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.
Hello In There
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me and Loretta liked living there
Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown
A life of their own, left us alone
John and Linda live in Omaha
And Joe is somewhere on the road
We lost Davy in the Korean war
You know that old trees just grow stronger
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello"
Me and Loretta, we don't talk much more
She sits and stares through the back door screen
And all the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
We worked together at the factory
What could I say if he asks "What's new?"
"Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do"
You know that old trees just grow stronger
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello"
So if you're walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
Please don't just pass 'em by and stare
As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there, hello"
John Prine’s song ‘Hello in There’ tells the story of an elderly couple who are living their life in quiet solitude. They reside in a city apartment where they used to live with their children, but now that the children have grown and gone, the couple is left alone. The husband reflects on their adult children, one of whom has died in the Korean War while the others, John and Linda, live in Omaha, and Joe is somewhere on the road. The husband wonders what the war was about and realizes it doesn’t matter anymore. The couple doesn't conversate like they used to, and they both seem to be living their own lives in their own world. The husband worries they have lost the ability to connect with others, and they are becoming lonesome in their isolation.
The chorus emphasizes the inevitability of aging and the isolation that often comes along with it. Old people, like trees and rivers, grow stronger and wilder but also lonelier. The husband is left just "waiting for someone to say, 'Hello in there, hello'" — for someone to see him, truly see him, and acknowledge his existence. Finally, the song ends with the husband's plea for compassion and humanity, encouraging people not to overlook the elderly and to show them kindness and respect.
Line by Line Meaning
We had an apartment in the city
Once upon a time, my wife and I used to live in the city
Me and Loretta liked living there
Loretta, that's my wife, and I really enjoyed living in the city
Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown
Our children had long since grown up and left home
A life of their own, left us alone
They had their own lives to lead, so we were left to ourselves
John and Linda live in Omaha
Our son John and his wife Linda live in Omaha
And Joe is somewhere on the road
Our other son Joe is travelling somewhere
We lost Davy in the Korean War
Our son Davy died in the Korean War
And I still don't know what for, don't matter anymore
I still don't know what caused his death, but it doesn't matter anymore
You know that old trees just grow stronger
Old trees just seem to get stronger as they age
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Similarly, old rivers become more turbulent with each passing day
Old people just grow lonesome
Old people like Loretta and me just grow lonely as time goes by
Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello"
We're just waiting for someone to reach out and acknowledge our existence
Me and Loretta, we don't talk much more
Loretta and I don't really talk to each other too much these days
She sits and stares through the back door screen
Sometimes Loretta just sits there, staring out of the back door screen
And all the news just repeats itself
Every day, it seems like the news is just the same old stuff over and over again
Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen
It's like some kind of dream that we've both forgotten about now
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
One of these days, I might get around to calling up Rudy
We worked together at the factory
We used to work together at the same factory
What could I say if he asks "What's new?"
If he asks me what's new, I don't really know what to tell him
"Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do"
I'd probably just say something like 'not much', and ask him what he's been up to
So if you're walking down the street sometime
If you're ever out walking around somewhere
And spot some hollow ancient eyes
And you see some elderly person with a distant, empty look in their eyes
Please don't just pass 'em by and stare
Please don't just ignore them and stare at them like they're invisible
As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there, hello"
Acknowledge them, say 'hello', let them know that they're not alone
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlatoby5808
He was an incredible talent. He heavily influenced my music...up there with the greats. His songwriting actually improved after he sobered up--something not many musicians accomplish.
Saw him in 1984 in Seattle with Steve Goodman. Prine was so drunk he fell off the stage. Kept on playing, though...
One of the first songs of his I learned was "Sam Stone." As part of that generation (Vietnam) I had several friends who came home from overseas all screwed up in the melon. Big time screwed up.
I played "Sam Stone" for one of those guys...now we'd say he had PTSD. All we knew then was "Don't talk to Frank when he's out drinking beer on the balcony." My band partner, one of Frank's roommates, wanted to learn the song, so I brought it over. My bandmate wasn't home yet, so I was fooling around, singing it by myself, practicing guitar while I waited. Frank heard me, made me stop, explain about the song, Prine, etc, then asked me to sing it from the beginning.
It was weird. He listened, then got very quiet. He asked me if he could talk to me about "some stuff." I said "Sure, man. Whatever you need, I'll listen."
His story was horrendous; and he'd never told it before.
It was an amazing, emotional, intense, experience. And it happened because of John Prine's song, which he wrote in truth and with courage and heart. Frank got better with time. I'd like to think Prine had something to do with that.
@djs4415
Dear God I Love you 💖
I just spent one month searching for my Friend
She turned 100 on February 1st
She was a Singer in the 30's and 40's
I put her favori tunes on an IPad
As her Birthday Gift
She has been moved from her home
To convalescent home
And because of HIPPA And "Privavy Laws"
We lost contact...I Found her today 💙🙏💙
@joeblow3826
Right now im stitting back eyes closed listening to this with a PBR in my hand , i raise a toast to you my friend and anyone who reads this give me a like so i know you said hello in there , RIP John greatest story/ songwriter ever
@marydunne617
Hello in there ❤So sad to hear that John Prine has passed away.I prayed like everyone else that he would fight this virus that has taken so,so many souls all over the world.Love his music.I guess heaven is rocking and the Angels are clapping. But we earthly souls miss you john.RIP🙏❤
@scottbabstock5580
Hello in there
@docbrparker
For all time, Hello In There, my friend. Hello.
@philipjennings5019
What a loss. Fantastic singer songwriter sorely missed John
@paulcook3613
Did you say a PBR? Kindred Spirit.
@sonora108
Several years ago I somehow ended up with sepsis. It put me in ICU and then in along term care facility for 6 weeks. The people John is singing about, many were in that facility. They would wheel them out (wheel chairs) and park them in one of the lounges where they would just sit and stare for hours on end. I decided to strike up conversations with some and say HELLO. Some would not talk but some would just light up and break out of the shell they were in. They would talk and it became very enjoyable to converse with these sad lonely people. I could see their eyes light up and it was a wonderful experience. When I first heard this song those dear old people I met in that facility came back to me, I am so happy I said HELLO. This song makes my eyes water a lot.
@tia2all501
Beautiful story ❤
@frankswildyear
I used to work in nursing homes in the early 90’s, such fond memories of all the old folks that I knew, it was so great to make them laugh and watch the sadness turn into a twinkle in their eyes
@shawntingstad4254
Bless you