# In Praise of John Prine

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-john-prine/545263>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 2, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-john-prine/545263 "2010-07-02T02:47:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-john-prine/545263/41 "2010-07-06T14:03:13Z")

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Hubby has everything he ever recorded, and we went to see him in concert a year ago. It was awesome. I think I’ve heard all the songs he’s ever written, at least once.

One of my favorite lyrics is;

“Your flag decal ain’t going to get you into heaven any more.” (Hope I got that right!)

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**Author:** ![Nom\_de\_Plume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85f322/32.png) [@Nom\_de\_Plume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nom_de_Plume)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-john-prine/545263/42 "2010-07-06T16:39:06Z")

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John Prine is an American treasure. I don’t think there’s a better songwriter alive today. I was lucky enough to see him a few years back. My wife had to walk out because his lyrics were so touching, she started to cry. So, yes, he has some sadness in his music, but I don’t believe all of his songs hold a fatalistic view of life. In fact, in _Spanish Pipedream_, an exotic dancer provides the young soldier with advice to improve his life:

> [@](#):
>
> Blow up your T.V. throw away your paper  
> Go to the country, build you a home  
> Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches  
> Try an find Jesus on your own

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**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-john-prine/545263/43 "2010-07-06T17:05:18Z")

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Ah yes, Spanish Pipedream, another favorite.

Within SP is a great example of a very clever piece of lyric that could easily go unnoticed if the listener is not paying attention:

> [@](#):
>
> Well, I sat there at the table and I acted real naive  
> For I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve

mmm

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