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 Mean So Much to Me
John Prine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A car passes by
The moon shines down on a tree
A kid in the park
Should have been home by dark
You mean so much to me
The snow on the ground
A merry-go_round
Some cigarette smoke
Some laughter a joke
You mean so much to me
It seems to be
Like heaven to me
With you at the end of the day
Here's looking at you
Here's looking at me
Dancing with history
That old crocodile
Got a satisfied smile
His life is no big mystery
A postcard you wrote
A musical note
You mean so much to me
Here's looking at you
Here's looking at you
Here's looking at me
Dancing with history
It seems to be
Like heaven to me
With you at the end of the day
A girl meets a guy
A car passes by
The moon shines down on a tree
I'm thinking of you
So what else is new
You mean so much to me
You mean so much to me
The lyrics of John Prine's song "You Mean So Much to Me" are a tribute to the small moments in life that make everything feel right, even during difficult times. The song starts with a girl meeting a guy and a car passing by, highlighting the simplicity and beauty of everyday life. The moon shining down on a tree and a kid playing in the park remind us of the little things that often go unnoticed but are essential to our happiness. The snow on the ground, a merry-go-round, and some cigarette smoke create a warm and nostalgic atmosphere of past memories.
The chorus is a beautiful declaration of love and appreciation for someone special. "Here's looking at you, here's looking at me, dancing with history" is a touching metaphor for being present in the moment and enjoying the fleeting emotions that come with it. The imagery of an old crocodile with a satisfied smile and a postcard you wrote or a musical note emphasizes the idea that some things may seem insignificant but have a significant impact on our lives.
Overall, the lyrics of "You Mean So Much to Me" are a reminder to cherish the simple and beautiful things in life and to express gratitude for the people who make it all worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
A girl meets a guy
The start of a romantic encounter
A car passes by
The outside world is irrelevant at this moment
The moon shines down on a tree
The beauty of nature accentuates the moment
A kid in the park
The carefree spirit of youth
Should have been home by dark
The realization of the passage of time
You mean so much to me
The value placed on the other person
The snow on the ground
The contrast of white against dark
A merry-go-round
The whimsy of childhood memories
A sight that was somethin' to see
The nostalgia of shared experiences
Some cigarette smoke
The temporary escape from reality
Some laughter a joke
The bonding over humor
You mean so much to me
The continued appreciation of the other person
It seems to be
The illusion of a perfect moment
Like heaven to me
The overwhelming joy felt in that moment
With you at the end of the day
The comfort of knowing someone will be there
Here's looking at you
The acknowledgement of the other person's presence
Here's looking at me
The self-awareness within the moment
Dancing with history
The realization of the past in the present
That old crocodile
The imagery of contentment
Got a satisfied smile
The contentment felt in that moment
His life is no big mystery
The simplicity of contentment
A postcard you wrote
The joy in receiving a tangible memory
A musical note
The power of music in triggering emotions
You mean so much to me
The continued impact of the other person
Here's looking at you
The appreciation of the other person in the relationship
Here's looking at you
Repetition for emphasis
Here's looking at me
Self-awareness within the relationship
Dancing with history
The realization of the past in the present
It seems to be
The illusion of a perfect moment
Like heaven to me
The overwhelming joy felt in that moment
With you at the end of the day
The comfort of knowing someone will be there
A girl meets a guy
The continuation of a romantic experience
A car passes by
The insignificance of anything else
The moon shines down on a tree
The continued appreciation of nature
I'm thinking of you
The internalization of the relationship
So what else is new
The inevitability of thoughts constantly returning to the other person
You mean so much to me
The continued value placed the other person
You mean so much to me
Repetition for emphasis
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONNIE FRITTS, JOHN PRINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind