John Prine – Middle Man (Guitar)

      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?"

    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

E
Leaning on the juke box lookin' real good

     A
Like Natalie Wood on a Pontiac hood

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I said, "Darling, I think I need a little hand.

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Ya see, I've seen my downs, I've seen my ups

       A
I seen miniature dogs in coffee cups

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But darling I ain't never seen a middle man."

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"

         E
I got an aunt in Ohio and a boat that won't row

     A
Some veterans insurance and nowhere to go

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"Darling, can I be your middle man?"

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

E
Jerry Mahoney and Johnny B. Goode

          A
Are gonna buy me a house in Hollywood

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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

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Darling, I wanna be your middle man