John Prine’s music was — and remains — everywhere in Nashville.
His influence fueled arena stars and his wisdom rang through rock clubs.
You’d be hard-pressed to catch someone in Nashville with a guitar and not hear his name echoed from the stage or one of his songs covered with fevered appreciation.
Prine died Tuesday from COVID-19 complications at age 73.
Mandated self-isolation means Nashville can’t gather for a collective hug, pour a communal “Handsome Johnny” or fit into Arnold’s for a meat-and-three.
But you can play his music.
Play “In Spite of Ourselves” for the moments you feel true, inescapable love.
Play “Summer’s End” when melancholy thoughts creep a little too far into your mind’s edge.
Play “Paradise” for a real-life story from rural Kentucky that may be his most celebrated.
Play “Sweet Revenge” for when you need to give someone hell.
And play “That’s The Way That The World Goes ‘Round” as a reminder that no pain is permanent.
Play the essential songs. Play the deep cuts. Just play it loud enough for everyone to hear.
Find below a few songs — and accompanying lyrics — for your Prine playlist.
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“Sam Stone” (1971)
“There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes/ Jesus Christ died for nothin’ I suppose/ Little pitchers have big ears/ Don’t stop to count the years/ Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.”
“Paradise” (1971)
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County/ Down by the Green River where Paradise lay/ Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking/ Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
“Hello In There” (1971)
“You know that old trees just grow stronger/ And old rivers grow wilder every day/ Old people just grow lonesome/ Waiting for someone to say, “Hello in there, hello.”
“Angel From Montgomery” (1971)
“If dreams were lightning, thunder were desire/ This old house would have burnt down a long time ago”
“Souvenirs” (1972)
I hate reading old love letters/ For they always bring me tears/ I can’t forgive the way they rob me/ Of my sweetheart’s souvenirs”
“Sweet Revenge” (1973)
“Through rock and through stone/ The black wind still moans/ Sweet revenge/ Sweet revenge/ Without fail”
“That’s The Way That The World Goes ‘Round” (1978)
“That’s the way that the world goes ’round/ You’re up one day and the next you’re down/ It’s half an inch of water and you think you’re gonna drown/ That’s the way that the world goes ’round.”
“Fish and Whistle” (1978)
“Fish and whistle, whistle and fish/ Eat everything that they put on your dish/ When we get through we’ll make a big wish/ That we never have to do this again, again? again?”
“Storm Windows” (1980)
“Storm window – keep away the cold/ Don’t let your baby down”
“All The Best” (1991)
“I wish you love – and happiness/ I guess I wish – you all the best”
“Lake Marie” (1995)
“We were standing/ Standing by peaceful waters …”
“In Spite of Ourselves” (1999)
“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 ol’ hearts dancin’ in our eyes”
“Summer’s End” (2018)
“Just come on home/ Come on home/ No you don’t have to be alone/ Just come on home.”
“When I Get To Heaven” (2018)
“When I get to heaven, I’m gonna shake God’s hand/ Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand”
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