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.
Other Side of Town
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems like everything I do just turns out wrong
Why don't you come on out and despise me
So I could pack my bag and baby I'd be gone
Remember when you used to call me honey
I'd turn around and call you honey too
You might think it's a joke, but it ain't funny
A clown puts his makeup on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I'm here when you put me down
But actually I'm on the other side of town.
My body's in this room with you just catching hell
While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell
You might think I'm listening to your grocery list
But I'm leaning on the jukebox and I'm about half ... way there
A clown puts his makeup on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I'm here when you put me down
But actually I'm on the other side of town.
I'm sittin' on a chair just behind my ear
Playing dominoes and drinking some ice cold beer
When you get done talking I'll come back downstairs
And assume the body of the person you presume who cares
I'm across the river on the other side of town
In my mind I'm on the other side of town
In John Prine's song 'Other Side of Town', he sings about a relationship that has taken a sour turn. The singer is constantly criticized by his partner, and everything he does seems to be wrong. He wonders why his partner doesn't just despise him so he could leave. The song talks about the hurt he feels, as he remembers how things used to be, and he wonders why it has come to this.
What makes the song unique is the way it portrays the singer's perspective. He feels like he is never heard, and his partner doesn't understand the extent of the pain she is causing him. He compares himself to a clown, who puts on makeup to hide the pain underneath. However, he cannot help but feel like he is on the 'other side of town', both emotionally and physically, as his soul seeks solace in a bar down the road. The singer's sense of alienation from his partner, who once called him 'honey', is poignant and heartbreaking.
The song's lyrics evoke a deep sense of empathy in the listener, and it is a testament to John Prine's skills as a songwriter. He captures the complexities and contradictions of a relationship falling apart, and presents it in a way that is both poetic and accessible.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you always seem to criticize me
You always find faults in me and never appreciate anything I do.
Seems like everything I do just turns out wrong
No matter what I do, it seems to never get your approval.
Why don't you come on out and despise me
Just reveal your true feelings and dislike towards me, so that I can move on from this relationship.
So I could pack my bag and baby I'd be gone
If I knew how you truly feel towards me, I would leave this relationship and never look back.
Remember when you used to call me honey
There was a time when we used to be affectionate and loving towards each other.
I'd turn around and call you honey too
I used to love and care for you deeply as well.
You might think it's a joke, but it ain't funny
Your hurtful actions towards me are not amusing, they are painful.
To hurt someone who's so in love with you
It's cruel to intentionally hurt someone who loves you deeply.
A clown puts his makeup on upside down
A clown uses makeup to mask his true emotions and feelings.
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
A clown may appear happy, but may be feeling sad or upset deep down inside.
You might think I'm here when you put me down
You may think that your hurtful words and actions have affected me, but they haven't.
But actually I'm on the other side of town
I have mentally detached myself from this situation and moved on.
My body's in this room with you just catching hell
Physically, I am present with you and enduring your negativity.
While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell
Mentally, I have removed myself from this situation and am enjoying a moment of peace and happiness elsewhere.
You might think I'm listening to your grocery list
You may think that I am paying attention to what you are saying, but I am not.
But I'm leaning on the jukebox and I'm about half ... way there
Mentally, I am somewhere else, listening to music and not paying attention to what you are saying.
I'm sittin' on a chair just behind my ear
I am mentally taking a step back and looking at this situation from a different perspective.
Playing dominoes and drinking some ice cold beer
I am enjoying a moment of relaxation and happiness, away from the negativity of this situation.
When you get done talking I'll come back downstairs
Once you are done speaking, I will mentally return to the present situation.
And assume the body of the person you presume who cares
I will pretend to care about what you are saying, even though mentally I have moved on from this situation.
I'm across the river on the other side of town
Mentally, I have moved on from this situation and am in a completely different place emotionally.
In my mind I'm on the other side of town
Mentally, I have detached myself from this situation and am somewhere else emotionally.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: John E Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Terry Johnson
John Prine probably played a major role in saving my life. I came out of prison determined to make some changes. Then Sam Stone came along and for the first time in my life I felt like someone understood. I'm still listening. I got out prison in 1974
Thank you John Prine
Peter Panken
Being understood changes everything, least did so and does so for me. Lots of understanding on zoom these days, hope you are connected
NHgoldendragon
God bless you Terry Johnson!
Terry Johnson
I forgot to mention I got out of prison in 1974. My wife stuck it out with me and we just celebrated our 51st ANNIVESARY. I'm still listening to John.
G Henderson
Compassion, empathy... That's we need and John Prine just radiates kindness and understanding in his words, music and the tone of voice.
Thanks for sharing. 47 years out is an impressive life
Papawoodchuck
Congratulations Terry, your a good man😎👍
Owen
Back around 1980 John had a concert in Grand Junction Colorado, only about 20 people showed up. He walked onto the stage and with a warm smile he then said "thank you for coming to see me" then sang to us for two hours. Something I will never forget.
Knud Geisler Larsen
Wow!
Barry Brodsky
that's the epitome of John Prine....RIP
Philip Matsikoudis
20 lucky people. He should have been as big as Johnny Cash. Infinite talent ran through his mind, voice, and hands. A good soul to boot...