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.
Billy The Bum
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sang of the hobo's delight
He'd prove he could run
Twice as fast as the sun
By losing his shadow at night
Now he loved every girl
In this curly headed world
But no one will know it seems
Left Billy just a bum in his dreams
And he was just a gentle boy
A real fluorescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Nor your knives tear him apart
Humiliation killed him
God bless his little heart
Now he lived all alone in a run down home
Near the side of the old railroad track
Where the trains used to run
Carryin' freight by the ton
Blow the whistle as Billy'd wave back
But the children around Billy's home town
Seemed to have nothin' better to do
Then run around his house
With their tongues from their mouth
Make fun of that crippled old fool
And he was just a gentle boy
A real fluorescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Nor your knives tear him apart
Humiliation killed him
God bless his little heart
Now some folks they wait and some folks they pray
For Jesus to rise up again
But none of these folks in their holy cloaks
Ever took Billy on as a friend
For pity's a crime
And it ain't worth a dime
To a person who's really in need
Just treat 'em the same
As you would your own name
Next time that your heart starts to bleed
And he was just a gentle boy
A real fluorescent light
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Nor your knives tear him apart
Humiliation killed him
God bless his little heart
The song "Billy the Bum" by John Prine is a tragic story of a man who is looked down upon by society due to his physical disabilities. Billy is a hobo who loves to sing and charm every girl he meets but is never able to express his love because of his twisted legs and a childhood disease. He lives alone in a rundown home near the railroad track, where the trains used to carry freight by the ton, and he would wave back at them. The children in his hometown often make fun of him and run around his house singing and mocking him. The song talks about how he has been humiliated and how that humiliation has led to his death.
The lyrics are powerful and emotional, and they show how society's cruelty can impact a person's life. Billy's innocence is captured in the song's lyrics; he is described as a gentle boy who cried pennies on Sunday morning and laughed nickels on Saturday night. However, his disability and isolation from society led to his tragic end, and the song's narrator calls for people to treat everyone equally and with respect.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy, the bum lived by the thumb
Billy was a vagabond who lived a free life, without any particular plans or responsibilities.
And sang of the hobo's delight
Billy sang songs that glorified the lifestyle of a hobo, which he enjoyed living himself.
He'd prove he could run
Billy believed he was capable of great things.
Twice as fast as the sun
Billy had a vivid imagination that allowed him to envision impossible feats.
By losing his shadow at night
Billy believed that he could outrun the sun by running in the dark and losing his shadow behind him.
Now he loved every girl
Billy was a romantic who had a love for every girl he met.
In this curly headed world
Billy saw the world as a place filled with beautiful and unique people.
But no one will know it seems
Despite his love for women, Billy was lonely and unable to find a partner who reciprocated his affection.
For two twisted legs and a childhood disease
Billy suffered from physical disabilities and ailments that made him unappealing to others.
Left Billy just a bum in his dreams
Billy's physical limitations prevented him from achieving the life he dreamed of.
And he was just a gentle boy
Despite his outer appearance and image, Billy was a kind and gentle person.
A real fluorescent light
Billy's personality was vibrant and stood out in a crowd.
Cried pennies on Sunday morning
Billy was poor and struggled to make ends meet.
Laughs nickels on Saturday night
Despite his poverty, Billy found joy in life's simple pleasures.
And your bullets, they can't harm him
Billy was immune to the physical violence and harm that others could inflict on him.
Nor your knives tear him apart
Even though Billy was physically weak, he possessed a strong spirit that could not be broken by others.
Humiliation killed him
Billy eventually succumbed to the emotional pain caused by others who humiliated and mocked him.
God bless his little heart
Billy was a victim who deserved mercy and kindness.
Now he lived all alone in a run down home
Billy was isolated and lived in a rundown house, far away from others.
Near the side of the old railroad track
Billy was a transient and often chose to live near the railroad tracks, which represented freedom and adventure to him.
Where the trains used to run
Billy enjoyed the excitement and thrill of seeing the trains go by, even if he could no longer ride them.
Carryin' freight by the ton
The trains represented a way of life for Billy, where he could travel and see the world.
Blow the whistle as Billy'd wave back
Billy was friendly and would greet the train drivers as they went by.
But the children around Billy's home town
The local children were mean and cruel to Billy.
Seemed to have nothin' better to do
The children had no consideration for the feelings of others and only sought entertainment at the expense of others.
Then run around his house
The children would taunt Billy by running around his house and making a commotion outside.
With their tongues from their mouth
The children would stick out their tongues and make rude gestures towards Billy.
Make fun of that crippled old fool
The children would insult and humiliate Billy because of his physical disabilities and poverty.
Now some folks they wait and some folks they pray
Many people turn to religion for hope and salvation.
For Jesus to rise up again
These people believe in the return of Jesus Christ as the savior of humanity.
But none of these folks in their holy cloaks
Despite their religious fervor, many people are hypocritical and do not practice what they preach.
Ever took Billy on as a friend
None of these people who preached kindness and love were willing to offer friendship to Billy or help him in his time of need.
For pity's a crime
Some people believe that offering pity to others is a shameful act.
And it ain't worth a dime
Pity and sympathy are often seen as worthless and empty gestures.
To a person who's really in need
Those who are truly in need require more than just pity and sympathy, they require real help and kindness.
Just treat 'em the same
Rather than offering empty gestures or pity, it's important to offer dignity and respect to everyone.
As you would your own name
We should treat other people with the same kindness and respect we would want for ourselves and those we love.
Next time that your heart starts to bleed
When we see someone suffering or in need, we should take action and help them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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