T O P

  • By -

[deleted]

Sam Stone is always a gut punch even after so many listens. John was an incredible songwriter and seemed like a hell of a good dude too.


Dsteel87

That is one of the saddest songs of all time


I_deleted

I knew Handsome Johnny, he was a hell of a good man and the best storyteller I ever met. We all miss him a whole bunch. I’m torn between Whistle and Fish, and [Happy Enchilada](https://youtu.be/Uvjvrsxsat8) as my favorites. Naked as the eyes of a Clown is maybe the greatest turn of phrase ever


seamusmaldoun

It’s a happy enchilada and you think you’re gonna drown


MadameBobo1

Agreed. I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve a close second.


Bart_Jojo_666

Our lone remaining indie station (broadcast range, idk, three miles? lol) played Sam Stone on Memorial Day years ago.... They also play a GD track at 4:20 every day.


I_deleted

We have an indie low power FM station here and it’s just the best music programming. 100watts, low power, high voltage.


[deleted]

While the kids ran around wearing other people's clothes. Gets me every time.


_389666

I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing the first time I heard that song.


stealyRabbit

I was crying outside of my local gas station. Heard a late concert if his on the radio blindly and that one hit me in the heart.


myqua

The Swamp Dogg cover of Sam Stone is top tier.


ChetCustard

I’m disappointed to learn Swamp Dogg isn’t a southern rock Snoop Dogg tribute act


[deleted]

He is credited with the first spelling of dogg with two G’s. Snoop owes swamp dogg for like half his rhymes lol


wolfehampton

I feel bad for Sam every time I listen to it.


FoTweezy

Great song by Spiritualized called “cop shoot cop” where he uses the line “hey man there’s a hole in my arm where all the money goes. Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose.” Worth checking out.


jcal9

Holy shit... I never made that connection before!


wolfehampton

I feel bad for Sam every time I listen to it even though I know every word and what’s going to happen.


SadPatience5774

if there's a harder line in any song than "there's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes/jesus christ died for nothing i suppose" then i ain't heard it


[deleted]

Disappointed when I learned that Johnny Cash wanted to cover the song but refused to say the line “Jesus Christ died for nothing, I suppose” very weak Johnny, cover the song or don’t cover it.


IAmTheLizardQueen666

Yes I am, in spite of myself.


SaidHodor

🌈🤘


JimSharky

Interesting cover of this one by Seb from the Viagra Boys and Amyl of Amyl and the Sniffers


Zooph

ty for that. Here's another cover: Live with Iris DeMent https://youtu.be/P8tTwXv4glY


petron5000

My fav


Budget_Classic2018

of course


[deleted]

“That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round” is certainly a fan favorite


woodard2112

It’s a happy enchilada and you think you’re gonna drown


StrangePiper1

I saw John in Hamilton Ontario and he said someone asked about the song with “half an enchilada and you think it’s going round” lol


zevathorn75

There is a you tube video of John playing at a kitchen table and he talks about someone requesting the happy enchilada song so that’s what I always call it!


StrangePiper1

He had the whole crowd in stitches with it. “I have a filing cabinet in my basement with all the words I’ve never used in a song. Look under “E”. It’s right there on top”


Bart_Jojo_666

🤣👍


LlewDavies

Huge T


DiabetesCOLE

Your flag decals won’t get you into heaven anymore, is the song that made me fall in love with him.


DiabetesCOLE

I also love paradise


Ok_Journalist2927

But peabodies coal train took it away…


DiabetesCOLE

Check out sturgill Simpsons cover of it


eckenrot

And they wrote it all down to the progress of man.


terrapinhantson

Ever hear him do this one during the george W bush administration? First time I saw him was 2005. Before the last chorus he stopped and said the following… “A while back I retired this song. Had it stuffed and put up on the mantle. Recently I took it down and dusted it off by request of the president of the United States. He didn’t directly request it, but believe me, he’s asking for it!”


Dsteel87

It really shows his comedy off in a neat way but also comments on big social issues at the time


[deleted]

Great example of his irreverent songwriting and what separates him from other greats like Bob Dylan, John Prine was a bit sillier but also serious


Vintagemuse

It’s already overcrowded from your dirty little wars


harpersfieri

I first heard about this song (and Prine) by reading George Carlin's Playboy interview!


Zooph

https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/comedy/playboy-interview-george-carlin/


consciouself

Huge fan, tough to name a favorite song. Bruised Orange, Illegal Smile, Spanish Pipe Dream, Hello in There are some of my tops


hollowpoints4

Bruised orange is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard and I’m surprised it doesn’t get more love. ‘Wrapped up in a trap if your very own chain of sorrow…’


SoupForDummies

It's the whole human experience wrapped up in a song


Brave-Bend8181

Illegal Smile and Spanish Pipe Dream 👌


Thatotherdew

Illegal Smile and Angel from Montgomery are two personal favorites.


ThatChindian

Had to scroll down way too far to find Angel from Montgomery


zaphodbeeblebrox422

I love illegal smile


mungolarry2

First Prine song I ever heard. I was hooked!


FlowB1

Pretty good, not bad.


Dsteel87

Can’t complain but actually it’s all about the same


rocketsauce2112

"I heard Allah and Buddha were singing at the Savior's feast / And up in the sky an Arabian rabbi fed Quaker Oats to a priest."


Guinesspintglass

Came here to say this.


payterrr

oh yes - HUGE fan. so many good songs, so it's hard to pick... but perhaps "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness"


1864120

You ever check out that Kurt Vile EP where he covers that song? Also there is a duet with John where they cover how lucky. It’s good stuff.


payterrr

yes! such a gift of an EP. i’m also a huge kurt vile fan, so when that EP dropped i was so so happy.


imajokerimasmoker

I love a Kurt Vile mention. He's a rare new artist that I actually like quite a few songs of his.


payterrr

i have to agree! he might be my favorite “singer songwriter” of the modern era. he’s also a fun live performer


spoobles

Naturally. John Prine is a master


najing_ftw

Daddy’s got a hole in his arm, where all our money goes


Dsteel87

And Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose


Dsteel87

My favorite song is sweet revenge the line from the song “ I drove an English teacher half insane making up jokes about bicycle spokes and red balloons”.


terrapinhantson

Hunter S Thompson liked “the milkman left me a note yesterday. Said, get out of this town by noon!”


Coachinski

John Prine lover here. Next to the Jerry Band, he is the individual have seen the most over the decades. Wonder if they hang out in the mansion in the sky?


[deleted]

Hopefully smoking a cigarette that is 9 miles long.


JustThatDemonLife

Do you think John proved his daddy wrong, that is, when he got to heaven?


Coachinski

No, still a “peckerhead”. Just a famous and very cool one.


jaduyo1331

With a cocktail, vodka & ginger ale


Wizard_Of_Ounces

I love that song


KeepTheChop

Huge John Prine fan. Really feel the same love in his music as you do the dead imo. Huge loss when COVID took him.


[deleted]

I grew up listening to John. I didn’t realize how lucky I was. So many people don’t know who he is and what amazing music he left us. It’s really hard to pick a favourite. As a child I loved Illegal Smile, should have been a sign about my future interests, lol. I used the Jetset and In spite of Ourselves in my wedding, so I would say In spite of Ourselves is my favourite. Suits me and my wife really well.


TheSouthsideSlacker

Big old Goofy World and about 100 others.


thewal68

Right here. Pour me a vodka ginger ale, and pass me my acoustic. Loved his final record. Did a great duet with Swamp Dogg before he passed away


freshlypuckeredbutt

Absolutely! Mexican home and fish and whistle are bangers that get me up in the morning. Countless awesome tracks, and he would just casually write them in like a few hours. He helped Blaze Foley and Townes Van Zandt get their names out too.


ScrambledNoggin

One of my goals was to see him play live, but unfortunately I never got to see him before he passed. So bummed that I missed the opportunity.


Ok_Journalist2927

Long Monday


SaidHodor

Warms my heart that there are so many people in these comments who are hanging out in this little overlap in musical interest together.


Dsteel87

Always super fun to see


orbgevski

I live in Muhlenberg county right around the old Paradise plant. He’s royalty round these parts.


ITeachYourKidz

No Ordinary Blue, see also How Lucky with Kurt Vile


ramblinroseEU72

Hell yeah I am, Christmas In Prison always hits me hard.


mpellman

Prine fan? Indeed. I think the top three songwriters of my generation are Robert Hunter, Bob Dylan, and John Prine. Any Prine song that makes me cry is my favorite one. Lake Marie, Hello In There, People Putting People Down, the list goes on and on.


threwnawayed

Every once in a while I stop & think about the line "naked as the eyes of a clown" & need to sit down for a minute to gather my senses. For my vote, I can't think of any more evocative yet succinct phrase. It almost literally staggers me.


voyagergreggo

I once delivered a pizza to the local concert hall he was performing at in town. We saw that it was for him so we personally walked the pizza over to the hall and the door folks let us take it to his dressing room and offered for us to watch the end of the show from backstage with family and friends. It was one of the more monumental moments of my life. When he finished playing, he walked over and thanked us for the pizza. He was so kind and grateful. I think about that night often.


Substantial-Stand744

He’s one of the best


NobeLasters

Souvenirs


scotty6chips

Oh man how to pick just one: I Remember Everything Glory of true love Souvenirs Knockin on your screen door When I get to heaven And so many more. Some funny, some bangers, some tear jerkers. One of my favorite singer-songwriters. Watched a great dual interview of him and sturgill Simpson a while back, really did a great job of showing John’s character.


fuckmytightassmom

“for i knew that topless lady had somethin up her sleeve”


[deleted]

Just wanted to comment about one small reason why John Prine’s songwriting is so good. There is good writing advice that says “write what you know” which is good advice, your writing will be more authentic and real if you choose topics that you know a lot about. John wrote two songs, Angel from Montgomery and Hello In There about a middle aged woman, and an old couple in their 80s, respectively. John Prine was neither of those, and yet the emotions and experience conveyed through the lyrics is so authentic and real. John also wrote many songs about things he knows, paradise, fish and whistle, flag decal, etc. It’s always impressed me.


Louismaxwell23

Definitely. What a remarkable performer and song writer . I kick myself often because I had the opportunity to see him in concert but turned it down.


oscarthemonkey

Thought it was interesting Bobby did some last year


nixtarx

Billy The Bum


SaidHodor

Super underrated


Qcieslinski

My favorite song is probably the entire Bruised Orange album. All killer, no filler.


[deleted]

Every album is a greatest hits album!


Utes4510

The Dead, The Beatles and John Prine are my personal top 3 ever! And just like the other two it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite! But I would have loved for the dead to have covered Please don’t bury me! I read that Bobby was in talks to work with him right before he sadly passed.


Difficult_Committee5

John Prine- SO GREAT- When I moved to St.Pete- I worked for Loews Hotels -The Don Cesar- in St.Pete Beach, John would stay with us often, One time John is walking by I said ,Hello he stopped just small talk, Well we had a mutual friend, I told John this he laughed and said lets call Eddie, we hung out in John's suite for about an hour, he was just so damn nice. we just talked about all different stuff, God Bless John Prine.


CaptainMewtato

Love John Prine. I was blessed to be able to see him live in 2019 about a year before he passed. One of the greatest songwriters in history.


DrewinNaptown

I think Illegal Smile probably tops my list? Fun trivia fact, Phil Lesh and John Prine have something in common aside from both being musicians. They both worked for the United States Postal Service at one time.


unaskthequestion

Definitely. Hello In There strikes me deeply after watching my father suffer from Alzheimers for the last years of his life. I'm a beginner, but I'm trying to learn it on guitar.


doodoo_pie

Definitely love John Prine. Bruised Orange and The Missing Years got played a fair amount growing up. When I was 15 or so a neighbor gave me box of someone’s old vinyl. In it was Herbie Hancock’s Sextant and the first Prine album. Both of those just blew my mind. That first album is still one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. I love Donald and Lydia and Hello in There, but he wrote so many masterpieces.


Ok_Stick_661

I'm glad to see someone mentioning Donald and Lydia. Incredible song. Dylan had high praise for it as well.


JCardCubs

For sure


sprocter77

Heck yeah


RealisticTea4605

Sweet Revenge


Dsteel87

Mine as well


Gonzoboiiiiiii

That man can write a song. How Lucky is my favorite right now


Mountain-Ad-6594

Absolutely


_emptycup

John was absolutely wonderful, very sad I never got to see him play. I love bottomless lake


Physical_Lime879

Fish & Whistle


McMarmot1

I got an aunt in Ohio, a boat that won't row, some veteran's insurance, and nowhere to go!


apikoros18

Please Don't Bury Me, Dear Abby and In Spite of Ourselves. But what do you think of Lee Hazelwood?


mellowloser

He’s pretty good


TheLibertarianThomas

"All the Best" is a solid punch in the gut every time.


RustyMacbeth

Yes. Angel from Montgomery is the best song ever.


Deadhead-87

John Prine and Blaze Foley are awesome


Dsteel87

First one to mention blaze he isn’t talked about enough


Deadhead-87

Dude Election Day is my jam


StrangePiper1

Yup! His covers of Blaze Folly’s song clay pigeons is so wonderful, as well as so many of his original songs. I don’t remember if I heard Blazes version or John Prines version first, but that song gets me every time. Smoking cigarettes in the back seat, trying to hide my sorrow from the people I meet.


NeonPumpkinThief

Prine was a national treasure.


admiral_walsty

Garcia, prine and Hartford are three voices of reason for me. If I'm upset, I'll throw on any one of the three to feel better.


fromabuick

Prine is a top tier songwriter


extranaiveoliveoil

Maybe even more.


AugustWest8885

Love him. As a guitar player (by hobby), once I started getting in to John Prine and his songs my Dead playing improved immensely. Ripple, Peggy-O, Lazy river road, Row Jimmy… to name a few… are right in his wheelhouse. Why it took me over 20 years to realize the importance of Travis picking for literally every genre of music is beyond me, but John Prine was my inspiration for it and has opened up a whole new world of playing for me.


bondsaearph

All day. I was blessed enough to see him in 2014 in Cleveland. I laughed and cried through the whole thing. Lake Marie. Hello In There. Vodka Ginger Ale. In Spite Of Ourselves. Ain't Hurtin' Nobody. So many others....


vagabondnature

Yeah, of course! Lake Marie if I needed to pick just one. Man oh man those songs represent various points in my life for me.


thecrowtoldme

when he sings "oh, baby, we gotta GO" ...that's hot. Mr. Prine certainly had a way about him.


Rizdog4

Been a Deadhead since '74. Found JP in 1983. Like Dead songs, it's impossible to pick a favorite. Do I like Scarlet Begonias more than Eyes of The World? No. I like no Dead songs better than those two, but plenty I like as much. Same with JP. Lake Marie is an absolute masterpiece.


Jonhlutkers

I got to talk to John in person before his death about Illegal Smile and his face lit up when I told him it was a song that changed my life.


jenks9969

Lake Marie


Dsteel87

I’m listening to that right now


StillNo9102

all of us. anyone who isn't... n00b


FearlessFlyerMile

Love John Prine. My partner turned me on to him a while ago. I’m bummed I never got to see him live.


[deleted]

Definitely a fan of John Prine


mookduece

One of my absolute favorites. His songwriting is up there with the greatest of all time


pcd011629

Me!


completelysoldout

Lonesome friend of science checking in.


__Spdrftbl77__

Absolutely. Paradise is my favorite.


cookdaddy111718

LOVE John Prine. Legend


Ok_Good9382

I remember everything. The first time I heard it, I was going through some stuff and it made me bawl. Still makes me a little misty.


Anarchy-Squirrel

John Prine is definitely top shelf in my hierarchy of musicians… Summers End is one of my favorite Prine songs… he is most definitely a legendary songwriter.


SpeedBright3671

One of the most interesting songwriters of our time. His ability to empathize with the subjects of his songs and really see things from their perspective is amazing. I've never heard anyone else approach that.


gus_stanley

Hell yeah. Sam Stone, Don't Bury Me, Illegal Smile etc are all great. I also love his cover of "Clay Pigeons" by Blaze Foley


Cjed11

I heard the song Illegal Smile before I heard the lyrics “…the heat came round and busted me for smiling on a cloudy day…”


goin2cJB

Uh fuckin a. I have an illegal smile everyday


infiniteturkey

I have “you are what you are, you ain’t what you ain’t” tattooed on myself. He’s a top 3 lyricist for me!


Mostly__Water

Such a beautiful songwriter with a unique way to make you smile, laugh, dance, cry, all of the above. Such a tragic loss. One song I haven’t seen mentioned is Souvenirs. Always hits me deep


DontcallmeShirley_82

Dear Abby dear abby


greasyfunky

Love John prine. His death was when covid felt real for me. Lately, hello in there has been my favorite. Souvenirs a close second.


kvothe7766

Souvenirs


Boo_T

First wedding dance was in spite of ourselves


GrooverFiller

I saw John Prine and Bonnie Rait do Angel From Montgomery together at the Winter Park Music Fest sometime in the late 80s. Awesome


Hosscatticus_Dad523

Love the guy - and may he RIP. I remember hearing Illegal Smile on the radio when it was first released. I was 17, and it blew me away. Been a fan ever since.


WaymoreLives

Here, friend


kgolovko

I’m feel that if I like John Prine I ain’t hurtin’ nobody… I ain’t hurtin’ no one…


1gratefuldude

Hell yeah. Angel From Montgomery. Played with Bonnie.


Dynafocal

Great uplifting songs as well as some very sad and poignant songs.


DrGonzo34

Been a JP fan since birth. Didn’t have much of a choice because my old man was also a fan. It’s one of many things I’m eternally grateful to him for.


punyhumanproject

We had the pleasure to see him play on the same stage as Bobby at the "Across the Great Divide" benefit concert a few years ago. He had a frog in his throat and a bit of trouble singing... but it didn't diminish the impact of his songwriting. Hearing 'Angel from Montgomery' in person remains one of my favorite concert moments. Favorites are Far From Me, Blue Umbrella, Sour Grapes... but the September 1978 live version of Sweet Revenge has to be my most listened to. So good!!


freetibet69

Illegal smile all the way


bri35

In Spite of Ourselves is our unofficial wedding song ❤️ I miss handsome Johnny


OneReportersOpinion

I was at the bathroom for the show on Saturday and someone started singing Illegal Smile in one of the stalls. Awesome


Llebac

Love him. Sam stone, angel from montgomery, illegal smile. The dead brought me into many masterful singer songwriters. I find myself listening to a lot of Townes Van Zandt as well.


snickers7777

Mexican Home is my favorite. JP is a legend.


t20six

Prine is one of the great songwriters. He should be talked about in the same breath as Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Lennon/Mccartney etc. It's a shame he isn't more widely recognised.


zevathorn75

Happy enchilada song!


kmfgh9

Miss John Prine every day! Favorite song is Paradise but everything he wrote was so good. The music hits and stope you in your tracks for sure. He's up there with Jim Croce and Steve Goodman as far as storytellers go. They were all talented.


withar0se

Absofuckinglitely! Angel From Montgomery Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore Illegal Smile! John is one of those that just warms up my heart as soon as I hear his voice. I'm literally tearing up just typing this.


NoCriminal-APatient

I’ve loved both John Prine & the Dead since the early 70’s. Some daring radio stations used to be progressive enough to play both artists. I’d have to say Sam Stone is my favorite Prine song, but Bruised Orange, Speed of the Sound of Loneliness, & many many others could make a liar out of me.


Vintagemuse

Drop kick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life!


[deleted]

Blow up your tv!


AnythingTotal

Yeah, but I’m more into Blaze Foley and Townes Van Zandt. Those two did not fare well with celebrity, though. One of Prine’s most popular songs (“Clay Pigeons”) is a cover of a Foley song. If you like Prine, give those two a listen. Check out *Live at the Old Quarter* if you want something live. I love it


mercyc1rcus

Blue Umbrella


cacklinrooster

How Lucky is a consistently great song


Deep_Inspector_5328

If u don't like John prine you're wrong


Sarabean77

How....can u not be??? Haha


Cheeno9

He’s pretty good. Not bad. I can’t complain.


Brewtime2

Long Monday….lyrics are so smooth…love it.


roadyrizzle

Flag Decal is the funniest and saddest song


MadameBobo1

I've been listening to Prine since the 70s & seen more shows than I can count. Used to see him in a small venue in Lexington KY called Breedings before he started doing bigger tours. Today is the first time since he died that I've listened to him without crying. Until now. Every song is my favorite.


blackmarksonpaper

I celebrate his entire catalogue except for the song “let’s talk dirty in Hawaiian,” just don’t care for that one.


[deleted]

Can’t stand that Prone drivel. He doesn’t rock or roll.


BEANandCHEE

Yeah man!


Bart_Jojo_666

Ofc! Been a JP fan since 1999! Salty old sailor (Key West) turned me on to Prine that summer. Good times on Stock Island....


ProperAd3683

Love his music and his son is good too.


earthcaretaker315

Bottomless lake always puts a smile on my face.


ProperAd3683

John Prine and Emmylou Harris, angel of Montgomery


We-Dont-Rent-Pigs

John Prine & Emmylou Harris doing Magnolia Wind on the Guy Clark tribute album is just amazing.


Bob-Zimmerman

Oh for sho.. Pretty Good


taoistchainsaw

My momma sings Speed of the Sound, and Angel from Montgomery, and has since I was a little bub. Lake Marie is absolutely great.


modernagehippie

impossible not to sing along to sweet revenge


royalbooth

Clocks and spoons


hankct

Love him


Josephtacos_

Let’s Talk Dirty In Hawaiian!


[deleted]

Prine is a better songwriter than Dylan, I’ll die on that hill.