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.
Ubangi Stomp
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I rocked in memphis it was all the same
Till I rocked to africa and rolled off ship.
And seen them natives doing a odd looking skip
I parted the weeds and looked over the swamp
I seen them cats doing the ubangi stomp
Ubangi stomp with rock and roll
Ubangi stomp ubangi style
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
Well, I looked up the chief and he invited me in
Said a heap big jam session 'bout to begin
He handed me a tom-tom I picked up the beat
That crazy thing sent shivers to my feet
Rocked and rolled and I skipped with a smile
Ubangi stomp ubangi style
Ubangi stomp with rock and roll
Beats anything that's ever been told
Ubangi stomp ubangi style
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
Well, we rocked all night and part of the day
Had a good rocking time with the chief's daughter mae
I was making time and gettin' in the know
The captain said son we gotta go.
I said that's alright. you go on ahead
I'm gonna ubangi stomp until I roll over dead
Ubangi stomp with rock and roll
Beats anything that you ever told
Ubangi stomp ubangi style
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
The lyrics of John Prine's song "Ubangi Stomp" feature the story of the singer's journey around the world, during which he experiences and enjoys different forms of music and dance. Prine recounts rocking his way through Italy, Spain, and Memphis before arriving in Africa, where he witnesses locals performing an "odd looking skip" called the Ubangi Stomp. The song represents the fusion of rock and roll with the mesmerizing rhythm of Ubangi Stomp, creating a mesmerizing and thrilling effect.
The chorus of the song emphasizes how the Ubangi Stomp "beats anything that's ever been told" and "drives a cool cat wild." Prine describes his encounter with the African chief who invites him in and offers him a tom-tom. Prine accepts the challenge and rocks and rolls with the locals, enjoying the beats and the energy that fills the air. The song has a fun and carefree rhythm, capturing the spirit of adventure and the joy of discovering new cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I rocked over italy and I rocked over spain
I have traveled and rocked out to music in many places, including Italy and Spain.
I rocked in memphis it was all the same
Even though I have been to many places, rocking out to music in Memphis was no different than anywhere else.
Till I rocked to africa and rolled off ship.
My travels brought me to Africa where I disembarked from a ship.
And seen them natives doing a odd looking skip
While in Africa, I observed the natives doing a peculiar dance move.
I parted the weeds and looked over the swamp
Curious about the dance, I pushed aside the plants and peered over the swamp.
I seen them cats doing the ubangi stomp
To my surprise, I saw the natives performing the 'Ubangi Stomp' dance.
Ubangi stomp with rock and roll
The 'Ubangi Stomp' combined with rock and roll music.
Beats anything that's ever been told
The energy and fun of the 'Ubangi Stomp' cannot be accurately described, it must be experienced.
Ubangi stomp ubangi style
The 'Ubangi Stomp' is a unique style of dance exclusive to the African region.
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
The rhythm and music of the 'Ubangi Stomp' is so infectious that it makes even the coolest of cats dance wildly.
Well, I looked up the chief and he invited me in
I met the chief of the tribe who welcomed me into their group.
Said a heap big jam session 'bout to begin
The chief announced that a big music jam session was about to start.
He handed me a tom-tom I picked up the beat
The chief gave me a drum called a tom-tom and I quickly found the rhythm.
That crazy thing sent shivers to my feet
The beat coming from my drum was so intense and thrilling that it gave me shivers.
Rocked and rolled and I skipped with a smile
I danced joyously to the music, my feet skipping in rhythm with the beat.
Well, we rocked all night and part of the day
We danced and played music continuously through the night and into the day.
Had a good rocking time with the chief's daughter mae
I enjoyed dancing and spending time with the chief's daughter named Mae.
I was making time and gettin' in the know
I was busy enjoying myself and getting to know the people and culture of the tribe.
The captain said son we gotta go.
The captain of my ship informed me that we had to leave.
I said that's alright. you go on ahead
I told the captain that I was content to stay and continue dancing with the tribe.
I'm gonna ubangi stomp until I roll over dead
I was so enamored with the 'Ubangi Stomp' that I decided to keep dancing it until I died.
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
The infectious rhythm of the 'Ubangi Stomp' is so exciting and energizing that it makes even cool cats dance uncontrollably.
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
The music and rhythm of the 'Ubangi Stomp' is so mesmerizing that it continues to make even the coolest of cats dance wildly.
When the beat just drives a cool cat wild
The 'Ubangi Stomp' is so captivating that it consistently inspires even the most laid-back cats to dance frenziedly.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES UNDERWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind