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.
You Got Gold
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To keep us both honest and true?
Why is it so hard just to sit in the yard
And stare at the sky so blue?
I've got a new way of walking and a new way of talking
Honey when I'm around you,
But it gives me the blues when I've got some good news
And you're not there to bring it to.
Life is a blessing, it's a delicatessen
Of all the little favors you do.
All wrapped up together no matter the weather,
Baby you always come through.
It's a measure of treasure that gives me the pleasure
Of loving you the way I do
And you know I would gladly say I need your love badly
And bring these little things to you.
Cause you got gold
Gold inside of you
You got gold
Gold inside of you
Well I got some
Gold inside me too
Well I'm thinking I'm knowing that I gotta be going
You know I hate to say so long.
It gives me an ocean of mixed up emotion
I'll have to work it out in a song.
Well I'm leaving a lot for the little I got
But you know a lot a little will do
And if you give me your love
I'll let it shine up above
And light my way back home to you.
Cause you got gold
Gold inside of you
Cause you got gold
Gold inside of you
Well I got some
Gold inside me too
You got wheels
Turning inside of you
You got wheels
Turning inside of you
Well I got wheels
Turning inside me too
The song "You Got Gold" by John Prine is a love song that tries to express how much he values the person he loves. The lyrics explore the beauty of life and how it can be improved by sharing it with a loved one. The first verse talks about the importance of honesty and being true to each other in a relationship. He goes on to paint a picture of a lazy afternoon spent together under a blue sky, which he contrasts with the sadness he feels when he has good news to share, but she is not there to tell.
The second verse of the song begins with the idea that life is a blessing, and we are given little favors every day. He goes on to describe how his love helps him appreciate these little things that make life so wonderful. He then repeats the phrase "Cause you got gold" three times, which serves as a metaphor for the value of the person he loves. Finally, the third verse addresses the bittersweet moment of leaving, expressing the mixed emotions that come with it.
Overall, "You Got Gold" is a song about the way love can bring light and meaning to life. It is an expression of the appreciation for everything that the person you love brings to your life.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there ever enough space between us
To keep us both honest and true?
Do we have the space we need in our relationship to be honest and true with each other?
Why is it so hard just to sit in the yard
And stare at the sky so blue?
Why do we find it so difficult to simply enjoy each other's company and the beauty of the world around us?
I've got a new way of walking and a new way of talking
Honey when I'm around you,
But it gives me the blues when I've got some good news
And you're not there to bring it to.
You have such an impact on my life that I become a different person when I'm around you, but when you're not there to share in my joys, it makes me sad.
Life is a blessing, it's a delicatessen
Of all the little favors you do.
All wrapped up together no matter the weather,
Baby you always come through.
Life is full of blessings and small kindnesses, and you always manage to be there for me through good times and bad.
It's a measure of treasure that gives me the pleasure
Of loving you the way I do
And you know I would gladly say I need your love badly
And bring these little things to you.
Loving you is a great joy to me, and I would do anything to be with you and share my love with you.
Cause you got gold
Gold inside of you
You got gold
Gold inside of you
Well I got some
Gold inside me too
You are so valuable and full of potential, and I am too. We bring out the best in each other.
Well I'm thinking I'm knowing that I gotta be going
You know I hate to say so long.
It gives me an ocean of mixed up emotion
I'll have to work it out in a song.
I know I have to leave, but it's hard to say goodbye. I'll use music to help me process my emotions.
Well I'm leaving a lot for the little I got
But you know a lot a little will do
And if you give me your love
I'll let it shine up above
And light my way back home to you.
I don't have much to offer, but I hope the love I have will be enough. If you give me your love in return, it will guide me back to you.
You got wheels
Turning inside of you
You got wheels
Turning inside of you
Well I got wheels
Turning inside me too
You have great potential and I see it in you. I have my own potential as well, and we can support each other on our journeys.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Elroy Keith Sykes, John E Prine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@helencharley1081
Love John Prine and any song he sings and this one too!
@bryanhall5817
Such a inspiration to many. The many nights I spent on old dirt roads trying to figure out my place in life, I couldn't have done it without John. I wish I could have got the opportunity to shake his hand, and to tell him, thank you. RIP my friend.
@frankduross2
Same here
@MobileIsland496
RIP and may god bless him
@seangrexa4707
52 and still figuring on figuring it out
@scsp2148
Got to meet the man in 1986. Saw him in concert in 1975, just kid. Fresh out of Ft.Benning in 86. That's Army Infantry. In Houston, family bought the front row at Fitzgerald's. To shake hands and talk with him for only a few minutes.
Priceless.
@cathycory1313
Loved his voice, instrumental talent, lyrics, intellect, warmth, humanity and wonderful humor. A favorite song!
@tarquin4518
Shamefully I have only just discovered John. Seeing the song is from 1991 it would have given me the opportunity to say to my dear late wife “Sheila, this guy’s written a song about you.” Sure she would have loved this song and the rest of his incredible catalogue.
@da324
I'm very sorry about your wife. My dear friend turned me onto this song and John right after it came out. I was upset I hadn't heard about him earlier too. My friend and her late husband were great musicians who taught me so much about playing music. I heard this song today which prompted a called because she had a stroke not to long ago, but was doing well. I was informed today she's under hospice care and has stomach cancer. Life just isn't right sometimes.
@lehmancabrera
He was a healer and a guide.