John Prine

[Zeno]

Have a best of album (CD) by John made in the late 70s. He made an Album a few years back that I think was nominated for a Grammy. Anyone know which one it was? Or, can anyone point me to some newer material by Prine that is worth getting. Thanks.

-Zeno

[liquidboss]

Check this place out:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...546713-6621504

[Rushmore]

I can't really help you, but I gotta tell you, I often find myself with the song Sam Stone running through my head over and over.

There's a hole in daddy's arm/Where all the money goes
Jesus Christ died for nothin/I suppose

Good stuff.

[scrub]

Yah, Prine is fantastic.

I was listening to The Great Compromise this week:



I knew a girl who was almost a lady
She had a way with all the men in her life
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
And she was born on the fourth of July
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she worked in a juke box saloon
And she spent all the money I give her
Just to see the old man in the moon

Chorus:
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise

Well we'd go out on Saturday evenings
To the drive-in on Route 41
And it was there that I first suspected
That she was doin' what she'd already done
She said "Johnny won't you get me some popcorn"
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
She hopped into a foreign sports car

(Repeat chorus)

Well you know I could have beat up that fellow
But it was her that had hopped into his car
Many times I'd fought to protect her
But this time she was goin' too far
Now some folks they call me a coward
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night
But I'd druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right

(Repeat chorus)

Now she writes all the fellows love letters
Saying "Greetings, come and see me real soon"
And they go and line up in the barroom
And spend the night in that sick woman's room
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
And I wish she was my girl instead
But she won't let me live with her
And she makes me live in my head

(Repeat chorus)

scrub

[CCass]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't really help you, but I gotta tell you, I often find myself with the song Sam Stone running through my head over and over.

There's a hole in daddy's arm/Where all the money goes
Jesus Christ died for nothin/I suppose

Good stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sam Stone, came home, to the wife and family,
after serving in the conflict overseas.

I can't remember anymore, but I bet it has been 20 years since I heard that song. Dear Abby is a good/silly song also.

[Zeno]

All the songs mentioned by everyone are on the Best of Album. Anyway, here are lyrics for two other very good songs by Prine.

Please Don’t Bury Me

Woke up this morning
Put on my slippers
Walked in the kitchen and died
And oh what a feeling!
When my soul
Went thru the ceiling
And on up into heaven I did ride
When I got there they did say
John, it happened this way
You slipped upon the floor
And hit your head
And all the angels say
Just before you passed away
These were the very last words
That you said:

Chorus:
Please don’t bury me
Down in that cold cold ground
No, I’d druther have "em" cut me up
And pass me all around
Throw my brain in a hurricane
And the blind can have my eyes
And the deaf can take both of my ears
If they don’t mind the size
Give my stomach to milwaukee
If they run out of beer
Put my socks in a cedar box
Just get "em" out of here
Venus de milo can have my arms
Look out! I’ve got your nose
Sell my heart to the junkman
And give my love to rose

Repeat chorus

Give my feet to the footloose
Careless, fancy free
Give my knees to the needy
Don’t pull that stuff on me
Hand me down my walking cane
It’s a sin to tell a lie
Send my mouth way down south
And kiss my ass goodbye

Repeat chorus




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


.

[Phat Mack]

I think it was the album of duets, In Spite of Ourselves.

[Zeno]

Thanks, Phat. Yeah, I looked it up on the web and Amazon and that sounds right. I went ahead and purchased two more of his works, his first album (came out in 1971; the year I graduated from High School, under the protest of the principal) and the Aimless Love CD.

-Zeno