John Prine Middleman lyrics

I was sitting in a diner
With a girl named Flo
She wouldn't say yes
But she couldn't say no

She said, ‽Darling, can I get a middle man?”
She was engaged to a fellow
On the lay a way plan
But she carried all her money
In a coffee can

She said, ‽Darling, can I get a middle man?”
The cook looked over
With a short order face
Dropped a fork
And he saw Flo's legs

Straightened his apron
And burnt my eggs
I got competition
Everywhere I go
These days

She was leaning on the juke box
And was lookin' real good
Like Natalie Wood
On a Pontiac hood

I said, ‽Darling, I think I need a little hand”
Ya see, I've seen my downs
I've seen my ups
I seen miniature dogs
In coffee cups

But ‽Darling I ain't never seen a middle man”
Flo talked slow

Like real wet paint

She said, ‽A middle man's there
When the other ones ain't
He's got a left handed manner
That leans to the right, sleeps all day
And keeps it up all night”

I got an aunt in Ohio

And a boat that won't row
Some veterans insurance
And nowhere to go
‽Darling, Can I be your middle man?

If I could get the money in that coffee can?
I could open me up a lemonade stand
Send all the kids off to Pakistan
Make flo happy
If I can

Jerry Mahoney and Johnny B. Goode
Are gonna buy me a house in Hollywood
Darling I think, I got the perfect plan
We're gonna save half a dollars
And sell 'em to France

Buy us a record
And learn how to dance
And darling, I'll always be your middle
Darling, go buy a griddle
Darling, I wanna be your middle man