John Prine is on my mind tonight. He’s in my broken heart and he’s forever in my memories and I thank God that I got to share this Earth with the man for a little while:
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A legend has been lost to us tonight. We always knew there would be tough losses and there are likely to be far more painful losses for many of us. We knew we would lose persons of significance, persons of deep meaning, persons who defined - helped to define - our very identity.
I refer not to fame, I refer not to simple notoriety. I refer however to those people we invited into our lives, into our relationships, into our consciousness - and by virtue of the art they created and blessed us with, they invited us into their lives as well.
Not too long ago, we lost Robert Hunter. And now tonight, I have learned of the passing of the remarkable and unequaled talent who was John Prine. There are few songwriters who are his equal, who told the stories he told, in the way in which he told them and with the insight that accompanied every word.
John Prine belongs on a very short list of great songwriters, deserving of mention with the likes of Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Jesse Winchester, Lennon & McCartney.
John Prine could write a song which sounded as if it was a folk traditional of centuries-old vintage (Muehlenberg County), he could satirize advice columnists (Dear Abby), he could celebrate love (You got Gold), he could relate tales of regret and loss - and do it powerfully (Lake Marie) and he could cast separation in a sardonic, yet accepting way (All the Best).
John Prine gently - and yet oh so effectively - shared words of protest with us in the Vietnam era (Flag Decal, The Great Compromise). He gave a wink and a nod to recreational drug use (Illegal smile) and broke our hearts with the terrible consequences of substance abuse (Sam Stone).
As I grew up and as I grew old, Jon Prine was there. John Prine was there as I drunkenly sang along (to the irritation of fellow concert goers) with every song at a concert at Constitution Hall because I knew every word (also because I was drunk... SO drunk... hey, I was 20!) - John Prine was there as I courted my wife of 40+ years, she and I having attended more John Prine concerts together than those of any other performer. Whatever mood I might have, whatever need I might be feeling, John Prine could be there to soothe, enjoin, lift up or advise - with the super-power of his gift, that gift he blessed us all with... his words and his music.
Today after the workday was done, I spent a bit of time finishing up a playlist I had been working on - a playlist intended to lift spirits, to attack this demon assaulting all of us with music, rhythm and lyrics. I call the playlist “Rique’s medicine” in recognition of the healing power that music can offer. Naturally, John Prine had a place on that playlist.
I know the next playlist I’m going to work on.
And so...
“Kiss a little baby
Give the world a smile
If you take an inch
Give 'em back a mile
Cause if you lie like a rug
And you don't give a damn
You're never gonna be
As happy as a clam”
And remember this...
“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 old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.”
And in closing and in John’s memory - and once this horror show is done, let’s all be mindful of his words:
“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."
Goodbye and God bless, John - thank you for your words and your music and especially your wisdom. You got gold - deep inside of you.
“Well I'm thinking I'm knowing that I gotta be going
You know I hate to say so long.
It gives me an ocean of mixed up emotion
I'll have to work it out in a song.
Well I'm leaving a lot for the little I got
But you know a lot a little will do
And if you give me your love
I'll let it shine up above
And light my way back home to you.
Cause you got gold
Gold inside of you
Cause you got gold
Gold inside of you
Well I got some
Gold inside me too”
Yes, John... you sure did have some gold. Thanks for sharing it with us. I will see you on the other side - I hope you bring your guitar.
UPDATE:
Thanks for the thoughts and memories shared in comments. It helps.
Today (when I wasn’t breaking down), I put together a playlist in Apple Music (requires a subscription, sincere apologies to anyone who doesn’t have Apple Music):
In memory of John Prine
(I took the link down because it wouldn’t work… apparently that issue only was a problem on the mobile site — it seems to work okay on the desktop — so I have revived the link. Enjoy!)