~ You been on my mind so long you must livin' up there. - John Prine ~
...'bout sums it up with me re JP.
Several years ago saw an Austin City Limits or Soundstage featuring him. Basically cheatin' songs....
It featured one he wrote called "In Spite of Ourselves" with Iris Dement (see below). Alternately hilarious and poignant...and wonderful music.
Equally enjoyable were his comments. Said he sent a demo to Iris of the song....and when she didn't reply...called her. Said he was really nervous and told her..."I know some of the lyrics are kinda questionable...but I really want to sing it with you". She said, "yeah, you probably couldn't get no-one else to do it (John smirks)...but she agrees.
And boy did she....after exiting the stage, John says..."I love me some Iris Dement"...me too!
And his sideman...Jason Wilber...that boy's gonna be a star!
You won't hear genius lyrics like this from anyone else....
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 wacked out werido 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
Best,
Jon