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.
Great Compromise
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had a way with all the men in her life
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
And she was born on the fourth of July
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she worked in a juke box saloon
And she spent all the money that I give her
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Well we'd go out on Saturday evenings
To the drive-in on Route 41
And it was there that I first suspected
That she was doin' what she'd already done
She said, "Johnny won't you get me some popcorn"
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
She hopped into a foreign sports car
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Well you know I could have beat up that fellow
But it was her that had hopped into his car
Many times I'd fought to protect her
But this time she was goin' too far
Now some folks they call me a coward
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night
But I'd rather have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Now she writes all the fellows love letters
Saying "Greetings, come and see me real soon"
And they go and line up in the barroom
And spend the night in that sick woman's room
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
And I wish she was my girl instead
But she won't let me live with her
And she makes me live in my head
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
The song “Great Compromise” by John Prine is a poignant tale of lost love and broken promises. The singer tells of a girl who he knew, who was almost a lady, with whom he was in love, but who did not return his feelings. She is described as beautiful, born on the Fourth of July, and working in a jukebox saloon. The singer often dreams of leaving behind his loveless life at the foot of Old Glory, the American flag, and waking up to the dawn's early light.
However, he soon realizes that the girl is cheating on him with other men, spending his money to see the Old Man in the Moon. Her infidelity is confirmed when she hops into a foreign sports car with another man at a drive-in theater, leaving the singer alone with his popcorn. Despite his desires for her, the singer ultimately chooses to leave her behind, preferring to have names thrown at him rather than fight for a thing that ain't right. The song captures the singer's sense of hurt and longing over a love that he cannot have, and the disappointment in the compromises we make when faced with difficult choices.
One interpretation of the song suggests that the “Great Compromise” refers to the United States Constitution, in which many compromises were made to form a more perfect union. The singer may be suggesting that, just like the compromises made in creating the Constitution, the compromises he made with his love were ultimately unfulfilling and left him feeling hollow. Overall, the lyrics of “Great Compromise” exemplify John Prine's ability to capture the complexities of human relationships and the highs and lows of the American experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew a girl who was almost a lady
The songwriter knew a woman who presented herself as a mature individual
She had a way with all the men in her life
Men were attracted to this woman and she knew how to appeal to them
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
The woman was physically attractive from head to toe
And she was born on the fourth of July
The woman's birthday was on the national holiday of the Fourth of July
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
Despite her beauty, the woman lived in a humble dwelling
And she worked in a juke box saloon
The woman was employed in an establishment where music was played
And she spent all the money that I give her
The woman was reliant on others for financial support and spent money quickly
Just to see the old man in the moon
The woman spent money on a dubious quest to see a face on the surface of the moon
Well we'd go out on Saturday evenings
On Saturday nights, the songwriter and the woman would go out together
To the drive-in on Route 41
Their destination was a drive-in theater on a specific road
And it was there that I first suspected
At the drive-in, the songwriter's suspicions about the woman grew
That she was doin' what she'd already done
The woman was engaging in actions that she had done before in his presence
She said, "Johnny won't you get me some popcorn"
The woman requested food from the songwriter
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
The woman was aware that the concession stand was some distance away
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
Taking advantage of the lighting and his absence, the woman acted quickly
She hopped into a foreign sports car
The woman entered a luxury car that did not belong to the songwriter
Now some folks they call me a coward
Some people criticize the songwriter for his actions
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night
The songwriter chose to leave the woman at the theater and go home alone
But I'd rather have names thrown at me
Though he may be ridiculed, the songwriter would rather not engage in an immoral behavior
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right
The songwriter refuses to fight for something that is morally wrong
Now she writes all the fellows love letters
The woman sends letters to many men expressing her affections
Saying "Greetings, come and see me real soon"
Her letters invite these men to visit her
And they go and line up in the barroom
These men show up at a bar to pursue a relationship with the woman
And spend the night in that sick woman's room
These men willingly spend time with a woman who has done questionable things in the past
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
Occasionally, the songwriter feels lonely
And I wish she was my girl instead
Despite her faults, he still has feelings for this woman
But she won't let me live with her
She is unwilling to have a relationship that involves living together
And she makes me live in my head
The songwriter is forced to find comfort in his own thoughts rather than with this woman
I used to sleep at the foot of old glory
The songwriter used to sleep near the American flag, representing his patriotism
And awake in the dawn's early light
He would wake up early to start a new day
But much to my surprise when I opened my eyes
When he finally saw the situation with the woman clearly
I was a victim of the great compromise
The singer feels he has been forced to settle for less than he deserves and has made compromises that hurt his self-respect
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN PRINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rob Athanas
"I knew a girl who was almost a lady"...
This song came out a couple of years prior to America's bicentennial, hence, "almost a lady".
"Every inch of her blossomed in beauty, she was born on the 4th of July".
when America would be 200 yrs. old, thus, a lady.
at the end, "Well she sends all the fella's love letters, saying greetings come and see me real soon..."
your draft notice, if you received one, started out,
"greetings, you have been inducted into the United States Army".
the lining up in a bar room is what you did the night before being shipped off to boot camp. too much to cover it all, but one of the all time greatest songs to disguise the meaning.
kinda like the first time you heard sympathy for the devil by the Stones.
Harvey Jones
I knew a girl who was almost a lady
She had a way with all the men in her life
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
She was born on the fourth of July
Well, she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she worked in a juke box saloon
And she spent all the money that I gave her
Just to see the old man in the moon
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Well, we'd go out on Saturday evenings
To the drive-in on Route 41
And it was there that I first suspected
That she was doin' what she'd already done
She said, "Johnny won't you get me some popcorn?"
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
She hopped into a foreign sports car
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Well, you know I could have beat up that fellow
But it was her that had hopped into his car
Many times I'd fought to protect her
But this time she was goin' too far
Now some folks they call me a coward
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night
But I'd druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Then she writes all the fellows love letters
Saying, "Greetings, come and see me real soon"
And they go and line up in the barroom
Spend the night in that sick woman's room
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
And I wish she was my girl instead
But she won't let me live with her
And she makes me live in my head
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: John Prine
Robby Patterson
The Great Compromise, Angel from Montgomery, Sam Stone, Donald and Lydia, Souvenirs, the list goes on, one of the greatest songwriter story tellers of all time. 46 years and I never tire of listening to him.
Kurt Cole
Amen
WILLIAM LEE
Me either
tom wray
It is impossible to describe John Prine. I had the good foitune of finding his great music forty years ago. I have never looked back. Been playing it ever since. He is a Great Composer because he writes songs about our lives. God bless him for that.
Shelia Pea
One of my favorites. A cousin turned me onto his music when I was all of 12 or 13 and I as well, didn't look back. I introduced my children to his music and they love him.
Skyli ORhinus
A semi-melodic Dylan perhaps? This has got to be one of my top ten albums, and Great Compromise one of the three - maybe three'n;half - songs I learned to play when I was younger, much younger. Still play it sometimes, along with the other two/two'n'half. No doubt it was the presence of such magnificence in my proto-repertoire that made it unnecessary for me to ever learn any more. Them were the days, eh Tom?
And God bless the man; fabulous recovery.
joanira peixoto
very good!
Christa-Lee Cole
joanira peixotjjinu
Barry Allison
I too have loved him for 40 or better years
Riley Huffman
John Prine was the only friend that I had that I never got to meet.