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.
She Is My Everything
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From her sun tanned shoulders
Down to the freckles on her wedding ring
Her feet is so warm
They can melt the snow in the early spring
She is my everything
From Copenhagen to makin' eggs and bacon
Down in Jackson Square
I'd like to drive a Cadillac
The color of her long black hair
She goes everywhere
Kisses that come all the way from China
Kinda remind her of memories of Spain
If I get lost, you can always find her
Standing right beside me in the rain
She uses the Eveready
Batteries to keep her electrical
Appliances going steady
She can do 14 things at once
And then her phone'll ring
She is my everything
She knows everybody
From Muhammad Ali to teaching Bruce Lee
How to do Karate
She could lead a parade
While puttin' on her shades in her Masaratti
She knows everybody
Kisses that come all the way from China
Kinda remind her of memories of Spain
If I get lost, you can always find her
Standing right beside me in the rain
She is my everything
When she wakes up in the morning
That's when the birdies start to sing
When I hear her voice
I'll tell you boys, I forget everything
She is my everything
She is my everything
Watch out
John Prine’s song “She Is My Everything” is a love song that paints a vivid picture of the love and devotion that the singer has for his partner. The opening verse describes his lover in a poetic way, praising her from “her sun tanned shoulders” down to the “freckles on her wedding ring.” This imagery reaffirms that the singer has an intense and full appreciation for every inch of her.
The second verse reveals more about the shy and unassuming qualities of the woman. She is willing to travel, be it to Copenhagen or to “makin eggs and bacon” in Jackson Square. Additionally, although the singer longs for a glamorous Cadillac, the woman herself is the most glamorous thing in his world. She’s beautiful, electric, and can accomplish all things simultaneously. The final verse reveals that this woman has an enormous heart, and knows everybody from “Muhammad Ali to teaching Bruce Lee how to do Karate.” Yet, despite her impressive resume, she is always by the singer’s side “Standing right beside me in the rain.”
Overall, John Prine’s “She Is My Everything” is a beautiful song about the singer’s unfaltering love for the woman who completes him. The song emphasizes the importance of being grateful for the good things in life and cherishing them when you find them.
Line by Line Meaning
She is my everything
My love for her encompasses every part of my life
From her sun tanned shoulders
Down to the freckles on her wedding ring
I love every detail of her, from her sun-kissed shoulders to the smallest freckle on her ring finger
Her feet is so warm
They can melt the snow in the early spring
She is my everything
Even her seemingly trivial traits, like her warm feet, are special and important to me
She goes everywhere
From Copenhagen to makin' eggs and bacon
Down in Jackson Square
She's a traveler, but also enjoys the simple things in life like cooking breakfast together
I'd like to drive a Cadillac
The color of her long black hair
She goes everywhere
I want everything in my life to reflect her and her beauty, even down to the car I drive
Kisses that come all the way from China
Kinda remind her of memories of Spain
If I get lost, you can always find her
Standing right beside me in the rain
Our love transcends distance and reminds us of fond memories, and she is always by my side even in tough times
She uses the Eveready
Batteries to keep her electrical
Appliances going steady
She's resourceful and practical in making sure everything in our home runs smoothly
She can do 14 things at once
And then her phone'll ring
She is my everything
She's a multitasker who always keeps busy, yet she's always present and important to me
She knows everybody
From Muhammad Ali to teaching Bruce Lee
How to do Karate
She's a social butterfly who knows many people, even famous ones, and is always willing to lend a helping hand
She could lead a parade
While puttin' on her shades in her Masaratti
She knows everybody
She has an effortless confidence and style that fills her with a magnetic energy which attracts people to her
When she wakes up in the morning
That's when the birdies start to sing
When I hear her voice
I'll tell you boys, I forget everything
She is my everything
She is my everything
Her very presence brings joy and happiness to my life, and I am grateful for her every day
Watch out
A warning or a call to pay attention, perhaps indicating that his love for her is so powerful and all-consuming that others should be wary
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: John E Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnny Russell
She is my everything
From her sun tanned shoulders
Down to the freckles on her wedding ring
Her feet is so warm
They can melt the snow in the early spring
She is my everything
She goes everywhere
From Copenhagen to makin' eggs and bacon
Down in Jackson Square
I? d like to drive a Cadillac
The color of her long black hair
She goes everywhere
Kisses that come all the way from China
Kinda remind her of memories of Spain
If I get lost, you can always find her
Standing right beside me in the rain
She uses the Eveready
Batteries to keep her electrical
Appliances going steady
She can do 14 things at once
And then her phone? ll ring
She is my everything
She knows everybody
From Muhammad Ali to teaching Bruce Lee
How to do Karate
She could lead a parade
While puttin' on her shades in her Masaratti
She knows everybody
Kisses that come all the way from China
Kinda remind her of memories of Spain
If I get lost, you can always find her
Standing right beside me in the rain
She is my everything
When she wakes up in the morning
That? s when the birdies start to sing
When I hear her voice
I? ll tell you boys, I forget everything
She is my everything
She is my everything
Watch out
Ally Henderson
My husband just sent me this song. He always sends me the sweetest tunes that remind him of me/us. I love it. I love John Prine!
Katherine Hurt
Well you have one of the good ones, hold onto him!
Jeffery Allen
You are going to be missed by so many and remembered by more. You're a legend and because of this your name and your music will always find a new friend and fan long after your passing. Fly high and far just like your music.
Slosongz
Goodbye, John. You are our everything
STEPHANIE
I love you jp❤forever
STEPHANIE
Yes youare our everything
lonelyneuron
Thanks a lot for the post. in Europe, especially in France, it's really a pity that John Prine is not known as he deserves it, as an excellent performer and a poet. I'll try to fix that around me.
Diana Blevins
lonelyneuron I have always felt the same. However, all the shows that I have been to. The arena is packed!!
Molly Hatchet
There aint no words to describe how awesome this song is...Just let the magic of the music say it all.
John David
god, i love his music. boy can he write some great songs. god bless you john.