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.
Marie
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Many years ago along the Illinois-Wisconsin border
There was this Indian tribe
They found two babies in the woods, white babies
She was the fairer of the two
While the smaller and more fragile one was named Marie
Having never seen white girls before
And living on the two lakes known as the Twin Lakes
They named the larger and more beautiful Lake, Lake Elizabeth
And thus the smaller lake that was hidden from the highway
Became known forever as Lake Marie
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Many years later I found myself talking to this girl
Who was standing there with her back turned to Lake Marie
The wind was blowing especially through her hair
There was four Italian sausages cooking on the outdoor grill
And they was sssizzlin'
Many years later we found ourselves in Canada
Trying to save our marriage, and perhaps catch a few fish
Whatever came first
That night she fell asleep in my arms
Humming the tune to 'Louie Louie'
Aah baby, we gotta go now
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
The dogs were barking as the cars were parking
The loan sharks were sharking the narcs were narcing
Practically everyone was there
In the parking lot by the forest preserve
The police had found two bodies
Nay, naked bodies
Their faces had been horribly disfigured by some sharp object
I saw it on the news
The TV news
In a black and white video
You know what blood looks like in a black and white video?
Shadows, shadows that's what it looks like
All the love we shared between her and me was slammed
Slammed up against the banks of old Lake Marie, Marie
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Ahh baby, we gotta go now
The song "Lake Marie" by John Prine is a complex narrative that intertwines multiple stories. The first verse describes an Indian tribe that found two white babies in the woods. One baby was named Elizabeth, and the other, smaller and more fragile, was named Marie. The tribe named the larger lake Lake Elizabeth and the smaller lake, hidden from the highway, Lake Marie. The second verse fast-forwards to a later time, where the singer meets a girl near Lake Marie, and the two marry and try to save their marriage in Canada. The final verse takes a dark turn as the singer reflects on a news story about two naked bodies found near Lake Marie, and ultimately, all the love they had shared is "slammed up against the banks of old Lake Marie, Marie."
The song may be an exploration of the human connection to nature and the history that has shaped our relationship with it. The Indian tribe's decision to name the lakes may have been an acknowledgement of their relationship to the land and the babies they found there. The singer's story may be a meditation on how one's surroundings can impact their relationship and the nostalgia for times gone by. The song finishes with a brutal reminder of the dangers that can come with living close to unnoticed waters where even love can be washed up against the banks.
Line by Line Meaning
We were standing
The singer was present in the moment being described
Standing by peaceful waters
The singer was near a calm body of water
Standing by peaceful waters
The singer was near a calm body of water
Whoa wah oh wha oh
A sound expressing the beauty of the peaceful waters
Many years ago along the Illinois-Wisconsin border
The story takes place in the past in a specific location
There was this Indian tribe
An Indigenous community existed in this area
They found two babies in the woods, white babies
The tribe came across two Caucasian infants in the forest
One of them was named Elizabeth
The larger of the infants was given the name Elizabeth
She was the fairer of the two
Elizabeth was considered prettier than the other infant
While the smaller and more fragile one was named Marie
The other infant was named Marie because she was smaller and weaker
Having never seen white girls before
The tribe had not previously encountered Caucasian females
And living on the two lakes known as the Twin Lakes
The tribe resided by two nearby lakes
They named the larger and more beautiful Lake, Lake Elizabeth
The tribe named the bigger and more attractive body of water after Elizabeth
And thus the smaller lake that was hidden from the highway
The lesser known lake that could not be seen from the road
Became known forever as Lake Marie
The smaller unnamed lake was named Lake Marie in remembrance of the infant
Many years later I found myself talking to this girl
The artist is in conversation with a woman
Who was standing there with her back turned to Lake Marie
The girl was standing with her back to the lake that is mentioned in the song's title
The wind was blowing especially through her hair
The wind was affecting the girl's hair in a noticeable way
There was four Italian sausages cooking on the outdoor grill
Someone was grilling Italian sausages nearby
And they was sssizzlin'
The sausages were making a sizzling sound
Many years later we found ourselves in Canada
The artist and the girl are now in Canada
Trying to save our marriage, and perhaps catch a few fish
The two were trying to work on their relationship, and trying to enjoy fishing as well
Whatever came first
Whatever was most important to the two came first
That night she fell asleep in my arms
The girl slept in the artist's embrace that night
Humming the tune to 'Louie Louie'
The girl was singing the tune to a popular song called 'Louie Louie'
Aah baby, we gotta go now
The singer needs to leave soon
The dogs were barking as the cars were parking
Barking dogs and parking cars are present in this scene
The loan sharks were sharking the narcs were narcing
Illegal activities such as loan sharking and drug enforcement are taking place
Practically everyone was there
Lots of people were present for some reason
In the parking lot by the forest preserve
The people were gathered in the parking lot next to a forested area
The police had found two bodies
The police discovered two human corpses
Nay, naked bodies
The bodies were completely unclothed
Their faces had been horribly disfigured by some sharp object
The person or persons responsible for the deaths had used a sharp object to damage the victims' faces
I saw it on the news
The artist learned of this development through a news report
The TV news
The news was being broadcast on television
In a black and white video
The news footage was in black and white
You know what blood looks like in a black and white video?
Blood appears as dark areas or shadows in black and white footage
Shadows, shadows that's what it looks like
Blood in black and white video footage is shadowy and indistinct
All the love we shared between her and me was slammed
The affection between the singer and the girl was destroyed or ruined
Slammed up against the banks of old Lake Marie, Marie
The destruction of their love is contrasted with the peacefulness of Lake Marie
Peaceful waters
The tranquil state of the lake
Standing by peaceful waters
The singer is near the calm lake
Ahh baby, we gotta go now
The singer needs to leave or say goodbye
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: John E Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giamariernify
I hope John Prine is standing by peaceful waters. And my name is Marie!
@dublinbluetune
I've never been able to understand why I cry whenever I listen to this song
@2468pebble
Because you're human?
@xhames61x
@@karenanderson3479 I think I cry because I'm NOT
@vinayrao3273
"Trying to save our marriage, and perhaps catch a few fish
Whatever seemed easier/ came first"
The simplicity of the lyrics that this man uses to deliver a 40,000-tonne dose of reality, is sublime.
@johncunningham8276
I can barely see to write this comment. I just got a notification that you fought as long and hard as you could against the virus. Such a great artist and even a greater human being. May you Rest In Peace among those peaceful waters.
@shanemac5366
This was the finest rendition of this song. This entire concert at West 54th was just excellent. Tears of joy and sadness at this song seeing how happy John Prime looked and realizing how much he is missed by all of us who grew old with him. It was like losing a great friend.
@bronsonlubresky10
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@scottrobinson5557
My wife who's been gone now for sometime just loved this song
@walter2990
I totally agree that this is the absolutely the BEST version of this song!!!