Illegal Smile

John Prine · The Singing Mailman Delivers [2011]

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad

Seem like total silence was the only friend I had

Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... and won

And it was twelve o'clock before I realized

That I was havin' .. no fun



Chorus:

But fortunately I have the key to escape reality

And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile

It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while

Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone

No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun



Last time I checked my bankroll,

It was gettin' thin

Sometimes it seems like the bottom

Is the only place I've been

I Chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end

And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen



Repeat Chorus:



Well i sat down in my closet wiht all my overalls

tryin to get away form all the ears inside my walls

dreamed the police heard every thing i thought...what then?

i went to court and the judges name was hoffman



Repeat Chorus:



Well Done, Hot Dog Bun, My sisters a nun