Middleman chords by John Prine

Intro

verse 1
      E
I was sitting in a diner with a girl named Flo
    A
She wouldn't say yes, but she couldn't say no
          E        B7                  E
She said, "Darling, can I get a middle man?"
        E
She was engaged to a fellow on the lay-a-way plan
        A
But she carried all her money in a coffee can
          E        B7                  E
She said, "Darling, can I get a middle man?"

Bridge
    A
The cook looked over with a short order face
E
Dropped a fork and he saw Flo's legs
A
Straightened his apron and burned my eggs
      B7
I got competition everywhere I go these days


verse 2
E
Leaning on the juke box lookin' real good
     A
Like Natalie Wood on a Pontiac hood
         E          B7                    E
I said, "Darling, I think I need a little hand.
             E
Ya see, I've seen my downs, I've seen my ups
       A
I seen miniature dogs in coffee cups
     E              B7                  E
But darling I ain't never seen a middle man."


Bridge
A
Flo talked slow like real wet paint
             E
She said, "A middle man's there when the other ones ain't
           A
He's got a left handed manner that leans to the right
B7
Sleeps all day and keeps it up all night"


verse 3
         E
I got an aunt in Ohio and a boat that won't row
     A
Some veterans insurance and nowhere to go
E         B7                   E
"Darling, can I be your middle man?"


Bridge
A
If I could get the money in that coffee can
        E
I could open me up a lemonade stand
A
Send all the kids off to Pakistan
B7
Make Flo happy if I can


Instrumental
A    E
A    B7


verse 4
E
Jerry Mahoney and Johnny B. Goode
          A
Are gonna buy me a house in Hollywood
E          B7                      E
Darling, I think I got the perfect plan
            E
We're gonna save half a dollars and sell 'em to France
A
Buy us a record and learn how to dance
    E             B7
And darling, I'll always be your middle
E        B7
Darling, go buy a griddle
E          B7                   E
Darling, I wanna be your middle man