In Memoriam -- John Prine

[Andy M]

Paradise

When I was a child my family would travel
Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born
And there's a backwards old town that's often remembered
So many times that my memories are worn

And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

Well, sometimes we'd travel right down the Green River
To the abandoned old prison down by Adrie Hill
Where the air smelled like snakes and we'd shoot with our pistols
But empty pop bottles was all we would kill

And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

Then the coal company came with the world's largest shovel
And they tortured the timber and stripped all the land
Well, they dug for their coal till the land was forsaken
Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man

And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
I'll be halfway to Heaven with Paradise waiting
Just five miles away from wherever I am

And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

[lowangle al]

I don't know how he was not more well known to the average American. He has a tremendous volume of work and should have been right up there with Willie Nelson as far as song writing.

[twopass]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... it-253684/

https://www.commondreams.org/further/20 ... lowing-god

[lilcliffy]

Was very sad to learn this news.
Very sad.
Gareth

[Andy M]

Thanks for the video twopass -- the flag decal song is one of my favorites. Here's another good one:

[Andy M]

And here's a great mini-concert at NPR, from just a couple of years ago:

[twopass]

Yeah Flag Decal was kind of an anthem for a cluster of us non-jocks in junior high, growing up in the twin cities. Sadly, though I was there until '75 I never caught a Prine show. For sure he musta' been through Mpls/St.paul multiple times touring.

[fgd135]

I saw John Prine in concert a couple of times, about 20 years apart. Very worthwhile, as he was a very funny man and wonderful lyricist and musician.