A necessary telling by a humane, humorous, empathetic singer-songwriter. The visuals will hit as intended, pure sadness. If your heart doesn’t open to the opiate epidemic and its aftermath, please come see me for a full class of compassion-inducing meditation sessions.

John Prine was an American icon who shared essence  via the populist chain of connective tissue with Samuel Clemmons-see Mark Twain. Samuel Clemmons was a chronicler of wisdom, delivered wisely and concisely with humor.  John Prine is ready to deliver a song with deceptively simple rhyming sequences, abundant with b’rer Rabbit’s sneaky wisdom.

 

 

 

 

The Tree of Forgiveness”http://smarturl.it/treeofforgiveness
For Help Call: SAMHSA (Addiction Hotline) – 800-662-4357
http://www.MusiCares.org –  Helps those in the music community

Video Directed By Kerrin Sheldon and Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Song Produced by Dave Cobb

Backing Vocals: Brandi Carlile
Courtesy of: Low Country Sound

REQUISITE MEDIA, LLC CREDITS:

Starring: Doy Russell, Emily Bignall, Carrie Bignall,
Directors: Kerrin Sheldon and Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Director of Photography: Kerrin Sheldon
Assistant Camera: Mark Eric Trent
Producers: Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Kerrin Sheldon, Kyle Sheldon, Jeromy Rose.

In the short clip, you will see Prine playing the guitar as he watches a little girl raised by his grandfather after her mother’s death. Though the cause of her mother’s death was never clearly depicted in the video, it was hinted at during a quick shot of television news reporting on the opioid crisis in the United States.

McMillion Sheldon got her grandfather to play the character in the music video. At the same time, her mother discovered the young actress – the then five-year-old Emily Bignall – in a Sunday school class. They filmed the short clip in West Virginia, which in 2018 was reported to have the highest rate of deaths from opioid-involved overdose.

The couple has also revealed that it was Prine’s idea to tell the story of addiction from a child’s point of view. “One of the things that John Prine had mentioned to us early on was that he had just seen the Mr. Rogers documentary and was inspired by the idea of seeing life through a kid’s eyes, so that sort of sparked the idea of seeing what a kid goes through,” McMillion Sheldon said.

The music video for “Summer’s End” was dedicated to Max Barry, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s son. Max died of an overdose in 2017, where Prine performed during his memorial service – the singer was longtime friends with the Barry family. Max was only twenty-two.

“I think for many John Prine fans, us included, the opioid crisis is in our backyard. John’s recognition of this issue means something to his fans,” McMillion Sheldon added. (1)

 

(1) John Prine Tells a Heartbreaking Story In His Standout Track, “Summer’s End”

Harris Uncle Remus 1895 Nbrer rabbit and Brer Foz Pen and Ink by Arthur Burdett Frost

John Prine and Bonnie Raitt-“Angel from Montgomery” duet.

A classic duet, written by Bonnie, between two old friends and touring musical companions. This last performance, at the 18th Americana Annual Honors, is beautiful to watch. We have included an early version, audio-only for comparison.

Angel from Montgomery
Bonnie Raitt

I am an old woman
Named after my mother
My old man is another
A child who’s grown old
If dreams were thunder
And lightning was desire
This old house would’ve burned down
A long time ago
Make me an angel
That flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster
Of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin’
Is just a hard way to go
When I was a young girl
I had me a cowboy
He wasn’t much to look at
Just a free ramblin’ man
That was a long time
And no matter how I tried
Those years just flown by
Like a broken down dam
Make me an angel
That flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster
Of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
That I can hold on to
To believe in this livin’
Is just a hard way to go
And there’s flies in the kitchen
I can hear all their buzzin’
And…

Source: LyricFind

Heard the very sad news of John Prine’s passing on the way home this morning from the recycling center. John Prine, who Chronicled the Human Condition in Song, Dies at 73 (April 7, 2020). Mr. Prine, cancer survivor 2 times, succumbed to complications from COVID 19. We are all indebted to John Prine for his creative output and humane humanity. Here is a not before seen performance of “That’s the way the world turns round”

Please enjoy this special duet Stephen Colbert calls “one of the happiest moments I’ve had on my show.” Filmed at the Ed Sullivan Theater in 2016 but never aired on The Late Show, this performance features John Prine on guitar, sharing vocals with a very grateful Stephen Colbert on a song called “That’s the Way the World goes Round.”

 

The first time I gave John Prine a serious listen was his album, the Missing Years. No coincidence that the Missing Years of you know who was the Genesis (pun intended) of my spiritual inquiry. John has been described as a master songwriter. I believe he is so much more, and this song exemplifies his talent for capturing the American spirit in song.

Paul Langan

 

 

 

 

Deep within the sadness of John Prine’s passing, we combed youtube to discover this tribute,

The last song recorded by John Prine co-authored with long time collaborator John McLaughlin.  Listen with your beloved as this one will hit you especially hard in the longing of your romantic heart. 

John Prine – “I Remember Everything”

The last recorded song by John Prine. Written by Prine and his longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin.  

 

Lyrics:

She don’t like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin’ her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She’s my baby I’m her honey
I’m never gonna let her go
He ain’t got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin’ my undies
He ain’t too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it’s oxygen
He’s my baby
And I’m his honey
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We’ll end up a’sittin’ on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we’re the big door prize
We’re gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won’t be nothin’ but big old hearts
Dancin’ in our eyes.
She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She takes a lickin’
And keeps on tickin’
I’m never gonna let her go.
He’s got more balls than a big brass monkey
He’s a whacked out weirdo and a lovebug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he’s howlin’ at the moon
He’s my baby I don’t mean maybe
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We’ll end up a sittin’ on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we’re the big door prize
We’re gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won’t be nothin’ but big old hearts
Dancin’ in our eyes.
There won’t be nothin’ but big old hearts
Dancin’ in our eyes.
(Spoken) In spite of ourselves
Music
SONG
John Prine – Live From Sessions At West 54th DVD Source
LICENSES
BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., and 8 Music Rights Societies