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Illegal Smile by John Prine
Illegal Smile
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:5th fret
[Intro]
G
[Verse 1]
G D C G
When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
C G D 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
[Chorus]
D G C D G
but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
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 was just tryin' to have me some fun
[Verse 2]
G D C G
last time I checked my bankroll, well it was gettin' thin
C G D G
sometimes it seems like the bottom is the only place I've been
D C G C G
chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
D C G C G
and all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen
[Chorus]
D G C D G
but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
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 was just tryin' to have me some fun
[Verse 3]
G D C G
I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
C G D G
just tryin' to get away from all the years inside these walls
D C G C G
dreamed the police heard everything I thought... what then?
D C G C G
well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman
[Chorus]
D G C D G
but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
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 was just tryin' to have me some fun
------------------
version 2
Tuning:E A D G B E
Key:C
Capo:5th fret
[Intro]
G
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
D|----0---0----0--0----0--0----0---|
A|--------------2-------2-------2--|
E|--3---3---2h3--3--2h3--3--2h3--3-|
[Verse 1]
G D C G
When I woke up this mornin', things were lookin' bad
C G D C G
seemed like total silence was the only friend I had
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
[Pre-Chorus]
D G C D G
Ah, but fortunately... I have the key to escape reality
[Chorus] (Change to 3/4 time, and slow down to 130 bpm)
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 C G C G C
no I was just tryin' to have me some fun
[Instrumental] (Change back to 4/4 time, speed up to 160 bpm)
G G G G
[Verse 2]
G D C G
last time I checked my bankroll, well it was gettin' thin
C G D C G
sometimes it seems like the bottom is the only place I've been
D C G C G
chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
D C G C G
and all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen
[Pre-Chorus]
D G C D G
Ah, but fortunately... I have the key to escape reality
[Chorus] (Change to 3/4 time, and slow down to 130 bpm)
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 C G C G C
no I was just tryin' to have me some fun
[Instrumental] (Change back to 4/4 time, speed up to 160 bpm)
G G G G
[Verse 3]
G D C G
Well, I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
C G D C G
just tryin' to get away from all the ears inside the walls
D C G C G
dreamed the police heard everything I thought... what then?
D C G C G
well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman
[Pre-Chorus]
D G C D G
Ah, but fortunately... I have the key to escape reality
[Chorus] (Change to 3/4 time, and slow down to 130 bpm)
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 C G C G C
no I was just tryin' to have me some fun (well done, hot-dog bun, my sister's
G
a nun)
------------------
version 3
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:5th fret
(Key of D)
[Verse 1]
G D C G
When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
C G D 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 G C D 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
[Verse 2]
G D C G
Last time I checked my bankroll, well it was gettin' thin
C G D G
Sometimes it seems like the bottom is the only place I've been
D C G C G
Chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
D C G C G
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen
D G C D 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
[Verse 3]
G D C G
I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
C G D G
Just tryin' to get away from all the years inside these walls
D C G C G
Dreamed the police heard everything I thought... what then?
D C G C G
Well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman
D G C D 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
------------------
version 4
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:no capo
Capo 5
[Intro] (4/4 Time)
e|----------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
B|----------------|---0--------------|---0--------------|---0--------------|
G|-0------------0-|--------0-------0-|--------0-------0-|--------0-------0-|
D|------0-----0---|------0-------0---|------0-------0---|------0-------0---|
A|----------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
E|---3-----3------|-0h3-------3------|-0h3-------3------|-0h3-------3------|
[Verse 1]
e|---------------|-------2---------|---------------|--------------|-----------
B|---------------|-----3-----3-----|---------------|--------------|-----------
G|---------------|---2---------2-0-|------0------0-|------------0-|------0----
D|------0-----0--|-0-------0-------|----2------2---|----0-----0---|----2------
A|---------------|-----------------|-3------3------|--------------|-3------3--
E|---3-----3-----|-----------------|---------------|-3-----3------|-----------
-------|
-------|
--0----|
2------|
-------|
-------|
e|---------------|-------0---------|---------------|-------2---------|--------
B|---------------|---3-----------1-|---------------|-----3-----3-----|--------
G|-------------0-|-----2-----0-----|------------0--|---2---------2-0-|------0-
D|-----0-----0---|-0-----------2---|----0-----0----|-0-------0-------|----2---
A|---------------|---------3-------|---------------|-----------------|-3------
E|--3-----3------|-----------------|-3-----3-------|-----------------|--------
-------|
-------|
-----0-|
---2---|
3------|
-------|
e|---------------|--------------|-------2----------|-----------------|--------
B|------------1--|-0------------|-----3-----3------|-------1-------1-|--------
G|---------------|------------0-|---2---------2-0--|---0-------0-----|--------
D|-----0----0-2--|----0-----0---|-0-------0--------|-----2-------2---|-----0--
A|---------------|--------------|------------------|-3-------3-------|--------
E|--3-----3------|-3-----3------|------------------|-----------------|--3-----
-------|
----1--|
-------|
--0-2--|
-------|
3------|
e|---------------|--------2--|------------------|--------------------|--------
B|--0------------|------3----|------------------|--------------------|--------
G|-------------0-|----2------|--0------0------0-|------0---0---0-----|--------
D|-----0-----0---|--0--------|-------0------0---|----2---------------|--------
A|---------------|-----------|------------------|-3------2---0-------|-----0--
E|--3-----3------|-----------|----3------3------|----------------3---|--3-----
---|
---|
---|
---|
2--|
---|
[Chorus] 6/8 Time - Strumming Chords
D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U
e|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2-
B|--1--1--1-1---1--1--1-1--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3-
G|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2-
D|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0-
A|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|------------------------
E|-------------------------|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|------------------------
D D D U
-|--3--3--3-3------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--2--2--2-2------0--2--|
-|--3--3--3-3---3--------|
e|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2---0--0--0--|--
B|--1--1--1-1---1--1--1-1--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--3--3--3---1--1--1--|--
G|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--2--2--2---0--0--0--|--
D|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0---2--2--2--|--
A|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|------------3--3--3--|--
E|-------------------------|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|---------------------|--
3--3--3---3--3--3--|
0--0--1---0--0--1--|
0--0--0---0--0--0--|
0--0--2---0--0--2--|
2--2--3---2--2--3--|
3--3------3--3-----|
e|--3--3--3---|
B|--0--0--1---|
G|--0--0--0---|
D|--0--0--2---|
A|--2--2--3---|
E|--3--3------|
[Verse 2]
e|---------------|-------2---------|---------------|--------------|-----------
B|---------------|-----3-----3-----|---------------|--------------|-----------
G|---------------|---2---------2-0-|------0------0-|------------0-|------0----
D|------0-----0--|-0-------0-------|----2------2---|----0-----0---|----2------
A|---------------|-----------------|-3------3------|--------------|-3------3--
E|---3-----3-----|-----------------|---------------|-3-----3------|-----------
-------|
-------|
--0----|
2------|
-------|
-------|
e|---------------|-------0---------|---------------|-------2---------|--------
B|---------------|---3-----------1-|---------------|-----3-----3-----|--------
G|-------------0-|-----2-----0-----|------------0--|---2---------2-0-|------0-
D|-----0-----0---|-0-----------2---|----0-----0----|-0-------0-------|----2---
A|---------------|---------3-------|---------------|-----------------|-3------
E|--3-----3------|-----------------|-3-----3-------|-----------------|--------
-------|
-------|
-----0-|
---2---|
3------|
-------|
e|---------------|--------------|-------2----------|-----------------|--------
B|------------1--|-0------------|-----3-----3------|-------1-------1-|--------
G|---------------|------------0-|---2---------2-0--|---0-------0-----|--------
D|-----0----0-2--|----0-----0---|-0-------0--------|-----2-------2---|-----0--
A|---------------|--------------|------------------|-3-------3-------|--------
E|--3-----3------|-3-----3------|------------------|-----------------|--3-----
-------|
----1--|
-------|
--0-2--|
-------|
3------|
e|---------------|--------2--|------------------|--------------------|--------
B|--0------------|------3----|------------------|--------------------|--------
G|-------------0-|----2------|--0------0------0-|------0---0---0-----|--------
D|-----0-----0---|--0--------|-------0------0---|----2---------------|--------
A|---------------|-----------|------------------|-3------2---0-------|-----0--
E|--3-----3------|-----------|----3------3------|----------------3---|--3-----
---|
---|
---|
---|
2--|
---|
[Chorus] 6/8 Time - Strumming Chords
D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U
e|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2-
B|--1--1--1-1---1--1--1-1--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3-
G|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2-
D|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0-
A|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|------------------------
E|-------------------------|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|------------------------
D D D U
-|--3--3--3-3------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--2--2--2-2------0--2--|
-|--3--3--3-3---3--------|
e|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2---0--0--0--|--
B|--1--1--1-1---1--1--1-1--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--3--3--3---1--1--1--|--
G|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--2--2--2---0--0--0--|--
D|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0---2--2--2--|--
A|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|------------3--3--3--|--
E|-------------------------|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|---------------------|--
3--3--3---3--3--3--|
0--0--1---0--0--1--|
0--0--0---0--0--0--|
0--0--2---0--0--2--|
2--2--3---2--2--3--|
3--3------3--3-----|
e|--3--3--3---|
B|--0--0--1---|
G|--0--0--0---|
D|--0--0--2---|
A|--2--2--3---|
E|--3--3------|
[Verse 3]
e|---------------|-------2---------|---------------|--------------|-----------
B|---------------|-----3-----3-----|---------------|--------------|-----------
G|---------------|---2---------2-0-|------0------0-|------------0-|------0----
D|------0-----0--|-0-------0-------|----2------2---|----0-----0---|----2------
A|---------------|-----------------|-3------3------|--------------|-3------3--
E|---3-----3-----|-----------------|---------------|-3-----3------|-----------
-------|
-------|
--0----|
2------|
-------|
-------|
e|---------------|-------0---------|---------------|-------2---------|--------
B|---------------|---3-----------1-|---------------|-----3-----3-----|--------
G|-------------0-|-----2-----0-----|------------0--|---2---------2-0-|------0-
D|-----0-----0---|-0-----------2---|----0-----0----|-0-------0-------|----2---
A|---------------|---------3-------|---------------|-----------------|-3------
E|--3-----3------|-----------------|-3-----3-------|-----------------|--------
-------|
-------|
-----0-|
---2---|
3------|
-------|
e|---------------|--------------|-------2----------|-----------------|--------
B|------------1--|-0------------|-----3-----3------|-------1-------1-|--------
G|---------------|------------0-|---2---------2-0--|---0-------0-----|--------
D|-----0----0-2--|----0-----0---|-0-------0--------|-----2-------2---|-----0--
A|---------------|--------------|------------------|-3-------3-------|--------
E|--3-----3------|-3-----3------|------------------|-----------------|--3-----
-------|
----1--|
-------|
--0-2--|
-------|
3------|
e|---------------|--------2--|------------------|--------------------|--------
B|--0------------|------3----|------------------|--------------------|--------
G|-------------0-|----2------|--0------0------0-|------0---0---0-----|--------
D|-----0-----0---|--0--------|-------0------0---|----2---------------|--------
A|---------------|-----------|------------------|-3------2---0-------|-----0--
E|--3-----3------|-----------|----3------3------|----------------3---|--3-----
---|
---|
---|
---|
2--|
---|
[Chorus] 6/8 Time - Strumming Chords
D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U D D D U
e|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2-
B|--1--1--1-1---1--1--1-1--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3-
G|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2-
D|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0-
A|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|------------------------
E|-------------------------|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|------------------------
D D D U
-|--3--3--3-3------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--0--0--0-0------------|
-|--2--2--2-2------0--2--|
-|--3--3--3-3---3--------|
e|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2---0--0--0--|--
B|--1--1--1-1---1--1--1-1--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--3--3--3---1--1--1--|--
G|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--2--2--2---0--0--0--|--
D|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|--0--0--0-0---0--0--0-0--|--0--0--0---2--2--2--|--
A|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|--2--2--2-2---2--2--2-2--|------------3--3--3--|--
E|-------------------------|--3--3--3-3---3--3--3-3--|---------------------|--
3--3--3---3--3--3--|
0--0--1---0--0--1--|
0--0--0---0--0--0--|
0--0--2---0--0--2--|
2--2--3---2--2--3--|
3--3------3--3-----|
e|--3--3--3---|
B|--0--0--1---|
G|--0--0--0---|
D|--0--0--2---|
A|--2--2--3---|
E|--3--3------|
END
NOTES:
Hear are some "C" chords picking variations that can be heard on the record
and in some live versions:
E|-------------------| E|--------------------| E|-------------------|
B|-------------------| B|--------------------| B|-------------------|
G|----0-----0-----0--| G|-------0---------0--| G|-------0--------0--|
D|------2-----2------| D|-----2---------2----| D|-----2------0h2----|
A|--3-----3-----3----| A|--3-------0h3-------| A|--3-------3--------|
E|-------------------| E|--------------------| E|-------------------|
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
I was havin' no fun
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
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
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, 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
| h Hammer-on
------------------
version 5
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:no capo
Intro
Verse:
e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--1---------1-------1------1-------1-----1-------1-----1-|
G|------0---0-------0------0-------0-----0-------0-----0---|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|----3---3-----0h3-----3------0h3-----3-----0h3-----3-----|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
e|--------------------7------------------------------------------------|
B|------1-----1---0-----0---0-----------------1-----1------1-----1-----|
G|----0-----0-------0-----0------------5----0-----0------2-----2-------|
D|-------------------------------7---7---------------------------------|
A|--3-----3-------------------------------3-----3----------------------|
E|--------------7--------------5---5-------------------1-----1---------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------1-----1------0-----1------1-----1-----0---------1----------1---|
G|----0-----0------0-----2------0-----0-----0-----0---2-----2----0-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3-----3-------------------3-----3--------------------------3-----3-|
E|---------------3-----1-------------------3----3---1-----1------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--1-----1-----1------0---------1----------1----1-----1-----1---------|
G|--2---0-----0------0-----0---2-----2----0------2---0-----0-----------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----3-----3---------------------------3-----3----3-----3-------------|
E|--1--------------3-----3---1-----1-------------1---------------------|
e|---------3------------------------------------|
B|---------------1-----1------1-----0-----1-----|
G|-------------0-----0------2-----0-----0-------|
D|------0---------------------------------------|
A|----2------3-----3------------------3---------|
E|--3---------------------1-----3---------------|
Chorus:
F C
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
G C
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
F C
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
G F C F C F C F
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
(Repeat Verse)
(Repeat Chorus)
(Repeat Verse)
(Repeat Chorus)
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
I was havin' no fun
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
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
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, 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
| h Hammer-on
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