(This photo of John Prine in 2006, from Wikipedia, is by Ron Baker.)From NPR.org:
John Prine, a wry and perceptive writer whose songs often resembled vivid short stories, died Tuesday in Nashville from complications related to COVID-19. His death was confirmed by his publicist, on behalf of his family. He was 73 years old. Prine was hospitalized last week after falling ill and put on a ventilator Saturday night, according to a statement from his family. Even as a young man, Prine — who famously worked as a mailman before turning to music full-time — wrote evocative songs that belied his age. With a conversational vocal approach, he quickly developed a reputation as a performer who empathized with his characters. . . . Bestowing dignity on the overlooked and marginalized was a common theme throughout Prine's career; he became known for detailed vignettes about ordinary people that illustrated larger truths about society. This makes me sad. I loved John Prine and his music. He was a poet and a musician and his lyrics were simple, but they went straight to the heart. He was a troubadour of truth, and he helped us all understand the human condition.
I was lucky enough to see him perform -- at Willie Nelson's first July 4th Picnic in Dripping Springs. He didn't have a band at that time. It was just him and his 12-string guitar -- but he was amazing.
The world is a sadder place because it no longer has John Prine. Thankfully, he left us a rich library of wonderful music.
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Here are the lyrics to one of my favorite Prime songs -- The Great Compromise. It was on his 1972 album titled "Diamonds in the Rough".
I knew a girl who was almost a lady
She had a way with all the men in her life
Every inch of her blossomed in beauty
And she was born on the fourth of July
Well she lived in an aluminum house trailer
And she worked in a juke box saloon
And she spent all the money I give her
Just to see the old man in the moon
[Chorus:]
I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory
And awake in the dawn's early light
But much to my surprise
When I opened my eyes
I was a victim of the great compromise
Well we'd go out on Saturday evenings
To the drive-in on Route 41
And it was there that I first suspected
That she was doin' what she'd already done
She said "Johnny won't you get me some popcorn"
And she knew I had to walk pretty far
And as soon as I passed through the moonlight
She hopped into a foreign sports car
[Chorus]
Well you know I could have beat up that fellow
But it was her that had hopped into his car
Many times I'd fought to protect her
But this time she was goin' too far
Now some folks they call me a coward
'Cause I left her at the drive-in that night
But I'd druther have names thrown at me
Than to fight for a thing that ain't right
[Chorus]
Now she writes all the fellows love letters
Saying "Greetings, come and see me real soon"
And they go and line up in the barroom
And spend the night in that sick woman's room
But sometimes I get awful lonesome
And I wish she was my girl instead
But she won't let me live with her
And she makes me live in my head
[Chorus]
