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.
That's the Way the World Goes 'Round
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's a pretty nice fellow but he's kind of confused.
He's got muscles in his head that ain't never been used.
Thinks he own half of this town.
Starts drinking heavy, gets a big red nose.
Beats his old lady with a rubber hose,
Then he takes her out to dinner and buys her new clothes.
That's the way that the world goes 'round.
You're up one day and the next you're down.
It's half an inch of water and you think you're gonna drown.
That's the way that the world goes 'round.
I was sitting in the bathtub counting my toes,
When the radiator broke, water all froze.
I got stuck in the ice without my clothes,
Naked as the eyes of a clown.
I was crying ice cubes hoping I'd croak,
When the sun come through the window, the ice all broke.
I stood up and laughed thought it was a joke
That's the way that the world goes 'round.
In John Prine's song "That's the Way the World Goes 'Round," he paints a vivid picture of the unpredictability of life. The lyrics portray a character who has a lot to lose and is confused about life. He is well-built but doesn't use the intellect, which further hampers his decisions. Drinking becomes a solution to his problems, leading to physical abuse of his significant other. Later, he tries to make up for his mistake by purchasing new clothes and taking her out for dinner.
The second part of the song talks about the songwriter's personal experience. In this snippet of the song, the writer recalls how he was sitting in the bathtub counting his toes, only for the radiator to break, causing the water to freeze around him. Despite being naked in the eyes of a clown and crying ice cubes, the writer stood up and laughed, considering it a joke - that's how the world turns.
Overall, the song seeks to highlight how unpredictable life can get. The lyrics are easy to comprehend, and the instrumentation blends well with the vocals, creating an interesting mix.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a guy that's got a lot to lose.
I am familiar with a man who stands to lose a great deal in life.
He's a pretty nice fellow but he's kind of confused.
Although he is generally a good person, he lacks clarity in his thoughts and actions.
He's got muscles in his head that ain't never been used.
His intellect is largely untapped and underutilized.
Thinks he own half of this town.
He has an inflated sense of ownership and entitlement over his surroundings.
Starts drinking heavy, gets a big red nose.
He turns to alcohol and begins to suffer physical consequences from his heavy consumption.
Beats his old lady with a rubber hose,
He abuses his partner with a weapon made of rubber.
Then he takes her out to dinner and buys her new clothes.
After harming his partner, he placates her with material goods and acts of kindness.
That's the way that the world goes 'round.
This is a reflection of the cyclical and unpredictable nature of life.
You're up one day and the next you're down.
Life's fortunes can shift dramatically and suddenly.
It's half an inch of water and you think you're gonna drown.
Even small challenges can feel overwhelming and insurmountable.
I was sitting in the bathtub counting my toes,
The singer was simply enjoying a mundane activity.
When the radiator broke, water all froze.
An unexpected malfunction occurred, disrupting the peaceful moment.
I got stuck in the ice without my clothes,
The situation turned uncomfortable and inconvenient for the singer.
Naked as the eyes of a clown.
The singer was completely exposed and vulnerable.
I was crying ice cubes hoping I'd croak,
The singer was so distressed that they wished for death.
When the sun come through the window, the ice all broke.
The situation resolved on its own, seemingly through sheer luck or coincidence.
I stood up and laughed thought it was a joke
The artist found the absurdity of the situation amusing in retrospect.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN PRINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johncausey9859
I've suffered from depression most of my life. Thank God I found John Prine's music/poetry. He's better than any pill or shrink as far as I'm concerned.
@misfit123abc
John Causey Indeed. You are not alone.
@trishyork-gillett4777
You also might find the work Dr. Amen of Brain Health MD helpful
@notgoingdownwithoutafight1606
He saved m a lot of stress
@davidpinney2474
I agree 100% the complete gratitude of contentment when I listen to him
@bricatguy140
I hear ya, John.
@karenwatson4153
R.I.P. Dear John… your music is timeless and you are sorely missed down here on earth!!😊
@karenwatson9945
I will listen to John Prine’s music for the rest of my life and have successfully passed that torch to my own children and grandkids… we all enjoy his ballads. The world is a sadder place for having lost this amazing talent. R.I.P. John Prine gone but never forgotten
@markclifford1857
Hello 👋 Karen. How are you doing? Hope you are fine. I'm Mark Clifford and am from Denver Colorado, where are you from? You seem like a real country girl
@Nlcrain
No