I just saw John Prine at Wolftrap a couple of weeks ago. He's slowed down a lot, but he's still a great show.

Good stuff. The Hobo Song is still my favorite.

Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose!!

One of my favorite artists of all time.

It's a happy enchilada and you think you're gonna drown.

I quite like his work with Iris DeMent.

Skip past him talking about Billy Bob Thornton, to about 1:30 (new window)

Nice find, smitty, one of my favorite JP tunes. Saw him in the early Nineties opening for Bonnie Raitt, which was an amazing show all the way around. I need to make it a point to see him again the next time he's playing in the vicinity.

And just because one John Prine song is never enough, here's Six O'Clock News (pops) live at Red Rocks.

MasteroftheIronClaw: It's a happy enchilada and you think you're gonna drown.

Yeah, that!

He's 'ok' enough.

Seen him three times over the years.

"Illegal Smile"

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... and won
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
That I was havin' .. no fun

Chorus:
But fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun

Last time I checked my bankroll,
It was gettin' thin
Sometimes it seems like the bottom
Is the only place I've been
I Chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen

Repeat Chorus:

Well, I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
Tryin' to get away
From all the ears inside my walls
I dreamed the police heard
Everything I thought... what then?
Well I went to court
And the judge's name was Hoffman

Ah but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
Well done, hot dog bun, my sister's a nun

Hello California
Hello Dad and Mom.
Ship ahoy, your baby boy
Is home from Vietnam
Don't you ask me any questions
About the medals on my chest
Take the star out of the window
And let my conscience take a rest


/for my friends

So if you're walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes,
Please don't just pass 'em by and stare
As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there, hello.

/ John Prine's poetic way with words has always amazed me, but these affect me in some inner way I've never understood.

//saw him and Steve Goodman in concert in Colorado. JP on a stool, still a head taller than SG.

Saw John prine with arlo Guthree at memorial Hall in
dayton Ohio a bunch of years ago and I still got a buzz...Baaaa moo

John Prine is the shiznit. Can't tell you how many times I've seen him - Iris DeMent as opener, Todd Snider as opener, Nanci Griffith as opener, Indigo Girls as opener, Richard Thompson as opener, Kris-frigging-Kristofferson as opener. And Wolf Trap is the greatest venue ever - though I imagine JP and Levon Helm at Red Rocks a couple weeks ago would have been life altering.

When I left my first husband I wrote him a note, "... How the hell can a person go to work in the morning, come home in the evening, and have nothing to say ..." (From Angel From Montgomery, covered admirably by Bonnie Raitt). If there was anything MORE apropos, I dunno what it would be.

John Prine is probably my earliest musical memory, and is a staple among my entire family. I finally got to see him a few years ago and got a front row seat to boot. One of the happiest days of my life. I think I'll call my mom and tell her I love her.

And here I thought I was the only one who knew about John Prine.

and he's got Dan Reeder on his label

+1 subby

mr_crash_davis: And here I thought I was the only one who knew about John Prine.

I think most of his fans feel that way.

Speaking of Prine fans, in the interviews for his most recent album, Bob Dylan mentioned Prine again (he's one of the songwriters Dylan brings up frequently, which says something).

This is the first time I have heard John Prine, although I read the lyrics to this song a couple of years ago. Sounds very good, off to the shops.

I only became aware of this song when I realised Spiritualized had used a few lines in Cop Shoot Cop.

Now I know where Spiritualized nicked those lyrics from.
Thanks subby, that was beautiful.

But your flag decal won't get you into heaven any more
They're already overcrowded, from your dirty little war
Jesus don't like killin', no matter what the reasons for
And your flag decal won't get you into heaven any more

giarcgood: This is the first time I have heard John Prine, although I read the lyrics to this song a couple of years ago. Sounds very good, off to the shops.

I only became aware of this song when I realised Spiritualized had used a few lines in Cop Shoot Cop.

I love that song so much. The piano is killer.

maggartron: Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose!!

I don't usually have too many arguments with the work of Mr. Johnny Cash, but one of the worst (musical) things he ever did was changing that line to "Daddy must have hurt a lot back then, I suppose." when he covered the song.

So close to perfection... and yet, so far.

A blue umbrella rests upon my shoulder
And hides the pain while the rain makes up my mind
Well my feet are wet from thinking this thing over
And it's been so long since I felt the warm sunshine

Just give me one good reason
And I promise I won't ask you any more
Just give me one extra season
So I can figure out the other four



Loves me some John Prine.

Just when I thought Farkers were out of touch - you have restored my faith in Fark.

Quick poll, however. How many of you are over 40?

/raises hand

I'm 27 and a HUGE prine fan.

Flag Decal, Sam Stone, Christmas in Prison, Hello in there....the list goes on and on.

John Prine interacts and has the best repore with an audience than anyone. I used to love it when he had a stool, a drink, and a pack of Salems...and a whole bunch of stories.

TigerzDad: Just when I thought Farkers were out of touch - you have restored my faith in Fark.

Quick poll, however. How many of you are over 40?

/raises hand

/hand up

But not by much :)

I first discovered JP when I was working as a whitewater river guide in oh, 1982? 1983?

TigerzDad: Just when I thought Farkers were out of touch - you have restored my faith in Fark.

Quick poll, however. How many of you are over 40?

/raises hand

I'm 25, and a Prine fan since I left the womb.

I'm 22 and a fan. EthelPP that is both awesome and brutally depressing.

It always amazes me that he could write something like "Hello in There" at my age, and not have it come off false.

jvcturntable: Now I know where Spiritualized nicked those lyrics from.
Thanks subby, that was beautiful.

That was my first thought - hey, that sounds like that Spiritualized lyric from Cop Shoot Cop. Never heard of Prine before but have this crazy bootleg REM CD (From the Borderline, I think) where they play all these covers - one of which is "Hello in There". I always loved that song.

Dope smokers......

Not quite 40 here, but darn close.

Ah, John Prine. Here's a true story about him. When Napster first started I was experimenting with different music and I came across John Prine's music. I really liked it so I sallied out to buy some cds. Horrors. There were none for sale in New Zealand. So I emailed him at 'Oh Boy Records' (his own record company) and whined about how I had to download his music illegally if I wanted to listen to him. Well, he emailed me back saying that NZ was too small a market for his music to be economically released in. BUT every time he releases a cd he will send it to me. FREE. 9 years on he still does.