The Other Side of Town - John Prine

Why do you always seem to criticize me

Seems like everything I do just turns out wrong

Why don’t you come on out and despise me

So I could pack my bag and baby I’d be gone

Remember when you used to call me honey

I’d turn around and call you honey too

You might think it’s a joke, but it ain’t funny

To hurt someone who’s so in love with you

A clown puts his makeup on upside down

So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown

You might think I’m here when you put me down

But actually I’m on the other side of town

My body’s in this room with you just catching hell

While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell

You might think I’m listening to your grocery list

But I’m leaning on the jukebox and I’m about half, way there

A clown puts his makeup on upside down

So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown

You might think I’m here when you put me down

But actually I’m on the other side of town

I’m sittin' on a chair just behind my ear

Playing dominoes and drinking some ice cold beer

When you get done talking I’ll come back downstairs

And assume the body of the person you presume who cares

I’m across the river on the other side of town

In my mind I’m on the other side of town