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.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little Johnny wears a funny smile on his face
Johnny has a secret, and a secret he must share
He wants to tell somebody, so he tells his Teddy Bear
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night
Well, she didn't see me creep
She though that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
Then I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
What a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had walked in
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night
Well, she didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peek
She though that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
But I know I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
What a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had walked in
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night (One more time!)
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
On the Lips!
John Prine's version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a lighthearted and playful take on the classic holiday song. The lyrics tell the story of Little Johnny, who sneaks down the stairs on Christmas Eve and sees his mother kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe. Although the lyrics suggest that Johnny is surprised and a little scandalized by what he sees, the overall tone of the song is one of good-natured fun.
One interesting aspect of the song is the way that it plays with the idea of childhood innocence. Although Johnny is initially shocked by what he sees, he quickly realizes that it's all part of the magic of Christmas. By the end of the song, he's even playfully teasing his mother about her secret romance with Santa Claus. This light-hearted approach to the idea of Christmas and Santa Claus is typical of John Prine's sense of humor and his ability to find joy and humor in even the most mundane or ordinary situations.
Another interesting aspect of the song is the way that it incorporates a number of classic Christmas themes and motifs. From the magic of Santa Claus to the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, the song is full of references to holiday traditions and customs. By combining these various elements in a playful and irreverent way, John Prine creates a song that captures the joy and magic of the holiday season without taking itself too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas toys all over the place
The room is filled with various toys and decorations, indicating that it is during the Christmas holiday season.
Little Johnny wears a funny smile on his face
Johnny is happy and amused by something he has seen or heard.
Johnny has a secret, and a secret he must share
Johnny has witnessed something but has been keeping it to himself, and now he feels the urge to tell someone.
He wants to tell somebody, so he tells his Teddy Bear
Johnny confides in his stuffed animal, as children often do when they have a secret or something they want to share.
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Johnny witnessed his mother kissing someone who was dressed up as Santa Claus.
Underneath the mistletoe last night
The kiss happened underneath the traditional Christmas decoration, the mistletoe.
Well, she didn't see me creep
Johnny snuck downstairs to spy on his mother and Santa Claus without being noticed.
Down the stairs to have a peek
Johnny went downstairs to take a quick look at what was happening.
She though that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
Johnny's mother believed that he was already in bed and asleep, so she was not expecting him to come downstairs.
Then I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Johnny saw his mother playfully touch the person dressed up as Santa Claus.
Underneath his beard so snowy white
The person dressed up as Santa Claus had a white beard which Johnny's mother was tickling.
What a laugh it would have been
If Johnny's father had walked in and seen what was happening, it would have been funny and surprising to everyone.
If Daddy had walked in
Johnny's father could have seen his wife kissing Santa Claus and his son spying on them, which would have been a comically awkward situation.
On the Lips!
This line is likely added for emphasis and humor, implying that the kiss between Johnny's mother and Santa Claus was not just on the cheek or forehead, but on the lips.
Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: Tommie Connor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind