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.
Donald & Lydia
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pinballs and pool halls flashing their lights
Making change behind the counter in a penny arcade
Sat the fat girl daughter of Virginia and Ray
Lydia
Lydia hid her thoughts like a cat
Behind her small eyes sunk deep in her fat
And felt just like Sunday on Saturday afternoon
But dreaming just comes natural
Like the first breath from a baby
Like sunshine feeding daisies
Like the love hidden deep in your heart
Bunk beds, shaved heads, Saturday night
A warehouse of strangers with sixty watt lights
Staring through the ceiling, just wanting to be
Lay one of too many, a young PFC
Donald
There were spaces between Donald and whatever he said
Strangers had forced him to live in his head
He envisioned the details of romantic scenes
After midnight in the stillness of the barracks latrine
But dreaming just comes natural
Like the first breath from a baby
Like sunshine feeding daisies
Like the love hidden deep in your heart
Hot love, cold love, no love at all
A portrait of guilt is hung on the wall
Nothing is wrong, nothing is right
Donald and Lydia made love that night
Love
The made love in the mountains, they made love in the streams
They made love in the valleys, they made love in their dreams
But when they was finished there was nothing to say
'Cause mostly they made love from ten miles away
But dreaming just comes natural
Like the first breath from a baby
Like sunshine feeding daisies
Like the love hidden deep in your heart
The lyrics to John Prine's song Donald & Lydia describe two young adults who are struggling to find fulfillment and meaning in their small town lives. The first verse sets the scene of a typical Saturday night in their town, with pinball machines and pool halls providing the only entertainment. It is here that we are introduced to Lydia, a young woman who is overweight and introverted. She is described as keeping her thoughts hidden behind her small eyes, and turning to romance magazines for escape.
The second verse introduces us to Donald, a young soldier stationed in the town. Donald is portrayed as mentally isolated from those around him, his thoughts elsewhere. He escapes reality by fantasizing about romantic scenes, often alone in the barracks latrine. Eventually, Donald and Lydia meet and make love, but their connection doesn't go beyond the physical act.
Overall, the song reflects Prine's talent for capturing the nuances of everyday people and their struggles. The characters of Lydia and Donald are both lonely and searching for something more, but ultimately unable to find it in each other or their surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
Small town, bright lights, saturday night,
The town was small and quiet, but livelier on Saturday nights with the bright flashing lights of pinballs and pool halls.
Pinballs and pool halls flashing their lights.
The pinballs and pool halls in the town were adorned with blinking, eye-catching lights.
Making change behind the counter in a penny arcade
A girl was working behind the counter of a penny arcade and making change for customers.
Sat the fat girl daughter of virginia and ray
The girl behind the counter was heavyset and the daughter of a couple named Virginia and Ray.
Lydia
Lydia is the name of the girl working behind the counter in the penny arcade.
Lydia hid her thoughts like a cat
Lydia kept her thoughts and feelings to herself, like a cat hiding under a bed.
Behind her small eyes sunk deep in her fat.
Although Lydia had small eyes, they appeared even smaller due to her weight.
She read romance magazines up in her room
Lydia would read magazines about love and romance in her private room.
And felt just like sunday on saturday afternoon.
Reading romance magazines on a lively Saturday afternoon made Lydia feel calm and peaceful, just like a lazy Sunday.
But dreaming just comes natural
It's natural for people to have dreams and ambitions.
Like the first breath from a baby,
Dreaming comes as naturally as a baby taking their first breath after being born into the world.
Like sunshine feeding daisies,
Dreaming is as essential to a human as sunshine is to making daisies grow.
Like the love hidden deep in your heart.
Dreaming is like the love that is deep inside a person's heart, always present but often unseen.
Bunk beds, shaved heads, saturday night,
It was a Saturday night in a place with bunk beds and shaved heads, suggesting they were in a military barracks.
A warehouse of strangers with sixty watt lights.
The place was full of unfamiliar people, and the only light available was from sixty-watt bulbs.
Staring through the ceiling, just wanting to be
The people there were staring at the ceiling, hoping for something more in life.
Lay one of too many, a young pfc:
Among the many people in the room was a young Private First Class, who was seemingly tired of his surroundings.
Donald
Donald is the name of the young PFC described earlier.
There were spaces between donald and whatever he said.
There was a distance between Donald and the things he communicated to others.
Strangers had forced him to live in his head.
Donald felt like strangers had made him retreat into his own head and thoughts.
He envisioned the details of romantic scenes
Donald often fantasized about romantic scenarios, picturing vivid details in his mind.
After midnight in the stillness of the barracks latrine.
Donald's fantasies mostly occurred in the middle of the night when the barracks were quiet and peaceful, specifically in the latrine.
[Repeat chorus:]
The repeated chorus emphasizes the idea that dreaming comes naturally and is an integral part of humanity.
Hot love, cold love, no love at all.
The different types of love - passionate, distant or non-existent - are all explored in the song.
A portrait of guilt is hung on the wall.
There is a painting on the wall that symbolizes guilt, perhaps as a reference to the guilt Donald may have felt after having sex with Lydia.
Nothing is wrong, nothing is right.
Donald and Lydia's carefree outlook on life makes them ambivalent towards feelings of right and wrong.
Donald and lydia made love that night.
Donald and Lydia had sex on that particular night, despite living ten miles away from each other.
Love
The idea of love is explored throughout the song, particularly how it can occur in unusual circumstances and with unusual people.
The made love in the mountains, they made love in the streams,
Donald and Lydia have had sex in many different places; mountains and streams are particularly mentioned.
They made love in the valleys, they made love in their dreams.
Donald and Lydia have also had sex in valleys, and they sometimes dream about it.
But when they were finished there was nothing to say,
After having sex, Donald and Lydia couldn't really communicate with each other, as their relationship was based around lust rather than emotional connection.
'cause mostly they made love from ten miles away.
Donald and Lydia have mostly had sex with each other through their imaginations and thoughts, as they lived ten miles away from each other and only met up occasionally in person.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Here's The Truth
"Donald And Lydia"
Small town, bright lights, Saturday night,
Pinballs and pool halls flashing their lights.
Making change behind the counter in a penny arcade
Sat the fat girl daughter of Virginia and Ray
[Spoken:]
Lydia
Lydia hid her thoughts like a cat
Behind her small eyes sunk deep in her fat.
She read romance magazines up in her room
And felt just like Sunday on Saturday afternoon.
[Chorus:]
But dreaming just comes natural
Like the first breath from a baby,
Like sunshine feeding daisies,
Like the love hidden deep in your heart.
Bunk beds, shaved heads, Saturday night,
A warehouse of strangers with sixty watt lights.
Staring through the ceiling, just wanting to be
Lay one of too many, a young PFC:
[Spoken:]
Donald
There were spaces between Donald and whatever he said.
Strangers had forced him to live in his head.
He envisioned the details of romantic scenes
After midnight in the stillness of the barracks latrine.
[Chorus]
Hot love, cold love, no love at all.
A portrait of guilt is hung on the wall.
Nothing is wrong, nothing is right.
Donald and Lydia made love that night.
[Spoken:]
Love
The made love in the mountains, they made love in the streams,
They made love in the valleys, they made love in their dreams.
But when they were finished there was nothing to say,
'Cause mostly they made love from ten miles away.
[Chorus]
D. Watson
In 1971, I used to sneak into my older brother’s room and listen to his rock and roll albums and try to learn to be ‘hip.’ One day he brought this album home (I still have it) and I, like Kris Kristofferson, was taken by it then. Still am. RIP, John.
Timothy Lewis
I had a similar experience. My brother was 7 years older. His records were my introduction to serious music. The first time I heard Prine and also Bob Marley were revelalations , moments I remember like yesterday though it’s nearly 50 years now. We still share music ❤
Ed Holmes
An entire novel hidden deep in a wonderful little song by the most genuine American songwriter that ever lived.
DylanDream
You got that right !
Harold Wilcher
Well said, sir!!!
rain intheface
A song from a different time and a different world. Nearly 40 years later it still hit home. For anyone who ever went through leaving home for military service this song hits you right in the guts. To all those young people who believed they could change the World and haven't given up , HANG IN THERE BABY. times are gonna change , just you wait and see!!
D. Watson
Boy did this ever come true. I’m just not sure it was how you’d hoped and envisioned. RIP John Prine. We all long for 1971 again. Well, mostly. 😐
Travis Harper
Long time fan & really hated to hear of John's passing but all of us John Prine fans will keep his spirit alive & I know I'll do my part by turning others on to the music that John Prine made for the world to enjoy. RIP John Prine.
Dean Ramaci
Amen brother. When I heard he died I was so shocked. Although I can only imagine how prine would feel if he lived to see the riots going on, he'd probably be mortified
Allan Fifield
Tobacco killed John Prine.