John Edward Prine (October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer… Read Full Bio ↴John Edward Prine (October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death. He was known for an often humorous style of original music that has elements of protest and social commentary.

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.

Jet Set
John Prine Lyrics

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By a fountain back in Rome, I fell in love with you
In a small cafe in Athens, you said you loved me too
And it was April in Paris when I first held you close to me
Rome, Georgia, Athens, Texas and Paris, Tennessee

No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevro-let set
There's no Riviera

In Festus, Missouri

And you won't find Onassis
In Mullinville, Kansas
No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevro-let set
But ain't we got love

No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevro-let set
Our steak and martinis
Is draft beer with weenies
Our Bach and Tchaikovsky
Is Haggard and Husky
No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevro-let set
But ain't we got love

No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevro-let set
The Prine and DeMent set
Ain't the flaming suzette set
Our Bach and Tchaikovsky
Is Haggard and Husky

No, we're not the jet set
We're the old Chevro-let set

Overall Meaning

The song "The Jet Set" written by John Prine and Iris DeMent is a satirical take on those who are part of the elite society or high-class people who travel around the world in their private jets and live luxurious lifestyles. The song's lyrics point out that they are not part of the jet set, but rather part of the "old Chevro-let set," which refers to people who live and love simple lives. The lyrics describe how they fell in love in Rome, Georgia, Athens, Texas, and Paris, Tennessee, which are all small and simple towns in the United States. This is a stark contrast to the common trend of being swept off by the luxurious romanticism of European cities like Rome, Paris or Athens.

The song is a witty and playful take on the idea of the jet set life, and it sheds light on the beauty of simple living and being content with what one has. The lyrics also emphasize the love they have, despite not being a part of the lavish jet set lifestyle. This song shows a different perspective on what love should be and how it's about more than just external appearances.

Line by Line Meaning

By a fountain back in Rome, I fell in love with you
I fell in love with you in Rome, Georgia by a fountain.

In a small cafe in Athens, you said you loved me too
You said you loved me in Athens, Texas in a small cafe.

And it was April in Paris when I first held you close to me
I first held you close to me in Paris, Tennessee back in April.

No, we're not the jet set We're the old Chevro-let set There's no Riviera In Festus, Missouri
We're not fancy rich people who travel the world and live luxurious lifestyles. We're just regular folks driving around in our old Chevy in Festus, Missouri where there is no French Riviera.

And you won't find Onassis In Mullinville, Kansas No, we're not the jet set We're the old Chevro-let set But ain't we got love
You won't find wealthy famous people like Onassis in Mullinville, Kansas because we're not part of the jet set. But even though we're not rich, we still have love between us.

Our steak and martinis Is draft beer with weenies Our Bach and Tchaikovsky Is Haggard and Husky
We don't eat expensive steak and drink martinis, we have draft beer and weenies. Our taste in music is not classical, but rather country legends like Merle Haggard and Ferlin Husky.

No, we're not the jet set We're the old Chevro-let set But ain't we got love
Once again, we're not rich and fancy, we're just driving around in our old Chevy. But we have love between us which is more important than any material possessions.

The Prine and DeMent set Ain't the flaming suzette set Our Bach and Tchaikovsky Is Haggard and Husky No, we're not the jet set We're the old Chevro-let set
We're not part of the rich and fancy lifestyle associated with the flaming suzette set. Our taste in music is still country legends and not classical. And once again, we're just regular folks driving around in our old Chevy.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby Braddock

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@SnappedGinger

1y↑2

I miss John Prine so very much. I was introduced to his music by my brother who was at the beginning of his guitar endeavor in the late 70’s. Paradise was the first song I heard sang and played by him. I was hooked. I learned his music and sang many songs as part of a way to occupy my mind while walking miles alone along the Ohio river as part of my work. Every day. I am eternally grateful to have experienced John Prine at such an early age that carried on throughout my life. When I heard of his death, I mourned, as I know countless others have. He was such an influence on many. We are all saddened but thankful his music lives on.