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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)
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
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
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
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
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
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I saw a long time ago an interview and a thing John Prine had written this song was indeed about America and the Vietnam war. It makes a lot of sence if you listen to the words, But then again like any well written song it should mean something specific to each person who hears it.
My brother believes this is a song about America. I think I can see that, especially if it was written in the Vietnam era, "Greetings, come see me real soon". Why is it that no one comments on this artist's songs. They are SO rich. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
My brother believes this is a song about America. I think I can see that, especially if it was written in the Vietnam era, "Greetings, come see me real soon". Why is it that no one comments on this artist's songs. They are SO rich. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Yeah, this song is cleverly done. its made out to be about a girl hes dating, but its actually about america. The girl symbolises america. Hes talkin as if his country has betrayed him by going into vietnam. Because he opposes it, people call him a coward but hed rather that than fight for something which is wrong
I don't know if this is about america or not, it can be both ways. I like to think its about a girl, because it makes the song humorous.
I truly wish I could see the humorous slant to this song. Unfortunately, I cannot.
I think the first verse is about how the country viewed itself before the Vietnam war; rushed to defend it and would sacrifice so much to see it to it's potential. The basic working class Americans who paid their taxes and were excited about the space program.
I think the chorus and second verse are about his service in the military and how he was proud to be a soldier before the Vietnam war.
The third verse, I believe, is his disdain for having to turn his back on the country that he loved so dearly to maintain personal integrity and principles.
The fourth verse, Hmmm.....It's not very clear to me if he's alluding to being forced out of the country for abandoning his duties and wishing he could come home, but I think that's what I'll go with for now.
"Greetings" was the first word in a draft notice. I think it's about how the country had taken a turn that the singer could not support and he feels the pain of losing the country he once knew and loved.
"Greetings" was the first word in a draft notice. I think it's about how the country had taken a turn that the singer could not support and he feels the pain of losing the country he once knew and loved.
its about The Vietnam war and how screwed up it was. If you have Netflix watch "the last days of Vietnam." There was a cease fire drawn up by Nixon who North Vietnam (the bad guys) thought was crazy and agreed to the cease fire. Then Nixon resigned. 6 months later North Vietnam started up again and took all of South Vietnam and Saigon last while the U.S. Embassy there were scrambling to get out of there by choppers and taking as many S. Vietnamese as possible with them. Masterpiece of song writing. Sam Stone was his other more obvious Vietnam tune. I never get involved in this stuff but I know a little about this thing. Peace.
The Beatles started out writing with their Hearts and finished writing with their Heads. John Prine has always done both.
This one's pretty straight forward and doesn't need to be analyzed to figure out. From start to finish it's clearly about the good ole' USA and the Vietnam War, he uses plenty of symbolism and the allusions are clear.
@keets55 What a clueless remark. If you think there's no 'heart' (silly metaphor anyway, since everything is written with your brain (head) in "Let It Be", "Across the Universe", "Don't Let Me Down", "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Something", "Golden Slumbers", "The Long and Winding Road", and "Here Comes the Sun" then you're hopelessly lost as to what 'heart' means in that context. Prine also wrote some pretty silly songs as well, and others where he missed the mark trying to be topical....
@keets55 What a clueless remark. If you think there's no 'heart' (silly metaphor anyway, since everything is written with your brain (head) in "Let It Be", "Across the Universe", "Don't Let Me Down", "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Something", "Golden Slumbers", "The Long and Winding Road", and "Here Comes the Sun" then you're hopelessly lost as to what 'heart' means in that context. Prine also wrote some pretty silly songs as well, and others where he missed the mark trying to be topical.
I think y'all are over analyzing this song, it's about a girl, a girl that did him wrong and he still pursued her, she'd spend his money on dope, she'd fuck guys with cool cars, and all for what reason..?? Because he was a compromise, not her first choice, not valuable enough to worry about losing.
It's a brilliant song that can be taken literally as well as politically. Prine has spoken about the comparison to the USA in interviews, though.
It's a brilliant song that can be taken literally as well as politically. Prine has spoken about the comparison to the USA in interviews, though.
@Brachs In the liner notes to his 1993 anthology Great Days, Prine writes of this song, "The idea I had in mind was that America was this girl you used to take to drive-in movies. And then when you went to get some popcorn, she turned around and screwed some guy in foreign sports car. I really love America. I just don't know how to get there anymore."
@Brachs In the liner notes to his 1993 anthology Great Days, Prine writes of this song, "The idea I had in mind was that America was this girl you used to take to drive-in movies. And then when you went to get some popcorn, she turned around and screwed some guy in foreign sports car. I really love America. I just don't know how to get there anymore."