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.
Taking a Walk
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believe it was yesterday
I would have invited him in
But I didn't have a lot to say
His anticipation of me opening the door
Outweighed my apprehension as it never had before
And drove my concentration
Right through that hardwood floor
I'm taking a walk
I'm going outside
I'm taking a walk
I'm just gettin' by
There's a girl in the white house
I don't even know her name
Her disheveled appearance
Speaks volumes of shame
It's an embarrassing situation
But a situation just the same
The way she walks on others
And never takes the blame
Upsets my constitution
Beyond its motor frame
Ooh-ooh, uh-huh
I'm taking a walk (taking a walk)
I'm going outside (going outside)
I'm watching the birds (taking a walk)
I'm just gettin' by (just getting by)
Found a card in the pocket
Of my worn out overalls
From a girl in Cedar Rapids
Now residing in Idaho Falls
I wish you could've been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart superstore
Ooh-ooh, uh-huh
I'm taking a walk (taking a walk)
I'm going outside (going outside)
I'm taking a walk (taking a walk)
I don't need a ride (just getting by)
I'm watching the birds (taking a walk)
Flying so high (going outside)
I'm just gettin' by
The lyrics of John Prine's "Taking a Walk" appear to capture the essence of how life can be quite mundane and frustrating, yet a simple walk can counterbalance the dissatisfaction in our lives. In the first verse, the singer describes a man who has come to his house, but he doesn't feel like talking. He ponders about his hesitation in opening the door to let him in, but the man's excitement to be let in overshadows his reluctance, leaving him feeling empty, as though his concentration had been driven right through the hardwood floor. The singer then decides to take a walk outside to clear his mind and escape from the man's anticipation of small talk.
In the second verse, he describes a girl in a white house whose disheveled demeanor implies she is drowning in shame. The singer seems bothered, believing that she walks over others and never takes the blame. The situation upsets him so much that it disrupts his constitution beyond its motor frame. The third verse is about a card he found in his pocket from a girl in Cedar Rapids who now lives in Idaho Falls. He wishes she were there when he opened the door, and her welcomeness stole his heart away. Instead, she was absent, and he felt about as welcome as a Walmart superstore. In response to these unpleasant situations, the singer decides to take another walk to escape the negative emotions tethering him down.
Taken together, these verses suggest that the singer is dealing with multiple frustrations and disappointments. The song works as a form of meditation, and the walks become a way of disengaging with the outside world to find perspective and release his anxieties. The singer recognizes that as he continues to connect with the world around him, he gains a greater sense of control over the wild side of things than he has been able to achieve through interactions with others.
Line by Line Meaning
A man came to our house
Someone visited my house
I believe it was yesterday
I'm not completely sure when it happened
I would have invited him in
I almost let him come inside
But I didn't have a lot to say
I didn't feel like talking or socializing
His anticipation of me opening the door
He was excited to see me and hoped I would let him in
Outweighed my apprehension as it never had before
His excitement was stronger than my caution or hesitation
And drove my concentration
It distracted me and caused me to lose focus
Right through that hardwood floor
It was so intense that it penetrated my thoughts
I'm taking a walk
I'm leaving the house
I'm going outside
I'm stepping into the fresh air
I'm just gettin' by
I'm just managing to cope
There's a girl in the white house
Someone is living in a nearby house
I don't even know her name
I've never met her or spoken to her
Her disheveled appearance
She looks messy and unorganized
Speaks volumes of shame
It suggests she's embarrassed or has something to hide
It's an embarrassing situation
It's an uncomfortable or awkward situation
But a situation just the same
It's still a situation that needs to be dealt with
The way she walks on others
She mistreats or takes advantage of people
And never takes the blame
She refuses to accept responsibility for her actions
Upsets my constitution
It bothers me or makes me angry
Beyond its motor frame
It affects me on a deep, emotional level
Found a card in the pocket
I discovered something unexpected
Of my worn out overalls
From my old, well-worn clothes
From a girl in Cedar Rapids
From someone I know in a distant place
Now residing in Idaho Falls
Who has moved to a different location
I wish you could've been there
I wanted someone else to witness this moment with me
When she opened up the door
When she welcomed me inside
And looked me in the face
When she made eye contact with me
Like she never did before
In a way that surprised me or caught me off guard
I felt about as welcome
I didn't feel very accepted or included
As a Wal-Mart superstore
I felt like an outsider or a stranger in a foreign place
I don't need a ride
I'm walking and don't require transportation
I'm watching the birds
I'm observing the natural world around me
Flying so high
In a state of freedom and independence
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: John Prine, Pat McLaughlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ellen Gallagher
Always loved him and always will
RIP my ol friend and teacher.
You will live on....live on my unselfish
activism💝
Love to you you family and us who are left behind
but what a legend
Live forever with the gifts you gave us.
ok enough
Sending 💝
Nellie Gallaghet
remy A
A man came to our house
I believe it was yesterday
I would have invited him in
But I didn't have a lot to say
His anticipation of me opening the door
Outweighed my apprehension as it never had before
And drove my concentration
Right through that hardwood floor
I'm taking a walk
I'm going outside
I'm taking a walk
I'm just getting by
There's a girl in the white house
I don't even know her name
Her disheveled appearance
Speaks volumes of shame
It's an embarrassing situation
But a situation just the same
The way she walks on others
And never takes the blame
Upsets my constitution
Beyond its mortal frame
Oo-oo a-ha
I'm taking a walk
I'm going outside
I'm watching the birds
I'm just getting by
Found a card in the pocket
Of my worn out overalls
From a girl in Cedar Rapids
Now residing in Idaho Falls
I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore
0o-oo - a-ha
I'm taking a walk
I'm going outside
I'm taking a walk
I don't need a ride
I'm watching the birds
Flying so high
Frost Gaming
A man came to our house
I believe it was yesterday
I would have invited him in
But I didn't have a lot to say
His anticipation of me opening the door
Outweighed my apprehension as it never had before
And drove my concentration
Right through that hardwood floor
Oh, uh-huh
[Chorus]
I'm taking a walk
I'm going outside
I'm taking a walk
I'm just gettin' back
There's a girl in the white house
I don't even know her name
Her disheveled appearance
Speaks volumes of shame
It's an embarrassing situation
But a situation just the same
The way she walks on others
And never takes the blame
Upsets my constitution
Beyond its motor frame
Oh, uh-huh
[Chorus]
Found a carton departed
Of my worn out overalls
From a girl in Cedar Rapids
Now residing in Idaho Falls
I wish you could've been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart superstore
Oh, uh-huh
I'm taking walk (Taking a walk)
I'm going outside (Going outside)
I'm taking a walk (Taking a walk)
I don't need a ride (Just getting by)
I'm watching the birds (Taking a walk)
Flying so high (Going outside....)
jim hart
For some odd reason I started to read these
Comments then remembered very quickly why I don't . There is always some one waiting to pounce on a less than informed person who means well but just can't seem to get it together .
My buddy ( who is a world class horn player)
And I were riding in my truck and came upon
A heavy jogger I said " look at this fat fuck
Why bother" he said "let's give him some credit for trying , hard eyes soft eyes "
From that time on it was soft eyes
Patty Haley
This one really hits home right now and especially during these times. Oh how sorely missed John will be.
Colm Mac Diarmada
Its been over a year but John is now eternal. What a great song Mr. Prine.
Shirley Jennings
John is a great singer and songwriter, I love him.
Jack Allen
John Prine is simply one of the greatest song writers that we not only have today but that have ever had the pleasure of enjoying as fans of music. His music strikes to the core of human emotion while also making statements politically, socially, and morally. I've had the pleasure of seeing him in concert twice but also look forward to future experiences from him. Hopefully on behalf of someone that has ben hailed by the likes of Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash as perhaps the greatest songwriter alive today i applaud John Prine for his work, life, and continued devotion to his craft. We will be listening forever.
Rhiannon Marie
I think that this song is about whatever you want to apply it to in your life at the time just like all of his songs they reach in and grab your heart and soul. I've had the pleasure of having this mans music in my life for the last I believe 40 yrs. He is a pure gift from a higher power to us having the raw talent of putting all our thoughts and feelings down on paper and delevering them to us in an everymans voice. Lennon, Dylan, Prine all the great ones thank nature for them. Bless all.
Luke Hall
you are a sweet lady and a beautiful child of that same higher power 😊 have a really good week! were all in this together!
John Rowan
Who turns taken a walk into a piece of art that expresses lonliness, a political commentary, and a lost love, all sung in one beautiful melody, filled with the most subtle but profound lyrics? That can only be the genius of John Prine. He's simply, THE BEST.
Edward McCurley
Every song I hear from this guy has something in it that sticks. Unreal talent.
mac mchenry
I LOVE THIS MAN . HIS TALENT AND HONEST LYRICS STRIKE ME AND MY HEART LIKE THUNDERBOLTS. The power of his art makes me think I'm as humble as he is ...but I'm not . What a brilliant light for all of us ... Ohh HAHHH I'm taking a walk , I'm going outside .....
Sonya Allison
mac mchenry me TOO 😎