Born and raised in Maywood, Illinois, Prine learned to play the guitar at age 14. He attended classes at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. After serving in West Germany with the U.S. Army, he returned to Chicago in the late 1960s, where he worked as a mailman, writing and singing songs first as a hobby and then as a club performer.
A member of Chicago's folk revival, a laudatory review by critic Roger Ebert built Prine's popularity. Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson heard Prine at Steve Goodman's insistence, and Kristofferson invited Prine to be his opening act, leading to Prine's eponymous debut album with Atlantic Records in 1971. The acclaim Prine earned from his first LP led to three more albums for Atlantic. He then recorded three albums with Asylum Records. In 1981, he co-founded Oh Boy Records, an independent label where he released most of his subsequent albums.
Widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, Prine was known for humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary and songs that recollect sometimes melancholy tales from his life.
Prine was the son of William Mason Prine, a tool-and-die maker, and Verna Valentine (Hamm), a homemaker, both originally from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. He was born and raised in the Chicago suburb of Maywood. In summers, they would go back to visit family near Paradise, Kentucky. Prine started playing guitar at age 14, taught by his brother, David. He attended classes at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, and graduated from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. He was a U.S. Postal Service mailman for five years and was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War era, serving as a vehicle mechanic in West Germany before beginning his musical career in Chicago.
Prine is widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. He has been referred to as "the Mark Twain of songwriting".
Johnny Cash, in his autobiography Cash, wrote, "I don't listen to music much at the farm, unless I'm going into songwriting mode and looking for inspiration. Then I'll put on something by the writers I've admired and used for years—Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Guy Clark, and the late Steve Goodman are my Big Four ..."
Roger Waters, when asked by Word Magazine in 2008 if he heard Pink Floyd's influence in newer British bands such as Radiohead, replied, "I don't really listen to Radiohead. I listened to the albums and they just didn't move me in the way, say, John Prine does. His is just extraordinarily eloquent music—and he lives on that plane with Neil [Young] and [John] Lennon." He later named Prine as among the five most important songwriters.
Prine's influence is seen in the work of younger artists, whom he often mentored, including Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price, Tyler Childers, and Robin Pecknold.
The last song Prine recorded before he died was "I Remember Everything", released on June 12, 2020, alongside a music video. It was released following the two-hour special tribute show, A Tribute Celebrating John Prine aired on June 11, 2020, which featured Sturgill Simpson, Vince Gill, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Bonnie Raitt, Rita Wilson, Eric Church, Brandi Carlile and many other country artists and friends.[45] On the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Prine singing "I Remember Everything" was the soundtrack to the COVID-19 memorial video.
Bear Creek Blues
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Well, it makes me feel like I'm on my last go 'round
Well, the water up on Bear Creek, tastes like cherry wine
Yeah, the water up on Bear Creek, tastes like cherry wine
One drink of that water, you stay drunk all the time
If you stay up on Bear Creek, you'll get like Jesse James
You'll take two pistols and you'll rob that Bear Creek train
I'm going high, high, up on some lonesome hill
I'm going high, high, up on some lonesome hill
Look down on Bear Creek where my good gal used to live
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Well, it makes me feel like I'm on my last go 'round
John Prine's song "Bear Creek Blues" tells the story of a man who finds himself in a remote location, high up on Bear Creek. He watches the sun go down and feels like he is staring down his own mortality. He describes the water on Bear Creek tasting like cherry wine, and warns that it will leave you drunk all the time. The singer even draws a comparison between himself and the infamous outlaw Jesse James, saying "If you stay up on Bear Creek, you'll get like Jesse James. You'll take two pistols and rob that Bear Creek train".
The lyrics are filled with imagery of a desolate, isolated area where one can easily lose oneself. When the singer says he's going high up on some lonesome hill, he's essentially seeking solitude to reflect. It's interesting to note the use of the name Jesse James, invoking the idea of rebellion and fighting against authority. The song also reveals the singer's nostalgia, as he longs for his good gal who used to live near Bear Creek.
Overall, the lyrics of "Bear Creek Blues" paint a picture of a man alone in a vast and dangerous wilderness. He's reflective, curious and cautious, while at the same time feeling empowered in a place where he can have a sense of control.
Line by Line Meaning
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Observing the sunset on Bear Creek
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Witnessing the end of something significant
Well, it makes me feel like I'm on my last go 'round
Feels like it's the end of the line
Well, the water up on Bear Creek, tastes like cherry wine
The water in Bear Creek tastes like cherry-flavored wine
Yeah, the water up on Bear Creek, tastes like cherry wine
The water tastes deceptively sweet and lures one in
One drink of that water, you stay drunk all the time
The water has a powerful effect on those who consume it
If you stay up on Bear Creek, you'll get like Jesse James
Living on Bear Creek turns you into a notorious outlaw like Jesse James
If you stay up on Bear Creek, you'll get like Jesse James
Bear Creek corrupts those who stay there for too long
You'll take two pistols and you'll rob that Bear Creek train
The influence of Bear Creek can drive people to perform illegal and dangerous actions
I'm going high, high, up on some lonesome hill
Retreating to a solitary place on a hill far away from Bear Creek
I'm going high, high, up on some lonesome hill
Escaping the influence of Bear Creek and seeking solitude
Look down on Bear Creek where my good gal used to live
Remembering a former lover who lived on Bear Creek
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Observing the sunset on Bear Creek
Way up on Bear Creek, watching the sun go down
Feeling like it's the end of the line
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
IceSilverArrow88
I love this version of Bear Creek Blues, too. John Prine's arrangement of it reminds me a lot of some of Johnny Cash's songs.
bigsur21
Rip my friend, really enjoyed your sound, thank you very much !
Jimplicit
Such a great song! I watched The Winding Stream on Netflix and this song has been in my head ever since. If you haven't seen The Winding Stream yet, you really should.
Kathi South
Julia Barnett hy
Julia Barnett
Looking Forward to watching movie. Thanks!
Sean Riffle
I play this on the jukebox every week at the bowling alley and watch everyone start dancing and wondering who it is.
OldSoldierMan
This song is so much fun!! A real classic!!
airmojo
Rest easy John... this is a great song... even has some harmonica in it... forgive me for jamming along on my own G harp... fun song !
ExpatBlues
CLASSIC! watched him do this LIVE, too (Patronaat, Haarlem, NL) years ago. I visited the gig with my Dad. One of the highlights in the show!
David87124
I love this version. The 1927 arrangement can be found by typing: Carter Family-Bear Creek Blues