John Prine.."The great Compromise"...alludes to America?

[phill4paul]

Since I first heard this song I've always felt it alluded to the state of America.

Here's the tube...sorry the only tube I could find for Prine was a duo and you'll have to skip to 3:32 mins.

YouTube - John Prine -"Souveniers" and "The Great Compromise"

Here's the lyrics.

I knew a girl who was almost a lady
She had a way with all the men in her life
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
And she was born on the fourth of July
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she worked in a juke box saloon
And she spent all the money I 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 the drive-in on Route 41
And it was there that I first suspected
That she was doin' what she'd already done
She said "Johnny won'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 sports car

(Repeat chorus)

Well you know I could have beat up that fellow
But it was her that had hopped into his car
Many times I'd fought to protect her
But this time she was goin' too far
Now some folks they call me a coward
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night
But I'd druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right

(Repeat chorus)

Now she writes all the fellows love letters
Saying "Greetings, come and see me real soon"
And they go and line up in the barroom
And 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

(Repeat chorus)

So what say you?

[pcosmar]

Don't gotta skip nothin" I like John Prine.

But I'd druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right

eta, not sure if the was reference to America or to the "American Dream".

[phill4paul]

^^^

But I'd druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right

Amen and amen.

[phill4paul]

Here's some of what I think. How I interpret is in parenthesis. And yes Peter is 100% right! American dream and the dis-illusion. IMHO!

I knew a girl who was almost a lady (lady liberty, the government))
She had a way with all the men in her life (Americans,citizens)
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty (Freedom, Constitution)
And she was born on the fourth of July (self evident)
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer (the meekest amongst us?)
And she worked in a juke box saloon (?)
And she spent all the money I give her (taxes. definately)
Just to see the old man in the moon (NASA)

Chorus:
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory (patriotism)
And awake in the dawn's early light (perpetual war-rockets red glare))
But much to my surprise (dis-illusionment)
When I opened my eyes ( awakening)
I was a victim of the great compromise (realization)

Well we'd go out on Saturday evenings (?) (I think it reference to going to the theatre on Saturday nights and being fed propaganda)
To the drive-in on Route 41 (?) (same as above)
And it was there that I first suspected (awakening)
That she was doin' what she'd already done (hmmm)
She said "Johnny won't you get me some popcorn" ("Johnny won't you be distracted.")
And she knew I had to walk pretty far (the distractions they send can send us right around the block.)
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight (Once she determined that there would be know "sun-shine" on legislative action)
She hopped into a foreign sports car (She sold us out to...well who didn't she sell us out to?P)

(Repeat chorus)

Well you know I could have beat up that fellow (gotta defend the gal)
But it was her that had hopped into his car (given when the song was written, reference to the "Japanese" invasion.)
Many times I'd fought to protect her (ex-vet,ex-sucker)
But this time she was goin' too far (she was flaunting her disrespect to the writer)
Now some folks they call me a coward (draft-dodgers viet era)
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night (I quit listening to the propaganda)
But I'd druther have names thrown at me (Sticks and stones...)
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right (self-evident)

(Repeat chorus)

Now she writes all the fellows love letters (I'm sorry. Really. Things will be different this time. Youuuu cannn trust meeee.)
Saying "Greetings, come and see me real soon" ( I miss you. Reallllly miss youuu.)
And they go and line up in the barroom (Broken men. They can't get what they think they want in life. So they'll stand in the lines it takes to get their 15 mins in front of an I.R.S. agent or a DMV official or a postal agent or a VA administrator,,,well ya know what I mean)
And spend the night in that sick woman's room (trade honor, standing for a hand out...and hand outs to her ain't free)
But sometimes I get awful lonesome (Liberty lovers are few and far.)
And I wish she was my girl instead ( I'd rather her be the woman I want. Lady Liberty!)
But she won't let me live with her (she keeps pushing me away for being who I am.)
And she makes me live in my head (American Dream)

[phill4paul]

The great compromise.

[RonZeplin]

Here's some of what I think. How I interpret is in parenthesis. And yes Peter is 100% right! American dream and the dis-illusion. IMHO!

She hopped into a foreign sports car (She sold us out to...well who didn't she sell us out to?P)

(Repeat chorus)

Well you know I could have beat up that fellow (gotta defend the gal)
But it was her that had hopped into his car (given when the song was written, reference to the "Japanese" invasion.)
Many times I'd fought to protect her (ex-vet,ex-sucker)
But this time she was goin' too far (she was flaunting her disrespect to the writer)


Than to fight for a thing that ain't right (self-evident)

IMO, foreign sports car = foreign entanglements/military actions (wars). A lot of it fits in with this theme.

[phill4paul]

IMO, foreign sports car = foreign entanglements/military actions (wars). A lot of it fits in with this theme.

Was just thinking that this evening. So, yeah, I think you are spot on.

[A Son of Liberty]

Check out Sam Stone & Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore.

[shakey1]

The great compromise.

That one always brings a tear to my eye.

[phill4paul]

Bump and R.I.P

[furrht]

Bump and R.I.P

Damn. RIP. Truly sad