Illegal Smile
By John Prine


     G              D        C                   G
When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
C                G              D    C        G
Seems like total silence is the only friend I have
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
        D           C                 G      C    G
Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality

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


Last time I checked my bankroll, well it was gettin' thin
Sometimes it seems like the bottom is the only place I've been
Chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen

Chorus

I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
Just tryin' to get away from all the years inside these walls
Dreamed the police heard everything I thought... what then?
Well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman

Chorus