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.
In Spite of Ourselves
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby
I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He's my baby
And I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She takes a lickin'
And keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go
He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a wacked out weirdo and a love bug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's a howlin' at the moon
He's my baby
I don't mean maybe
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
In spite of ourselves
John Prine's song "In Spite of Ourselves" is a quirky and humorous love song that celebrates a couple who are unconventional but deeply in love. The song is a duet between Prine and Iris DeMent and tells the story of a couple who are opposites in many ways but are united by their love.
Throughout the song, Prine and DeMent describe the eccentricities and quirks of their respective partners. From DeMent's disdain for runny eggs and love for ketchup on scrambled eggs to Prine's partner's love for convict movies and swearing like a sailor while shaving her legs, the song paints a picture of two individuals who are unique and not afraid to be themselves.
The chorus of the song is a declaration that in spite of their imperfections and idiosyncrasies, the couple will end up "sitting on a rainbow" and will be each other's "big door prize." The song celebrates the fact that love can bring two very different people together and create something special.
Overall, "In Spite of Ourselves" is a witty and charming love song that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and individuality in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
She don't like her eggs all runny
She prefers her eggs to be thoroughly cooked rather than runny.
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She finds it humorous to sit crossing her legs.
She looks down her nose at money
She does not value money and thinks it is not important.
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She is very enthusiastic about making love, like the Easter Bunny is about giving eggs on Easter.
She's my baby
Expressing affection towards his partner, who he refers to as 'baby.'
I'm her honey
Explaining that his partner refers to him as 'honey.'
I'm never gonna let her go
He has strong feelings for his partner and has no intention of leaving her.
He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
He has not had sexual intercourse in a long time, more than a month of Sundays.
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He was caught smelling his partner's underwear.
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
He may not be the smartest person but he can still accomplish tasks.
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He drinks beer as though it is essential to him, like oxygen is to breathing.
And I'm his honey
His partner refers to him as 'honey.'
Never gonna let him go
She has strong feelings for him and has no intention of leaving him.
In spite of ourselves
Despite our faults, differences, and quirks, we still love each other and will continue to do so.
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
We will ultimately find happiness and contentment, like sitting on a rainbow which represents good luck and positivity.
Against all odds
Despite challenges or obstacles, we will still make it through.
Honey, we're the big door prize
Expressing that they have found a valuable, desirable partner.
We're gonna spite our noses
We will ignore what society deems appropriate and disregard our own faults and imperfections.
Right off of our faces
We will no longer be concerned with societal expectations of appearance or behavior.
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
We will only express love and kindness towards one another.
Dancin' in our eyes
Our eyes will be full of love, joy, and contentment that make us feel like dancing.
She thinks all my jokes are corny
She finds all of his jokes to be cheesy and predictable.
Convict movies make her horny
Watching movies about criminals or prisons sexually arouses her.
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
She prefers to eat her scrambled eggs with ketchup.
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She uses profanity while shaving her legs.
She takes a lickin'
She can handle difficult situations and still come out strong.
And keeps on tickin'
Despite challenges, she perseveres and continues on.
He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He is very courageous and daring.
He's a wacked out weirdo and a love bug junkie
He is a strange, eccentric person who is addicted to love.
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
He is both clever and cunning like a fox, but also has craziness with him, like a loon bird.
Payday comes and he's a howlin' at the moon
When he gets paid, he acts wild and crazy like howling at the moon.
He's my baby
Expressing affection towards his partner, who he refers to as 'baby.'
I don't mean maybe
He is certain that he will never leave his partner.
There won't be nothin' but big ol' hearts
They will only express love and kindness towards one another.
Dancin' in our eyes
Our eyes will be full of love, joy, and contentment that make us feel like dancing.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: John Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dustin Baker
My wife of 30+ yrs. is struggling with late stage Alzheimer's and gets very sad at times. This song puts a big smile on her face every time we sing along with it. As impaired as she is she still gets most of the words right. I've got her in home care with me and the words "never gonna let her go" have a special meaning for us! Thanks
Robert Grant
Mr &Mrs. Baker ...God Bless the 2 of you🤗 robby
Brad Brunstetter
I admire your love and passion for your wife. not sure if you are aware but I just read a study about music therapy. My oldest daughter has Down syndrome and 50%+ of people with Down syndrome will experience early onset dementia/Alzheimer's. They've been able to prove the brain plaque build up doesnt affect the area of music memory. so those memories. those moments. she remembers them with you. Keep playing this special song and hold on as long as possible. Good luck to you and your wife.
David Apple
God bless the both of you. That's a terrible dieses.. Just keep playing it and loving her..
A
I work in a large ER in a big city & know a small piece of what you’re going through. Truly a heartbreaking disease. I hope your wife is truly happy in her mind & remembers you till the end of time.
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Much love to you & your wife.
Dustin Baker
@Brad Brunstetter Roberta passed away last month still in our own home and under the care of a remarkable home hospice team. This little song was one of the last pieces of music to put a smile on her tired face. My thanks to John Prine.
John stephenson
In 2003 John called me at my apartment in Indy and said he was in his Honolulu hotel room waiting to do a concert. He said he heard we were both cancer survivors from my daughter and I said yes. He asked my favorite song and I said Paradise. he said for me to listen while he put the phone down. Then he sang the long version of it for me and asked me “How was that?” I said I’m sorry man but I’m crying too much to talk but thanks is not enough to say. Once again John, thanks to you for making my day! A fan forever!
Psychic Bink
That is awesome! I can imagine that's a moment you'll never forget
Robert Grant
Awesome!😁
Scott Calkins
beautiful