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.
Illegal Smile
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down, and won
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
I was havin' no fun
Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No, I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
Last time I checked my bankroll
It was gettin' thin
Sometimes it seems like the bottom
Is the only place I've been
I chased a rainbow down a one-way street dead end
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen
Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No, I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
Well, I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
Tryin' to get away from all the ears inside my walls
I dreamed the police heard everything I thought, what then?
Well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman
Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No, I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
Well done, hot dog bun, my sister's a nun
The song "Illegal Smile" by John Prine is a humorous take on finding happiness amidst difficult situations. The lyrics describe a day where everything seems to be going wrong and the singer feels isolated and friendless. He talks about the lack of excitement in his life and looks for a way to escape reality, finding solace in an "illegal smile". The phrase "illegal smile" is a tongue-in-cheek reference to smoking marijuana, which was illegal in many states at the time the song was written.
Despite the bleakness of the situation, the song has a light-hearted tone and paints a vivid, humorous picture of the singer's attempts to find happiness. He jokes about his lack of wealth and his unfulfilling friendships, making him seem like an outsider, but he ultimately finds a way to escape reality and have fun.
The lyrics suggest that everyone has the ability to find happiness, even in the face of adversity, by looking for ways to escape reality and enjoy themselves. The song is often seen as a commentary on the societal pressures to conform and the importance of individuality and self-care.
Line by Line Meaning
When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
I started my day feeling pessimistic.
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
I felt lonely.
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down, and won
Even the simple task of eating breakfast felt like a challenge.
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
I didn't notice how long I had been feeling down.
I was havin' no fun
I wasn't enjoying my life.
Ah, but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
I know a way to escape from my problems.
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
I might use a substance to feel better.
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
The substance is affordable and its effects are long-lasting.
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
I don't want to get in trouble for using the substance.
No, I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
I just want to enjoy myself.
Last time I checked my bankroll
I last looked at my finances.
It was gettin' thin
I was running low on money.
Sometimes it seems like the bottom
I feel like I'm at rock bottom.
Is the only place I've been
I've been struggling for a while.
I chased a rainbow down a one-way street dead end
I pursued something that turned out to be a waste of time.
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen
My friends didn't understand or support me.
Well, I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
I tried to hide from my problems.
Tryin' to get away from all the ears inside my walls
I felt like people were listening to me even when I was alone.
I dreamed the police heard everything I thought, what then?
I worried about getting in trouble for my thoughts and actions.
Well I went to court and the judge's name was Hoffman
I had to face the consequences of my actions.
Well done, hot dog bun, my sister's a nun
This line appears to be a non sequitur - it doesn't really connect to the rest of the song.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DixonXIII
John Prine was an underrated genius. Such a classic song. Like an intro theme to a show that never existed.
Thuddreau
John was a teacher of life RIP You will be remembered and loved
MobileIsland496
True
sassypenguinrecords
I think the show Maniac on netflix uses it as an outro on one or two occasions, pretty fitting subject matter too.
Min2073
I lost my dad in 2014 and when I listen to this song I can still picture him sitting at the table singing along. This song will always be on my play list
Miss my daddy ❤️
RainbowEgg Layers
Same! Lost my dad in 2014 also. He loved to play John Prines music when I was a kid, now I come here to remember those days and it’s comforting.
jon allen
John Prine's unwavering authenticity.. should be a lesson to us all.
Stl Jimi
In Johns honor I will put on a illegal smile the rest of the day. ☮️ RIP John.
Patch Davis
That's what I did for my Honey last year. On what would have been our 50th, I wore his MUV hat got good and stoned before my usual beach walk. Just trying to have me some fun.
David Klein
Ditto that brother!!