Here are some of my favorite John Prine Songs. His lyrics are mind bending and thought provoking! He is truly a genius among song writers.
A Christmas Song
All the snow has turned to water;
Christmas days have come and gone.
Broken toys and faded colors are all that’s left to linger on.
I hate graveyards and old pawn shops,
for they always bring me tears.
I can’t forgive the way they robbed me of my childhood souvenirs.
Memories, they can’t be boughten.
They can’t be won at carnivals for free.
Well it took me years to get those souvenirs,
and I don’t know how they slipped away from me.
Broken hearts and dirty windows
Make life difficult to see.
That’s why last night and this morning
always look the same to me.
And I hate reading old love letters
for they always bring me tears.
I can’t forget the way they robbed me,
of my sweetheart’s souvenirs.
Memories they can’t be boughten,
they can’t be won at carnivals for free.
Well it took me years to get those souvenirs
and I don’t know how they slipped away from me.
I love the Title of this song – The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness. It was recorded with Nanci Griffith by John Prine
You come home late and you come home early
You come on big when you’re feeling small
You come home straight and you come home curly
Sometimes you don’t come home at allChorus:
So what in the worlds come over you
And what in heaven’s name have you done
You’ve broken the speed of the sound of loneliness
You’re out there running just to be on the run
Well I got a heart that burns with a fever
And I got a worried and a jealous mind
How can a love that’ll last forever
Get left so far behind
Hello in There – this song reminds me of how important older people are and how much they should be valued…
We had an apartment in the city;
me and Loretta liked living there.
Well, it’d been years since the kids had grown;
a life of their own left us alone.
John and Linda live in Omaha,
and Joe is somewhere on the road.
We lost Davy in the Korean War,
And I still don’t know what for, don’t matter anymore.Chorus:
Ya know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder every day.
Old people just grow lonesome
waiting for someone to say, hello in there, hello.
Me and Loretta, we don’t talk much more,
she sits and stares through the back door screen.
And all the news just repeats itself
like some forgotten dream that we’ve both seen.
Someday I’ll go and call up Rudy;
we worked together at the factory.
But what could I say if asks what’s new?
Nothing, what’s with you? Nothing much to do.
Repeat chorus:
So if you’re walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes,
Please don’t just pass em by and stare
As if you didn’t care, say, hello in there, hello.
Repeat chorus:Its a mighty mean and a dreadful sorrow
Its crossed the evil line today
Well, how can you ask about tomorrow
We isn’t got one word to say
Repeat chorus:
Ending:
You’re out there running just to be on the run
You’re out there running just to be on the run
You’re out there running just to be on the run
I Guess I wish you all the Best - I see John breaking up with a wife but still wishing her the best
I wish you love
And happiness
I guess I wish you
All the best
I wish you don’t
Do like I do
And ever fall in love with
Someone like you
Cause if you fell
Just like I did
You’d probably walk around the block
Like a little kid.
But kids don’t know
they can only guess
how hard it is
to wish you happiness
I guess that love
Is like a Christmas card
You decorate a tree
You throw it in the yard
It decays and dies
And the snowmen melt
Well I once knew love
I knew how love felt
Yeah I knew love
Love knew me
And when I walked
Love walked with me
And I got no hate
And I got no pride
Well I got so much love
That I cannot hide
Say you drive a Chevy
Say you drive a Ford
You say you drive around the town
Till you just get bored
Then you change your mind
For something else to do
And your heart gets bored with your mind
And it changes you
Well it’s a doggone shame
And it’s an awful mess
I wish you love
I wish you happiness
I wish you love
I wish you happiness
I guess I wish you
All the best.
Donna Ritter
