Boomer Lullabyes: Hello in There by John Prine (October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020)

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• captflee April 8, 2020, 2:25 PM

  I will miss him very much. In times of trouble, or just plain old sadness his music was always there for me. I will forever hold in my heart memories of a wonderful evening aboard the riverboat President listening to John and Steve Goodman.

  ∞
• Phil in Englewood April 8, 2020, 3:16 PM

  Spent many an hour learning and playing John Prine songs with my old college roommate who grew up in Chicago and was an early fan. Wonderful, evocative songs… Thanks very much, John. See you down the road…

  https://youtu.be/nXbEFTv9zr0

  ∞
• Auntie Analogue April 8, 2020, 4:32 PM

  First heard of John Prine in 1974 and marveled at the tenderness and winking good humor in his songwriting. To this day my favorite of his to pick and croak out remains “Angel From Montgomery.”

  “The years just flow by like a broken-down dam”: Requiescat in pace, John Prine

  ∞
• Sam Vimes April 8, 2020, 5:01 PM

  The only time I’ve ever teared up at a concert was about 15 years ago hearing John Prine sing Sam Stone. I find Bob Dylan incomprehensible but Prine’s writing was spare, elegant, and meaningful. And damned funny at times. What a loss, what a blessing.

  ∞
• Skorpion April 8, 2020, 5:14 PM

  He lived long enough to *become* the old man narrating that song. But unlike that tragic figure, John Prine was well-loved and -respected, as we’re seeing now with the accolades for his work coming from across the cultural spectrum.
  Rest in peace, John. Thanks for your brilliant, heartfelt music.

  ∞
• Jack April 8, 2020, 5:47 PM

  I discovered John when I was young Seaman Recruit in 1970 or ‘71 and he was like peas and carrots for me. I played and sang several of his tunes through the Navy and college and later I was fortunate to find a friend that loved him too and between us we prob knew and played 30 of his songs.

  My work sucked up a lot of my time and I switched my focus for a number of years to seriously study classical guitar but memorizing classical pieces takes a lot of time and focus and it is not nearly as fun as grabbing a steel string and kicking off a Prine or a Lightfoot tune.

  John has blessed us with some funny and thought provoking songs that people will remember for a long time and we are blessed for having lived in his time. Thanks for everything, Johnny!!

  ∞
• Deborah April 8, 2020, 6:40 PM

  So much, for so long. “Fair and Square” is my favorite album (and “In Spite of Ourselves” shows how well he did with other folks’ stuff). “Lake Marie”, “I Hate It When That Happens To Me”, “Paradise” — the list is endless. A large soul; I’ve been saddened for years that he didn’t get a Kennedy Center honor: he was an American treasure.

  ∞
• Lance de Boyle April 9, 2020, 1:28 AM

  What an ending!
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exr-DOWJ3A0

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• H April 9, 2020, 4:35 AM

  A bit prophetic, wot?

  “Well, who’s gonna take your garbage out
  When I’ve packed my bags and gone?”

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qFLzyuo6FA

  ∞
• Klaus April 9, 2020, 5:05 AM

  “Where the air smelled like snakes and we’d shoot with our pistols but empty pop bottles was all we would kill”.So many lines from so many songs for so many years. Godspeed John.

  ∞
• Gnawbone Jack April 9, 2020, 5:07 AM

  “Far From Me” would be my favorite Prine song and it haunts me still. I was there once, long ago, when “A June bug flew from the warmth he once knew” …

  ∞
• John Venlet April 9, 2020, 5:23 AM

  I could not help but think that John would want this song sung at his funeral. I know I immediately started mouthing the words it when I read that he had died the other day.

  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 through 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
  That these were the very last words
  That you said”
  “Please don’t bury me
  Down in that cold, cold ground
  No, I?d rather 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 to get ’em out of here”
  “Venus De Milo can have my arms
  Look out! I’ve got your nose
  Sell my heart to the junk man
  And give my love to Rose”
  “But please don’t bury me
  Down in that cold, cold ground
  I?d rather have ’em cut me up
  And pass me all around”
  “Throw my brain in a hurricane
  The blind can have my eyes
  And the deaf can take both of my ears
  If they don’t mind the size, oh man!”
  “Give my feet to the footloose
  Careless, fancy free
  And 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”
  “But, please don’t bury me
  Down in that cold, cold ground
  I?d rather 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, that’s right”

  Rest in peace, John Prine.

  ∞
• Phil in Englewood April 9, 2020, 6:07 AM

  And this…

  https://youtu.be/yYHT-TF4KO4

  ∞
• David April 9, 2020, 11:50 AM

  When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
  Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
  I’ll be halfway to Heaven with Paradise waitin’
  Just five miles away from wherever I am

  Good bye, dear friend that I never knew. Just the soul that you poured out into your songs.

  Pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain…..

  Thanks for asking.

  ∞