song notes

The Other Side Of Town
©John Prine 2001

Why do you always seem to criticize me
Seems like everything I do just turns out wrong
Why don’t you come on out and despise me
So I could pack my bag and baby I’d be gone

 

Remember when you used to call me honey
Well ’d turn around and call you honey too
You might think it’s a joke, but it ain’t funny
To hurt someone who’s so in love with you

 

A clown puts his makeup on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I’m here when you put me down
But actually I’m on the other side of town.

 

My body’s in this room with you just catching hell
While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell
You might think I’m listening to your grocery list
But I’m leaning on the jukebox and I’m about half ... way there

 

A clown puts his makeup on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I’m here when you put me down
But actually I’m on the other side of town.

 

I’m sittin’ on a chair just behind my ear
Playing dominoes and drinking some ice cold beer
When you get done talking I’ll come back downstairs
And assume the body of the person you presume who cares

 

I’m Across the river on the other side of town
In my mind I’m on the other side of town