The Great Compromise

A little girl who was almost a lady

She had a way with all men in her life

Every inch of her blossom in beauty

She was born on the Fourth of July



Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer

And she worked in a jukebox saloon

And she spent all the money, that i'd 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 a drive-in on Route 41

And it was there that I first suspected

She was doin' what she'd already done



She said, "Johnny, why don'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 sportscar



(chorus)



Well, you know, I coulda beat up that fella

But it was her that had hopped into his car

Many times I'd fought to protect her

But this time she was going too far



Now some folks, they call me a coward

'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night

But I'd rather have names thrown at me

Than to fight for a thing that ain't right



(chorus)



Now she writes all the fellas love letters

Saying, "Greetings, come see me real soon"

And they go and line up in the ballroom

To 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



(chorus)