In Spite Of Ourselves
John Prine & Iris DeMent Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She don't like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby
I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go
He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He's my baby
And I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes

She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She takes a lickin'
And keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go

He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a wacked out weirdo and a love bug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's a howlin' at the moon
He's my baby
I don't mean maybe
Never gonna let him go

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes

In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes

There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes





In spite of ourselves

Overall Meaning

John Prine's song "In Spite of Ourselves" is a quirky and humorous love song that celebrates a couple who are unconventional but deeply in love. The song is a duet between Prine and Iris DeMent and tells the story of a couple who are opposites in many ways but are united by their love.


Throughout the song, Prine and DeMent describe the eccentricities and quirks of their respective partners. From DeMent's disdain for runny eggs and love for ketchup on scrambled eggs to Prine's partner's love for convict movies and swearing like a sailor while shaving her legs, the song paints a picture of two individuals who are unique and not afraid to be themselves.


The chorus of the song is a declaration that in spite of their imperfections and idiosyncrasies, the couple will end up "sitting on a rainbow" and will be each other's "big door prize." The song celebrates the fact that love can bring two very different people together and create something special.


Overall, "In Spite of Ourselves" is a witty and charming love song that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and individuality in relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

She don't like her eggs all runny
She prefers her eggs to be thoroughly cooked rather than runny.


She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She finds it humorous to sit crossing her legs.


She looks down her nose at money
She does not value money and thinks it is not important.


She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She is very enthusiastic about making love, like the Easter Bunny is about giving eggs on Easter.


She's my baby
Expressing affection towards his partner, who he refers to as 'baby.'


I'm her honey
Explaining that his partner refers to him as 'honey.'


I'm never gonna let her go
He has strong feelings for his partner and has no intention of leaving her.


He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
He has not had sexual intercourse in a long time, more than a month of Sundays.


I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He was caught smelling his partner's underwear.


He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
He may not be the smartest person but he can still accomplish tasks.


Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He drinks beer as though it is essential to him, like oxygen is to breathing.


And I'm his honey
His partner refers to him as 'honey.'


Never gonna let him go
She has strong feelings for him and has no intention of leaving him.


In spite of ourselves
Despite our faults, differences, and quirks, we still love each other and will continue to do so.


We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
We will ultimately find happiness and contentment, like sitting on a rainbow which represents good luck and positivity.


Against all odds
Despite challenges or obstacles, we will still make it through.


Honey, we're the big door prize
Expressing that they have found a valuable, desirable partner.


We're gonna spite our noses
We will ignore what society deems appropriate and disregard our own faults and imperfections.


Right off of our faces
We will no longer be concerned with societal expectations of appearance or behavior.


There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
We will only express love and kindness towards one another.


Dancin' in our eyes
Our eyes will be full of love, joy, and contentment that make us feel like dancing.


She thinks all my jokes are corny
She finds all of his jokes to be cheesy and predictable.


Convict movies make her horny
Watching movies about criminals or prisons sexually arouses her.


She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
She prefers to eat her scrambled eggs with ketchup.


Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She uses profanity while shaving her legs.


She takes a lickin'
She can handle difficult situations and still come out strong.


And keeps on tickin'
Despite challenges, she perseveres and continues on.


He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He is very courageous and daring.


He's a wacked out weirdo and a love bug junkie
He is a strange, eccentric person who is addicted to love.


Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
He is both clever and cunning like a fox, but also has craziness with him, like a loon bird.


Payday comes and he's a howlin' at the moon
When he gets paid, he acts wild and crazy like howling at the moon.


He's my baby
Expressing affection towards his partner, who he refers to as 'baby.'


I don't mean maybe
He is certain that he will never leave his partner.


There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
They will only express love and kindness towards one another.


Dancin' in our eyes
Our eyes will be full of love, joy, and contentment that make us feel like dancing.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: John E Prine

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@samimcfee9600

I suddenly lost my partner of 34 years last last month. I'm devastated,so here I am at 4:05 am, can't sleep, and thinking of the songs we used to sing to each other. I miss her so much. We thought this song was written for us and it made us so happy.💔

@cjfengshui1

Aw😢.

@bcynsible

So sorry for your loss! 💔My husband passed away last year 3 days after or second anniversary. We considered using this as our wedding song as we exited the church but thought it might be too racey for church. We instead chose I have met my love today also by JP. Equally fitting. ❤️❤️❤️

@katsii1

I lost my spouse in May of '22. We were almost married 46 years and known each other for over 50 years. This was one of our two songs. The other was "you may be right...I may be crazy". I get teary when i hear this, but also so happy for all those years we had together.

@dwood4835

Two years ago, I dedicated this song to my Husband on our 13th Wedding Anniversary. O8/30/23 will be our 15th yr anniversary. Sadly, my husband passed away 7 months ago from COVID. I'll be posting this song on our upcoming anniversary and I KNOW my husband will be enjoying it from Heaven <3 RIP DW

@richardkelley2016

Never heard this song and I can tell you guys were meant to be if you dedicated this to your husband. Sorry for your loss. Sounds like you lived life together and happy. One day you'll be singing this again belting it at each other

@billsbackermafia4778

The airport virus killed John Prine in the 1st month of the disease

@crouch0385

just think, now he gets the free concert! <3 so sorry for your loss.

@triciatempleton3686

My husband died from Covid a couple of months before yours. We, too, shared a passion for John Prine, and for this song in particular. I hope they're both hearing John sing it now.

@garagejamswithjustin4928

im so sorry for your loss your lucky you had him some people never get to experience that

6 More Replies...
More Comments

More Versions