illegal smile

Singer: john prine

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

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

well

i sat down in my closet with all my overalls

tryin' to get away

from all the ears inside my walls

i dreamed the police heard

everything i thought. what then?

well i went to court

and the judge's name was hoffman

ah 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

well done

hot dog bun

my sister's a nun

well done

son of a gun

hot dog bun

attilla the hun

my sister-in-law is an irish nun

Lyric Context: illegal smile - john prine