It’s been a long time since my last entry lamenting the loss of my fellow legislator. These are times of great challenges, tumult and maybe a little self-discovery.
John Prine, the marvelous lyricist a multi-generational singer, maybe folk, maybe a bit of outlaw country died of complications from Covid. If you can’t recollect a Prine song, you’ve heard his songs by others starting in 1971. Search: “John Prine Lyrics” or “MetroLyrics”. Many of his songs became anthems for the plight of humanity.
“Paradise” is a small community of bucolic beauty in Kentucky that was turned into a large surface strip mine, acre by acre taken away by Mr. Peabody’s coal train.
“Sam Stone” is a powerful song recognizing the plight of a returning Vietnam veteran returning from warfare, addicted and suffering the mental wounds of war.
“Hello in There” concerns the loneliness of elderly people:
“Ya’ know old trees just get stronger
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, “Hello in there”
John Prine songs are thoughtful, witty, and critical of social norms. “The Tree of Forgiveness” is Prine’s last album released in 2018. It follows serious health setbacks which likely contributed to a compromised immune system and his take down by Covid.
Prine was an original genus, winning numerous awards and recognized by his peers as second to none. I’m glad he was with with me from last days in high school in Rhode Island to days in the Montana Legislature and all in between. He will live with me.