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.
They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is still one smiling face the Gods would see
But she'll walk along beside me up those golden stairs
Oh, they'll never, ever take her love from me
What a fool I was to go and break the trust she gave
And watch her love turn into sympathy
It's the one regret I'll carry with me to my grave
I'm so thankful for each golden hour of happiness
That we shared together in the use to be
Someone else's arms may hold her now in fond caress
But they'll never, never take her love from me
Well, I though I'd make her happy if I'd step aside
But I knew her love would never set me free
And even on the morning she became another's bride
I said they'll never, never take her love from me
No, they'll never, never take her love from me
The lyrics of John Prine's song "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me" is a beautiful and melancholic reflection on lost love and the regrets of missed opportunities. The opening line "If today the sun should set on all my hopes and cares, there is still one smiling face the Gods would see" suggests that, despite life's struggles and disappointments, he still finds comfort in the love he shared with his partner. The song's central theme revolves around the idea that, even though the singer may have lost his love to another, his memories of their time together will never fade, and her love will always be a part of him.
The lyrics continue on with the singer's regret over his actions that led to the breakup of their relationship. He acknowledges that his actions were wrong and foolish, and he blames himself for the loss of her trust and love. The line "I'm so thankful for each golden hour of happiness that we shared together in the use to be" is a sentimental reflection on the time they had together, which he cherishes now that she is gone. The final lines, "No, they'll never, never take her love from me," are a poignant and powerful affirmation that the love they shared will never truly be lost.
Line by Line Meaning
If today the sun should set on all my hopes and cares
Despite feeling as though everything is falling apart, there is still one person whose unwavering love remains, and that person is a true gem.
But she'll walk along beside me up those golden stairs
Even in the afterlife, her love will continue to guide me as I ascend to Heaven.
Oh, they'll never, ever take her love from me
No external force or obstacle can ever take away the profound love and connection we shared.
What a fool I was to go and break the trust she gave
How foolish of me to violate the trust she placed in me, causing her once-great love to dwindle into mere sympathy.
And watch her love turn into sympathy
I was forced to witness the slow erosion of the love and intimacy we once shared, until all that remained was pity.
It's the one regret I'll carry with me to my grave
My heart will always be weighed down by the regret of ruining the one relationship that truly mattered.
I'm so thankful for each golden hour of happiness
Despite how things ended, I am grateful for every joyful moment we shared in the past.
That we shared together in the use to be
Reflecting back on those times brings a bittersweet but cherished sense of nostalgia.
Someone else's arms may hold her now in fond caress
She may have moved on and found new love, but nothing can erase the memory and impact of our time together.
But they'll never, never take her love from me
No matter what happens in life, the love we shared will always remain a part of me, and no one can ever take that away.
Well, I thought I'd make her happy if I'd step aside
I convinced myself that sacrificing my own happiness was the only way to make her happy, even if it meant losing her.
But I knew her love would never set me free
Deep down, I knew that her love held me captive, even after we had gone our separate ways.
And even on the morning she became another's bride
Watching her marry someone else was a painful experience, but I still held onto the belief that our love was indestructible.
I said they'll never, never take her love from me
Regardless of what others may say or do, I know that her love will always hold a special place in my heart.
No, they'll never, never take her love from me
I am steadfast in my belief that her love will always endure, unbreakable and unshakable.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leon Payne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruth Boykin
Love, love John's voice! Great great version of this song!
Ken Neufeld
Every time i go on u tube i find another favorite John Prine song.
Philipo Pruesse
@Ken Neufeld the same thing happened to me. 😉
Robert Williams
God bless you, John! You were the best!
Irene Fraser
Never heard this one. Another Prine album to be ordered. 😊
mannfm11
As good a writer as John was, there was only 1 Hank Williams. I think he and everyone else knew that.
Clumsy Dad
from me neither