Hi – If you have read along in the past, you are probably
aware that this is more of a stream of consciousness than a well written piece
of journalism.
Today will be more of that – I am not sure of consciousness at
this point and I keep hoping that this whole pandemic is a dream, or a scene
inside of a snow globe.
So, today I am going to share with you some of my favorite John
Prine songs. If you love John Prine, you
will probably know these songs. But
maybe someone will find something that brings a smile to their face, or maybe
just discovering John Prine will do that.
I will tell you why I chose each song, but it won’t be deep. It might just be a lyric I like – a scene – a
verse.
To steal a line from Prine protégé Todd Snider:
I didn't come down here to
change any of y'all's minds about anything, I come down here to ease my own
mind about everything. It works every time.
Anyways. Here goes
nothing.
Spanish
Pipe Dream
I think this is the first Prine song I heard. If not the first – somewhere pretty
close. I love the lyrics to this song
and really the simplicity of it all. Blow
up the TV – Throw out your papers. A
sort of a minimalist life. Wouldn’t it be
nice to step away from current life we are living and just eat a lot of peaches?
So, my favorite line in this song is one that to me is such
a great play on words that you might not notice it.
“Well, I sat there at the table and I acted real naïve, For
I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve”
The topless lady has something up her sleeve. Yeah – now you get it.
So here you go. Most videos are going to be live or live
recordings. But here is the first.
It’s a
Big Old Goofy World
So – Prine explains in a live version that he came up with
this song while helping his mother with a crossword puzzle. He began collecting all these phrases, sayings,
and metaphors that made him laugh. He put them all together. And what comes out is a beautiful song.
My favorite line in this one is-
“I wished I had a woman that made my knees knock. She'd sing
like an angel and eat like a bird. And if I wrote a song she'd know ever single
word”
Enjoy
Knockin'
On Your Screen Door
This is a newer one from Prine’s Tree of Forgiveness
album. A great album that brought in so
many new fans. I will probably mention
it again.
This is just such a fun song.
I guess a line that
sticks out is - “ If you see somebody, would you send em' over
my way? I could use some help here with a can of pork and beans”
Who wouldn’t want to help John Prine eat pork and beans?
Here it is anyways.
Egg &
Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)
This is another off the Tree of Forgiveness. It speaks for itself.
Clay
Pigeons
This is not a song written by John Prine. It was written and recorded by Blaze
Foley.
But when you listen to it, it sounds like a Prine song. I actually assumed it was a Prine song about
his return to music after his first battle of cancer. It’s a great song either way. Beautiful.
Hello in
There and Sam Stone
Look – I could spend all day writing about Prine’s debut self
titled album. It includes many of Prine’s
most well known songs including Angel from Montgomery, Paradise, Spanish
Pipe Dream is from this album, well shit – just go look up the album, listen to
it, Buy it, Live it, Love it!
So the two songs in question here are some of the saddest
songs ever. But they are so beautifully
written.
Hello in There is literally about the sadness and loneliness
of getting older. Written somehow by a
man in his twenties. But somehow he gets
the feeling right. He gets it all right.
Always.
Meanwhile Sam Stone tells the sad story of a veteran
returning home and eventually overdosing on heroin/morphine. Something sadly still happening today 50
years later.
Illegal
Smile
So – it turns out this song isn’t about drugs. I know it seems like it is, and to many it is
regardless. But by Prine’s account, this
song is about his ability to make himself laugh in most situations. He sees the humor in everything the way a
comedian does. I think that knowing
that, and knowing that he prides himself at that, you can go back and find the
humor in every Prine song.
So first – here is a live fan recording of Prine crashing
Todd Snider’s encore at the Ryman on 4/20/19.
Here is just the audio
In Spite
of Ourselves
This is I think, my wife’s favorite Prine song. I could be wrong. She will correct me if I am. So - Here John can explain it himself.
In the same vein –
The Other
Side Of Town
Hey y’all, I know this is just dragging on. I think part of me wants it to go
forever. I also keep reminding myself of
songs. So, here's what happens from here on
out. I am going to introduce the next
video, then add a few more videos, and then I will be right back to tell you
about the last video.
Deal?
Cool.
Lake
Marie
So – This song is about a real place. The setting is not far from where I grew
up. I have been on, and in these
lakes. So this song has always been
special to me. It became more special when
I saw Prine perform it live. He played
it at the end of his set. He came back
for an Encore but this was how he closed the main show. I can’t un-see it. Now you get to see it. Just the way I did. Please watch till the end, it is long but
truly special.
Here’s a cleaner sounding version with no video
The Great
Compromise
Souvenirs
The
Accident
That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round
Please
Don't Bury Me
So here we are the end.
Well almost. I know we had a
deal, but I am breaking it. I just
wanted to say that this song is great. It’s beautiful and you’ve probably heard
it 5 times today.
When I Get
to Heaven
I don’t think I could end this any other way. I don’t think I need to say much. But as of
now, this is the last song on the last John Prine album. God is getting one hell of a concert tonight.
Thanks for your time everybody – I love you – Stay Safe!!
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