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.
No Name Girl
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She ain't very fat just skin and bones
She don't cast no shadow because she's so thin
Never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
She Never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
The girl I love ain't got no name
But I love her just the same
She never know where she going but know were she's been
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
Never know where she going but she knows were she's been
She's six feet tall and got long black hair
Runs around in her sack dress but I don't care
She got great big feet with size number 10
She never know where she going but know were she's been
She never know where she going but know were she's been
The girl I love ain't got no name
But I love her just the same
She's a little peculiar but it ain't no sin
She never know where she going but know were she's been
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
She never know where she going but know were she's been
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
She never know where she going but know were she's been
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
She never know where she going
She never knows where she going
She never know where she going
She never knows where she going
She never know where she going now
But she know were she's been ugh
She never know where she going
Never know where she going
But I know were she's been.
The lyrics of John Prine's "No Name Girl" tells the story of an eccentric woman who does not have a home and is very thin. Despite this, the singer loves her just as much as any other person. The repetition of the line, "She never knows where she's going but she knows where she's been," suggests that this woman may be lost in life, but she has a strong understanding of what she has experienced so far. It highlights that she is a complex individual, and her current circumstances do not define her worth.
The description of this woman as tall with long black hair, great big feet, and a sack dress is striking. These details paint a vivid picture, but the singer ultimately doesn't care about these superficial aspects of her appearance. He is drawn to her by something deeper that she possesses. The line, "She's a little peculiar, but it ain't no sin" showcases the acceptance and grace that the singer has for this woman regardless of her situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "No Name Girl" are a testament to human depth, and the song asks us to see the beauty in everyone, no matter their situation or appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a girl that ain't got no home
I am in love with a girl who doesn't have a permanent home
She ain't very fat just skin and bones
She is very thin and doesn't have much flesh on her body
She don't cast no shadow because she's so thin
She doesn't have a shadow because of her thinness
Never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
Although she doesn't know where she is headed, she remembers where she has been
The girl I love ain't got no name
The girl I'm in love with doesn't have a name
But I love her just the same
I love her no matter what
She's a little peculiar but it ain't no sin
She is different from others, but that is not a crime
She's six feet tall and got long black hair
She is very tall and has long black hair
Runs around in her sack dress but I don't care
She wears simple sack dresses, but that doesn't bother me
She got great big feet with size number 10
She has very large feet, size number 10
She never knows where she going but know were she's been
Despite being unsure of her destination, she can remember her past experiences
She never know where she going now, But she know were she's been ugh
Currently she is unsure of where she is headed, but she can recall her past journeys
Never know where she going but she knows were she's been
Despite being unsure of her destination, she can remember her past experiences
I got a girl that ain't got no home
I am in love with a girl who doesn't have a permanent home
She never know where she going but know were she's been
Despite being unsure of her destination, she can remember her past experiences
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
Although she doesn't know where she is headed, she remembers where she has been
She never know where she going but know were she's been
Despite being unsure of her destination, she can remember her past experiences
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
Although she doesn't know where she is headed, she remembers where she has been
She never know where she going but know were she's been
Despite being unsure of her destination, she can remember her past experiences
She never knows where she going but she knows were she's been
Although she doesn't know where she is headed, she remembers where she has been
She never know where she going now
Currently, she is unsure of her destination
But I know were she's been.
But I know where she has been in her past journeys.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILLY RILEY, JACK CLEMENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind