seat just sho[C]otin' the bre[G]eze
With her hair up in curlers and her p[D]ants to her kn[G]ees
S[C]ign[D]ed Just Mar[G]ried
[G]Just Married, Just Married, you h[C]ave no compl[G]aint ...
You are what you are and you a[A7]in't what you a[D7]in't
So li[G]sten up buster and li[C]sten up g[G]ood
Stop wishin' for bad luck and kn[D]ockin' on w[G]ood
[C]Sig[D]ned Dear A[G]bby
Souvenirs
^
John Prine
Intro:
[G] [C] [D] [G]
[G] [C] [D] [G]
[Tacet]All the snow has turned to [C]water
[D]Christmas day has come and g[G]one
Broken toys and faded [C]colors
[D]Are all that's left to li[G]nger on
[Tacet]I hate graveyards and old pawns[C]hops
[D]For they always bring me te[G]ars
[G]Can't forgive the way they r[C]ob me
[D]Of my childhoood souven[G]irs
Chorus:
[D]Memories, they can't be bou[G]ghten
They [D]can't be won at carnivals for f[G]ree
[D]Well, it took me years, to [G]get those souvenirs
And I [C]don't know how they slipped away from [D]me
[G] [C] [D] [G]
[G] [C] [D] [G]
[Tacet]Broken hearts and dirty w[C]indows
[D]Make life difficult to [G]see
That's why last night and this mo[C]rning
[D]Always look the same to [G]me
[Tacet]I hate reading old love let[C]ters
[D]For they always bring me te[G]ars
I can't forgive the way they rob [C]me
[D]Of my sweetheart sou[G]venirs
Repeat Chorus:
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]
Hello In There
^
John Prine
Intro:
[C] [Dm] [G] [C] [Dm] [G]
[Cmaj7] [C] [F] [C] [G]
[C]We had an apa[Dm]rtment in the ci[G]ty,
[C] Me and Lore[Dm]tta liked living th[G]ere.
[Cmaj7]Well, it'd been years [C]since the kids h[F]ad grown,
A life [C]of their own left us [G]alone.
[C]John and Li[Dm]nda live in Om[G]aha,
[C]And Joe is some[Dm]where on the r[G]oad.
[Cmaj7]We lost Davy in the Kor[F]ean war,
And I still don't [C]know what for, don't matter a[G]nymore.
Chorus:
[Bb]Ya know that old trees just grow s[C]tronger,
[Bb]And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry d[C]ay.
[Em]Old people just grow lone[F]some
Waiting for so[C]meone to say, "He[G]llo in there, hel[C]lo."
Intstrumental:
[C] [Dm] [G] [C] [Dm] [G]
[Cmaj7] [C] [F] [C] [G]
[C]Me and Lor[Dm]etta, we don't talk mu[G]ch more,
[C]She sits and star[Dm]es through the back door sc[G]reen.
[Cmaj7]And all the news j[C]ust repe[F]ats itself
Like some forgo[C]tten dream that we've b[G]oth seen.
[C]Someday I'll [Dm]go and call up R[G]udy,
[C]We worked tog[Dm]ether at the fac[G]tory.
[Cmaj7]But what could I say if asks "[F]What's new?"
Nothing, what's with [C]you? Nothing much to [G]do.
Repeat Chorus:
[C]So if you're wa[Dm]lking down the str[G]eet sometime
[C]And spot some [Dm]hollow ancient e[G]yes,
[Cmaj7]Please don't just [C]pass 'em by[F] and stare
As if you [C]didn't care, say, "He[G]llo in there, hel[C]lo."
