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John Prine; Soulful Writer, Musician & Vocalist

M

moose eater

In accordance with my interests & propensity for obsessive behavior, as well as the requests from those near JP to play his music and keep him in our thoughts, here's today's dose of John Prine, with preamble, story, and lyrics.

More light-hearted reality therapy from JP and Iris DeMent.

Live performance of 'In Spite of Ourselves'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8tTwXv4glY

Edit: From the LA Times 2 hours ago...

https://www.latimes.com/entertainme...020-04-03/john-prine-health-update-coronvirus

Still on a ventilator with fluid in both lungs. He's a fighter.
 

aridbud

automeister
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Had several LP's, cassette and CD's of Prine...guess I'll put on shuffle mode. Hope he can overcome health obstacles- he's been through much in his life, so this may be riding into the sunset.
 
M

moose eater

I've found no 'news' since yesterday A.M.

An early dose of JP; one which expresses a perspective, imo, of those who've been scorched enough by the proverbial Sun to challenge the perceived one-way nature of life and forgiveness, and Supreme Deities.

Loving some John Prine.

'Fish & Whistle'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G487EDeXadA
 

H G Griffin

Well-known member
I've found no 'news' since yesterday A.M.

An early dose of JP; one which expresses a perspective, imo, of those who've been scorched enough by the proverbial Sun to challenge the perceived one-way nature of life and forgiveness, and Supreme Deities.

Loving some John Prine.

'Fish & Whistle'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G487EDeXadA

Another favorite.

"We'll forgive each other till we both turn blue
Then we'll whistle and go fishin' in heaven"
 
M

moose eater

Another favorite.

"We'll forgive each other till we both turn blue
Then we'll whistle and go fishin' in heaven"

I'm outa' rep again, earlier and earlier in the day, H.G. I'll catch you later.

But yeah, I was thinking of those times of despair where many/some of us have found ourselves flipping the middle digit to the sky in anger over circumstances, and how no matter, most of us move on with "It is what it is."

I hear that tune as JP's more humorous summary of life as it pertains to those times.

The Cosmos has no end to its humor and/or irony in times of strife. Just have to have an open eye and ear, I think.

You take care.
 

H G Griffin

Well-known member
The greatest thing about music is that it can mean something different to every listener.

To me that song and those lines express my own existential nihilism. Nothing has any meaning except what we choose to give it. There are no universal human truths.

A lot of religious folks would be offended at a person daring to forgive god, but to John Prine, he has as much a right to judge and forgive as god or anybody else does.

In the end, we'll just whistle and go fishing and none of it matters.
 
M

moose eater

>>>but to John Prine, he has as much a right to judge and forgive as god or anybody else does.

In the end, we'll just whistle and go fishing and none of it matters.<<<

As a fairly firm Agnostic, with a path behind me involving a number of faiths, some of them impressive in experience, both mainstream and not, I've told folks for a long while now that IF there's a Judgement Day, I'll likely be sent where I'm sent, but if there's a Supreme Deity involved, before I get what ever assignment or marching orders, I intend to ask them to step outside for a poke or 2 in their chest or eye (assuming they have such things), 'cause if they WERE omniscient and omnipotent all this time, and let half the shit go down that has, then THEY have some explaining to do, too.

And yes, fishing is my poker game of personal inquiry with the Cosmos, wherein I get to ask what I deserve, if I'm worthy, and ice fishing in remote places in particular, allows me much meditation (as well as medication) time.

Here's hoping Johnny pulls through, and writes another 100 or 200 songs. For his benefit AND ours.
 

H G Griffin

Well-known member
Another favorite about a nagging wife that JP 'heard about' :) :

"My body's in this room with you just catching hell
While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell
You might think I'm listening to your grocery list
But I'm leaning on the jukebox and I'm about half ... way there"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2g0CaneKXY
 
M

moose eater

The speakers are well-Prined..

Another from among old favorites, silly, ridiculous, abstract, heart-felt, somber, stark, relationship struggles, and more.

From the 'somber thoughts about relationship' category, and acceptance of...

I liked the version of this he did with Nanci Griffith, but this one's pretty darned nice, too:

'The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFvenjll1Bk

With Nanci Griffith:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Gv7UNX2X4
 
M

moose eater

Still no news, more recent than a couple days ago.

Tragic Americana, raw reality, life in the corners and shadows of Main Street America, with love, death, unmet expectations, and more. Once thoughtful and somber music on the farm;

'The Six O'clock News'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtEUbHRRvaY
 
M

moose eater

Another reflecting Americana, but with more of a smile..

'Dear Abby'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5js4ITJPXY

--------------------------------------------------------
Off to the store for senior hour in the wee hours. I don't know about others, but I think having senior hour from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 A.M. at the grocery is a bit of a cruel joke, if it weren't for stocking taking place in the middle of the night... I think I heard the dogs ask, "What's he doing up? He's never up at this hour..."
 
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