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 Rain
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought I heard you call my name
Great rain great rain
I thought I heard you call my name
I was standing in the station
Waving down an unmarked train
There's a fire at the junction
There's a fire at the junction
Why do you do the things you do
I was praying for mercy
And all he ever sent me was you
Jimmy bought the liquor
I bought the cups and ice
Jimmy bought the liquor
I bought the cups and ice
I tell you funny stories
Why can't you treat me nice
Great rain great rain
I thought I heard you call my name
Great rain great rain
I thought I heard you calling my name
I was standing by the river
Talking to a young mark twain.
The lyrics to John Prine's "Great Rain" paint a picture of a man standing in a train station, seemingly waiting for something to happen. As the rain pours down around him, he hears a faint voice calling his name. The repetition of "Great rain great rain" serves to emphasize the force and power of the storm. The lyrics mention a "fire at the junction," suggesting both a physical danger and possibly a metaphorical one as well. The singer prays for mercy, but instead, he is sent someone who seems to be causing him trouble.
Later in the lyrics, there's a mention of Jimmy buying liquor and cups and ice, possibly indicating that the singer is hanging out with friends trying to forget about his troubles. He tells funny stories, yet his friend won't treat him right. The song ends with the singer standing by the river, talking to a young Mark Twain, a reference to the famed writer and humorist, adding an element of surrealism and timelessness to the song.
Overall, the song seems to be about a man caught in a difficult situation, trying to find his place in the world. The rain serves as an almost mystical force that dictates events and shapes the story. The lyrics suggest that sometimes, even when we ask for help, the universe sends us unexpected challenges instead.
Line by Line Meaning
Great rain great rain
The singer addresses the heavy rain and repeats it twice, emphasizing its magnitude.
I thought I heard you call my name
The singer mistakenly believes that the sound of the rain is calling out their name.
I was standing in the station
Waving down an unmarked train
The singer is waiting for a train but is unsure of which train to get on as there are no markings.
There's a fire at the junction
Why do you do the things you do
There is chaos and confusion happening at the junction and the artist is questioning why things are happening the way they are.
I was praying for mercy
And all he ever sent me was you
The artist was asking for help or relief and the only response they got was encountering the person they are addressing.
Jimmy bought the liquor
I bought the cups and ice
The singer recounts a situation where they and someone else, Jimmy, contributed to buying supplies necessary for a social gathering.
I tell you funny stories
Why can't you treat me nice
The singer jokes and acts friendly towards someone who they feel doesn't treat them kindly.
I thought I heard you calling my name
I was standing by the river
Talking to a young mark twain.
The artist misinterprets the sound of the rain again and thinks it's calling their name while they converse with a younger version of the famous author, Mark Twain.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL W. CAMPBELL, JOHN E. PRINE, JOHN E PRINE, MICHAEL W CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gwenstone8887
Share your story, Valentine’s Day is coming!
Here’s our story:
How’d you guys meet?
We met at music roller land , his cousin came to me and ask my name for Doug lol ( it was sweet 💕)
First Date ?
We went fishing 😂
How long have you all been together?
29 years
Age difference?:
He is 4yrs 1 day older than me
Who was interested first?
I think we both was interested
Who is taller?
Him
Who said I love you first?
Him ( using a silly voice causing me to laugh 😂)
Most impatient?
Him
Most sensitive?
Me
Loudest?
Him 😂
Most Stubborn?
He says I am ( but I don’t see it 🤷🏼♀️)
Falls asleep first?
Me!
Cooks better?
Me on majority but him on cooking eggs and making sandwiches
Better morning person?
Him
Better driver?
Me 😁
Most competitive?
Him , he is very competitive!
Funniest?
Him !
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Chinese
Who is more social?
Definitely him !
Who is the neat freak?
Me
Where was your first kiss?
Skating rink ... he kissed me on cheek 😂
Who initiated your first kiss?
Him
Do you get flowers often?
Nope I do not like flowers
How long did it take to get serious?
3 months
Plans date night?
We don’t plan we just wing it 🤪
Who picks where you go to dinner?
Both
Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Me but not often, Doug ,...well he’s never wrong 🙄
Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Him
Who cries more?
Me
Who has more tattoos ?
Neither of us have any
Who sings better?
Him
Hogs the remote?
Him
Spends the most?
Neither we are both tight! 😜
Did you go to the same school ?
Me-MCHS Him-JCHS
Where is the furthest you two have traveled?
Florida
Who drives when you are together?
Him , only because he says I drive to slow and he’d like to get there before Jesus comes 😂
Post a picture of you and your valentine ♥️
#ValentinesDayChallenge
@williambrancato9773
He should of been put in the Rock & Roll Hall Fame just for this song.
@notimeforjokes.3570
I remember when there was no John Prine on YouTube, heck, I remember meeting John Prine, heck I remember buying Sweet Revenge album on tape in a gas station.
@tjtwig1226
Leegit
@steveguindon7677
Told you i would bring the cups and ice Jimmy Thank you John for being real RIP
@rickbland2108
One of a kind, complex simplicity.
@4orrcountry
Well put.
@monicacubberly-early1901
Thank you so much for sharing this. God bless all from Patrick
@royglenn2487
See, I told you he’s the best.
@gregormiller4037
Ya can't argue with Bobbie Weir!
@gwenstone8887
Share your story, Valentine’s Day is coming!
Here’s our story:
How’d you guys meet?
We met at music roller land , his cousin came to me and ask my name for Doug lol ( it was sweet 💕)
First Date ?
We went fishing 😂
How long have you all been together?
29 years
Age difference?:
He is 4yrs 1 day older than me
Who was interested first?
I think we both was interested
Who is taller?
Him
Who said I love you first?
Him ( using a silly voice causing me to laugh 😂)
Most impatient?
Him
Most sensitive?
Me
Loudest?
Him 😂
Most Stubborn?
He says I am ( but I don’t see it 🤷🏼♀️)
Falls asleep first?
Me!
Cooks better?
Me on majority but him on cooking eggs and making sandwiches
Better morning person?
Him
Better driver?
Me 😁
Most competitive?
Him , he is very competitive!
Funniest?
Him !
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Chinese
Who is more social?
Definitely him !
Who is the neat freak?
Me
Where was your first kiss?
Skating rink ... he kissed me on cheek 😂
Who initiated your first kiss?
Him
Do you get flowers often?
Nope I do not like flowers
How long did it take to get serious?
3 months
Plans date night?
We don’t plan we just wing it 🤪
Who picks where you go to dinner?
Both
Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Me but not often, Doug ,...well he’s never wrong 🙄
Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Him
Who cries more?
Me
Who has more tattoos ?
Neither of us have any
Who sings better?
Him
Hogs the remote?
Him
Spends the most?
Neither we are both tight! 😜
Did you go to the same school ?
Me-MCHS Him-JCHS
Where is the furthest you two have traveled?
Florida
Who drives when you are together?
Him , only because he says I drive to slow and he’d like to get there before Jesus comes 😂
Post a picture of you and your valentine ♥️
#ValentinesDayChallenge