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.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is a wild and precious thing
It don't grow on old magnolias
Or only blossom in the spring
No, the glory of true love
Is it will last your whole life through
Never will go out of fashion
You can climb the highest mountain
Touch the moon and stars above
But old faithful's just a fountain
Compared to the glory of true love
Long before I met you, darlin'
Lord, I thought I had it all
I could have my lunch in London
And my dinner in St. Paul
I got some friends in Albuquerque
Where the governor calls me "Gov"
You can give 'em all to goodwill
For the glory of true love
You can climb the highest mountain
Touch the moon and stars above
But old faithful's just a fountain
Compared to the glory of true love
Glory, glory, glory, glory
You can't never get enough
Time alone will tell the story
Of the glory of true love
Glory, glory, glory, glory
You can't never get enough
Time alone will tell the story
Of the glory of true love
The song Love Love Love by John Prine reflects on the glory of true love being a wild and precious thing that lasts for the whole life. According to the lyrics, true love does not bloom on old magnolias or only in the spring but is always in fashion and looks good on anyone. The song is a tribute to true love as it compares it to other things such as old faithful’s fountain or climbing the highest mountain and touching the moon and stars above.
The song starts by painting the picture of what true love means, which is not something that comes and goes but something that lasts forever. Prine then goes on to explain how he thought he had it all before he met his darling, which indicates that true love can change one's perspective on life. The chorus repeats the phrase "glory of true love" to emphasize the value and importance of true love in a person's life. Prine also notes in the song that love is not just for romantic relationships, but it's also something that can be shared among friends and family.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the glory of true love
The feeling of true love is magnificent and priceless.
Is a wild and precious thing
True love is untamed and valuable.
It don't grow on old magnolias
True love isn't commonplace or predictable.
Or only blossom in the spring
True love isn't restricted to a particular season.
No, the glory of true love
Indeed, true love is magnificent and priceless.
Is it will last your whole life through
True love is enduring and everlasting.
Never will go out of fashion
True love is always relevant and significant.
Always will look good on you
True love will always be beneficial and enriching.
You can climb the highest mountain
One can achieve great things in life.
Touch the moon and stars above
One can have astonishing accomplishments.
But old faithful's just a fountain
However, these accomplishments are nothing compared to true love.
Compared to the glory of true love
True love is greater than any achievement.
Long before I met you, darlin'
Before I met you, my love,
Lord, I thought I had it all
I thought I had everything I needed.
I could have my lunch in London
I had the luxury of traveling the world.
And my dinner in St. Paul
I could enjoy the best meals from around the world.
I got some friends in Albuquerque
I have some friends from Albuquerque.
Where the governor calls me "Gov"
Where the governor affectionately calls me "Gov".
You can give 'em all to goodwill
I would give up all my worldly possessions.
For the glory of true love
In exchange for the greatness of true love.
Glory, glory, glory, glory
Greatness, greatness, greatness, greatness.
You can't never get enough
You can never have enough of the greatness of true love.
Time alone will tell the story
It takes time to truly understand the greatness of true love.
Of the glory of true love
Of the greatness of true love.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: John E Prine, Roger Frederick Cook
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xine9997
Love, love, love, lovely
@clumsydad7158
more love, always good
@philpinckley1720
Fantastic
@ruthboykin9873
Love John Prine's songs all of them, shared to my Facebook group and mentioned he would be in Atlanta soon and to check out his venue for his later shows!