"When I die, let my ashes float down the Green River..."

I keep trying to write a proper farewell post about John Prine, but I just can't do it. A friend mentioned that the news of his death from covid-19 left her "gutted," and that's just how I feel. He was far and away my all-time #1 favorite singer-songwriter. So this will be brief.

When Andy went away to college in 1977, his roommate was a die-hard fan of this folk/country musician Andy had never heard of. The roommate would play John Prine's albums over and over, and soon enough Andy was just as big a fan. Fast-forward to when I met Andy in 1986. Same story: He had a whole bunch of albums by some guy named John Prine. Soon enough I discovered why.

I liked his voice, and his guitar playing was just fine, but that wasn't the magic of John Prine. He was a master storyteller, first and foremost. There are lines from songs that I have listened to regularly for decades that still either bring me to tears or make me giggle. And at his concerts he would tell stories that were at times heartbreaking, or else hilarious.

On Facebook I posted this video of him performing "Paradise" at Farm Aid in 1986; that's how he looked and sounded when I first came to know and love him. That song appeared on his debut album back in 1971. But my favorite version was on a 2010 live album; I've searched in vain for a video from that concert but so far can come up with only the audio. It's worth a listen, as he's joined by Jason Wilber as usual on guitar, but also Kane Welch Kaplin (that's Kieran Kane on mandolin, Kevin Welch on guitar, and Fats Kaplin on soaring, breathtaking fiddle). You can also hear the gravelly tone John's voice took on after he whupped neck cancer and lung cancer. 

If you know John Prine, you know why I'm grieving. If you don't know him, I recommend you read some of his obits, which describe why he was so important to so many people, and to so many musicians from every genre imaginable. But then, take some time to listen to what he called his "story-songs."

Rest in Peace, John. A million thanks for the decades of music and memories you gave us.

Comments

[Margaret]

I'd heard of him, but never knew any of his music. I'm a melody person and not a lyric one, so I don't generally gravitate to song storytellers. So many people are fans of his though that perhaps I should give him a listen.

[Karen Wis]

I get that, Margie. But if you like poems and stories in general, think of these as just set to music! If you go to that last video I linked to (which is just audio), and click the SHOW MORE thing at the bottom, the lyrics will pop up. It's just gorgeous, and the musicians on that particular version are stellar.

[Sharon]

I got to know John Prine when I met my husband also. We saw him in 2007 in Philadelphia and recently said we should get to another show since he was getting older. "Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand" RIP John.