We were watching a movie with our daughter last night. It was an old Brad Silberling flick called City Of Angels with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Sort of a 90’s piece about living and dying, love and loss. I wasn’t sure whether our teenager would grok this flick but at the end I think she dug it on some level.
As the movie was winding up and coming in for a landing I heard a gasp from Vanessa on the chair next to us. ‘John Prine just died…’ And then nothing. I was and am, profoundly moved.
Of course John’s music has been a part of our lives for a half a century, more or less so in a way I felt like I knew him. In the early 90’s when the Kaukonens had just moved to Meigs County we forayed up to Columbus and saw co-bill with him and Nancy Griffith. It was delightful. I remember he was digging in on a little finger picking vignette between verses and he looked out on us in the audience with a sly smile and in a sotto voce stage whisper he confided in us all. “Pick it John!’
Good stuff, and a nice memory.
My first meeting with John was at the Love For Levon Save The Barn Benefit on October 3rd, 2012 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. There was a massive aggregation of amazing talent there that night and I found myself sharing a dressing room with John Prine and Alain Toussaint. There I was in a room with two men whose music had helped to garnish my path in life.
It was an amazing moment. Alain was gracious but regally distant and that was more than OK. John and I started to talk and in that moment for some reason, I felt like he might have been one of my old friends from the neighborhood in D.C. where I grew up. We talked about this and that and I remember that I told him about the Fur Peace Ranch and how much I would like to see him up at our place. I think we talked about motorcycles too. Well, that’s how I remember it so I’ll just say that’s just how it was. We would see each other one more time at Merlefest down in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. I would not see him again.
Somehow, I see a point in all this. Why should the death of someone I really barely knew affect me in such a profound emotional way? Last week I got an email from a friend from the American School where I studied back in Manila in 1957. An old friend Donnie C. had just passed away. Donnie was one of the first people who befriended me when our family was posted to the Philippines in 1956. As a Foreign Service brat, those first moments in a new post always seemed life threatening. She made me feel welcome. As time passed we all went our own ways and the last time I saw her was in 1963 at Mills College in the East Bay of San Francisco. I always wondered what happened to her as we sometimes do with old friends we don’t see, but I never followed up on it and life happened between then and now.
Momentary intersections that sparkle like diamonds in the long road of an almost eighty-year-old man. As I write this I am having coffee here at the Fur Peace Ranch in the midst of trying times. We are all surrounded by a world-wide pandemic… WW C as I choose to call it. Regardless of national allegiance or any other artificial boundaries we choose to tribalize ourselves with, we might have come in on different ships, but today we are all in the same boat as they say. With death truly becoming a more than a noticeable part of our daily life how can I pick who to mourn? Well, there are plenty of candidates to pick from so maybe it’s just being touched in a random way by the hand of time… and maybe it’s just bathing in the reality that time is all we have until it’s gone.
The COVID-19 virus is taking so much from all of us, but for us older folks… it’s taking time. It’s putting a full stop to all those things we think we might get to one of these days, calling this person… writing that one… whatever, all those things that might never get done because the universe doesn’t wait for good intentions.
Well… John and Donnie are just two examples for me of this malaise… this inertia. Some things that are put off will always be left undone and that too, is just the way it is.
From Connie Kaldor’s Thin Thread
‘Life is a thin thread
It’s a thin little hand on a hospital bed
It’s all of the things that you’ve left unsaid
Life is a thin thread
Its a fine line between loving and not
Between holding it back or giving all that you’ve got
Feeling you’re free thinking you’re caught
It’s a fine line’
There is still a lot left to do!
Very thoughtful, post, Jorma. Thanks for sharing.
And, looking forward to tomorrow’s performance and thanking you in advance.
@Roberto in Austin
Roberto! The first other Texan who’s identified themselves here. Sounds like we might have rubbed elbows at the Armadillo back in the day. Can you say, “Freddie King!”?
I’m still in denial and trying to come to terms with all that is happening.John was well loved for sure by his audience.I followed him from the early 1970 to the show in 2018 every time he included Austin on his tour.The Armadillo shows were epic and the solo shows at the Paramount downtown were incredible ,he would do 3-4 encores. I had never seen the love and respect his audience showed him at that show in 2018. Also had never seen John lay his guitar down on the stage and cut a jig around it!He was in the groove that show.I have lost track of so many old friends and now wonder who will be around after we get to a safe place again.We are all in our 60’s + .My late father would always tell me during hard times” you gotta roll with the punches boy” that’s what you gotta do.
Roll on!
I just saw a post online of Jeff Tweedy of Wilco on his couch in his pajamas singing this song as a tribute to John Prine. He said that it might be a little inappropriate, but also celebratory. I noticed that even though he was emotional, he had to laugh about half way through.
Please Don’t Bury Me
John Prine
Woke up this morning
Put on my slippers
Walked in the kitchen
And died
And oh, what a feeling!
When my soul
Went through the ceiling
And on up into heaven, I did ride
When I got there, they did say
John, it happened this way
You slipped upon the floor
And hit your head
And all the angels say
Just before you passed away
That these were the very last words
That you said
Please don’t bury me
Down in that cold, cold ground
No, I’d rather have ’em cut me up
And pass me all around
Throw my brain in a hurricane
And the blind can have my eyes
And the deaf can take both of my ears
If they don’t mind the size
Give my stomach to Milwaukee
If they run out of beer
Put my socks in a cedar box
Just to get ’em out of here
Venus De Milo can have my arms
Look out! I’ve got your nose
Sell my heart to the junk man
And give my love to Rose
But please don’t bury me
Down in that cold, cold ground
I’d rather have ’em cut me up
And pass me all around
Throw my brain in a hurricane
The blind can have my eyes
And the deaf can take both of my ears
If they don’t mind the size, oh man!
Give my feet to the footloose
Careless, fancy free
And give my knees to the needy
Don’t pull that stuff on me
Hand me down my walking cane
It’s a sin to tell a lie
Send my mouth way down south
And kiss my ass goodbye
But, please don’t bury me
Down in that cold, cold ground
I’d rather have ’em cut me up
And pass me all around
Throw my brain in a hurricane
And the blind can have my eyes
And the deaf can take both of my ears
If they don’t mind the size, that’s right
Very touching words, Jorma. Thank you for sharing them. For whatever reason, John Prine’s passing hit me on a profound level even though I never got to see him perform in the flesh. He never seemed like a “star” to me but an Everyman poet whose words could cut to the heart of a matter, whether humorous or serious, with succinctness but always steeped in a deep sense of humanity. I wanted to thank you for streaming your performance last week and I look forward to joining you again on Saturday. I did want to put in a request, if you’re taking any for “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning” and if you decide to tell any stories, I’d love to to hear one dealing with the Coffee House days that preceded the whole R&R thing. The first live music performances I ever saw were at the Ash Grove in West LA when I was about 15. Those shows left a very deep impression on me. Doc Watson, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, Jack Elliott, Merle Travis, Lightnin’ Hopkins and others. That world feels long gone and never to return but it left its mark on me. Blessings, good health, and Love to you and Vanessa. Peace, out.
Jorma, I ran into you in the parking lot at the bike shop in Athens a couple of years ago; I said hello and told you that I caught you on TV the other night and you asked me what it was, I said it was some sort of tribute for Levon Helm, you lit up and said “I shared a dressing room with John Prine that night!”. I could tell right then how much he meant to you. He was a one of a kind.
He was indeed…
It’s freezing here today, bur I’ve gotten two good rides in this week. It’s the little things sometimes… stay well!
John’s death has hit the music community here in Oak Grove pretty hard. Your question “Why should the death of someone I really barely knew affect me in such a profound emotional way?” is one I asked myself when Jerry Garcia died. Again when Hunter died and again day before yesterday. It points to the power of music. I dusted off Souvenirs which I used to perform a lot back in the day. It seems fitting. This passover is a particularly poignant one given what’s happening.
Have a great vitamin protocol to improve your immune system. Take heavy doses of vitamin C, vitamin D3 and Chaga mushrooms everyday. Chaga grows at the base of white birch trees. I get my Chaga from Birch Boys in the Adirondacks. Stay calm.
A John Prine video treat awaits anyone interested with time on their hands. The movie, “Daddy and Them” features Prine in a priceless gem of a character role he pulls off with aplomb. It’s a Billy Bob movie from back a few years, but Prine shines.
from a post I saw about John Prines wit…”…and when you hear a lyric like “Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down…and won,’ how can you not smile
I thought it was so cool that you actually spent a little time with Prine.
“It Don”t Make No Sense That. Common Sense Don’t Make No Sense No More”. John Prince R.I.P.
Agh man……..I just loved John Prines songs……guys like him made me think and wonder how they could have such deep insight into the human experience…….. “Say Hello In There …….” I tried my best to live my life as best I could by that song “ He will be missed …..
We just finished our on line Seder ..Strange not being with my family..As my brother was reciting the 10 plagues he added one to the list..Our modern plague Corona..May it be gone soon so we can all get together Right Down Here or anywhere..
May John rest in peace…Never saw him but always liked his music..
I got turned on to the music of John Prine during my high school days in the late 70’s in Cleveland. I’m pretty sure Sam Stone and Illegal Smile were my intros to his great work. I only got to see him live in concert one time in the early 80’s at the old Front Row Theater (a theater in the round that held maybe 1,500 people. I’m sure Hurl remembers it). Arlo Guthrie was the opener. What an incredible night of stories and music! While all of JP’s albums are awesome, two of my favorites are “Jesus..The Missing Years” and “Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings.” It’s certainly a big ol’ goofy world right now but we are all truly blessed to have JP’s music and spirit carry on.
Love him madly.
@Mike Anderson
Yep, but then he could follow with Illegal Smile and we’re back laughing, just like that. I’ll miss his impish grin.
Thanks Jorma, hard to grasp to breadth what’s going on and reading your posts help –
I was turned in to Jorma and John by the same person while in the Navy, 1974, I’ve seen Jorma perform many time and in several different variations, unfortunately I was only able to see John once. In 1974 Sam Stone brought tears to my eyes.
Very moving, Jorma… R.I.P. John Prine.
RIP John Prine. Your songs and performances have always made me feel a bit like slowing down, be more human and share some kindness. Jorma, thanks for sharing and putting it all out there- peace.
Your point about taking time away is a very cogent one. If you are say 21-35 you say well we’ve got plenty more, but for others like myself{and many others} and you Jorma, time is calculated with more care and notice.
This whole thing has created a sort of suspended animation, a Twilight Zone parallel universe where are daily lives seem to be very much the same, yet the outside world intrudes daily with talk of loss and other serious news.
For me this is very ad-hoc on a day to day basis, as i am guessing it is for others. And the mourning is somehow different as well-with so many dying daily, yet some we truly know or admire the mourning seems somehow not enough.