Illegal Smile chords by John Prine

Chords with lyrics

• Capo on 5th

Tuning: Standard (E MajorE A augmentedA D MajorD G+G BB E MajorE)

Illegal Smile by John Prine
Capo 5th fret

Verse:
G+G          D MajorD    C majorC          G+G
When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
C majorC         G+G        D MajorD  C majorC    G+G
seemed like total silence was the only friend I had
D MajorD         C majorC         G+G    C majorC  G+G
a bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... and won
      D MajorD            C majorC          G+G   C majorC G+G
and it was twelve o'clock before I realized that I was havin' no fun

Chorus:
       D MajorD       G+G         C majorC   D MajorD G+G
   Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality

   (Change to 3/4 time)
         C majorC           G+G
   and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
        D MajorD           G+G
   it don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
        C majorC              G+G
   won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
        D MajorD       C majorC      G+G  C majorC G+G C majorC G+G C majorC
   no I was just tryin' to have me some fun

(Change back to 4/4 time)

Verse:
   G+G         D MajorD       C majorC       G+G
last time I checked my bankroll, well it was gettin' thin
  C majorC            G+G       D MajorD  C majorC     G+G
sometimes it seems like the bottom is the only place I've been
D MajorD        C majorC       G+G     C majorC  G+G
chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
  D MajorD           C majorC      G+G    C majorC  G+G
and all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen

Chorus:
       D MajorD       G+G         C majorC   D MajorD G+G
   Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality

   (Change to 3/4 time)
         C majorC           G+G
   and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
        D MajorD           G+G
   it don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
        C majorC              G+G
   won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
        D MajorD       C majorC      G+G  C majorC G+G C majorC G+G C majorC
   no I was just tryin' to have me some fun

(Change back to 4/4 time)

Verse:
    G+G       D MajorD      C majorC     G+G
Well, I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
   C majorC       G+G        D MajorD   C majorC    G+G
just tryin' to get away from all the ears inside the walls
D MajorD         C majorC         G+G     C majorC  G+G
dreamed the police heard everything I thought... what then?
    D MajorD           C majorC      G+G  C majorC  G+G
well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman


Chorus:
       D MajorD       G+G         C majorC   D MajorD G+G
   Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality

   (Change to 3/4 time)
         C majorC           G+G
   and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
        D MajorD           G+G
   it don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
        C majorC              G+G
   won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
        D MajorD       C majorC      G+G  C majorC G+G C majorC G+G C majorC
   no I was just tryin' to have me some fun

Other versions of Illegal Smile

Alternative guitar chords and tabs for Illegal smile by John Prine