John Prine - Illegal Smile

illegal smile by john prine

capo 2nd fret

G D C G
when i woke up this morning , things were lookin’ bad
C G D C G
seemed like total silence was the only friend i had
D C G C G
a bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down . . . and won
D C G C G
and it was twelve o’clock before i realized that i was havin’ no fun

{chorus}
D G C D G
ah , but fortunately i have the key to escape reality
change to 3/4 time
C G
and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
D G
it don’t cost very much , but it lasts a long while
C G
won’t you please tell the man i didn’t kill anyone
D C G C G C G C
no i was just tryin’ to have me some fun

change back to 4/4 time
G D C G
last time i checked my bankroll , well it was gettin’ thin
C G D C G
sometimes it seems like the bottom is the only place i’ve been
D C G C G
chased a rainbow down a one – way street . . . dead end
D C G C G
and all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen

{chorus}
D G C D G
ah , but fortunately i have the key to escape reality
change to 3/4 time
C G
and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
D G
it don’t cost very much , but it lasts a long while
C G
won’t you please tell the man i didn’t kill anyone
D C G C G C G C
no i was just tryin’ to have me some fun

change back to 4/4 time
G D C G
well , i sat down in my closet with all my overalls
C G D C G
just tryin’ to get away from all the ears inside the walls
D C G C G
dreamed the police heard everything i thought . . . what then?
D C G C G
well i went to court and the judge’s name was hoffman

{chorus}
D G C D G
ah , but fortunately i have the key to escape reality
change to 3/4 time
C G
and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
D G
it don’t cost very much , but it lasts a long while
C G
won’t you please tell the man i didn’t kill anyone
D C G C G C G C
no i was just tryin’ to have me some fun