Favorite John Prine Song

[spiderman]

I'm new to LTG though I've been lurking for a few months. To clarify a couple of points, Clay Pigeons is by Blaze Foley, which is a name he used. He used to say jokingly he was the love child of Red Foley and Blaze Starr. To get a feel for what Blaze was like listen to Lucinda Williams' "Drunken Angel", or better still listen to the you tube video of him doing his "If I Could Only Fly" at a wedding, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69YCXgVdyR4

I used to listen Dave van Ronk playing in the Village in the early 60s and Cocaine Blues was one he sang a lot. He may have picked it up from an earlier bluesman.

I really like JP many of his songs are easy to sing and he has a wonderful way with words and images. The first two I learned were "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" and "In Spite of Ourselves" a real crowd pleaser now, if i could only find a "dueter" to go with it. "Souvenirs' is also a good one to play.

Harmony H-173 bought in 1960 (retired)
Alvarez AC60S
Eastman AC320ce BOOKMATCHING BOOKMATCHING WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BOOKMATCHING! http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/show_item/3376-
Eastman-AC320-Hybrid-Cutaway
GAD-JF30E(blonde)

 

[dreadnut]

Can't beat "Christmas In Prison" for simplicity, G-C-D. Also easy to accompany on a banjo or mandolin. And great imagery in the lyrics, as usual. "The searchlight in the big yard swings 'round with the gun and spotlights the snowflakes like dust in the sun" just makes you feel like you're on the inside looking out, doesn't it?

And of course "Grampa" has become a real favorite on the nursing home circuit, now that the boys all know it and can sing parts, it works real well. They especially like the part about Grandma trading in her milkin' cow for a Singer sewing machine

 

[killdeer43]

"She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire,
Or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire."

Now who else but JP could write lyrics like that?

Joe

 

[Graham]

I'm new to LTG though I've been lurking for a few months.

Welcome to LTG Spidey. Stick around a while. :wink:

 

[spiderman]

Thanks Graham, I will be posting a few questions on the acoustic part of the forum.

Harmony H-173 bought in 1960 (retired)
Alvarez AC60S
Eastman AC320ce BOOKMATCHING BOOKMATCHING WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BOOKMATCHING! http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/sh ... id-Cutaway
GAD-JF30E(blonde)

 

[TonyT]

Man, I guess I missed it that JP was playing a Guild in this classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOTbg39- ... re=related

 

[Graham]

I picked up the Anthology Set. Haven't listened to all of it yey, but he does tell stories very well.

 

[Guest]

Don't see this everyday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma2ktviCMrc

Also love this one

 

[Curlington]

They say cocaine is for horses, that it ain't for men
The doctor said it'll kill me but he won't say when
Ain't nobody's business but my own

Taj Mahal

"There are so many sets of lyrics to this song, which has been recorded in folk, jazz, jug band, rock, and who knows how many other versions."

"I think the phrase about "They say it will kill me..." also is in the song "Take a Whiff on Me" which was originally performed by the Memphis Jug Band under the name of "Cocain Habit Blues" (or something close) and which I think was redone by Jim Queskin's jug band in the 60s."

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=6753