When I Get to Heaven (John Prine)

The family of John Prine says that the legendary singer-songwriter has been hospitalized since Thursday after a "sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms." 

According to the family's statement, Prine, 73, was intubated on Saturday, "and continues to receive care, but his situation is critical."

"This is hard news for us to share. But so many of you have loved and supported John over the years, we wanted to let you know, and give you the chance to send on more of that love and support now. And know that we love you, and John loves you."


My friend/college roommate Linda texted me a few hours ago with the news.  We had just seen him together this past MLK weekend at the 30A Songwriter Festival in Santa Rosa Beach FL.  My friend Fred texted me shortly thereafter.  I had no idea until then.  I am distraught, and every f*cking purple candle in my house is ablaze. Please god let JP be okay and, if not, let him go smoothly and peacefully "into that good night".

My one-time next door neighbor and longtime dear buddy Dan gave me the eponymous John Prine album when it was first released, in 1972, on vinyl of course.  I played the h*ll out of that disc.  Side A, Side B, lather, rinse, repeat.  I knew every word to every song.  I still own his entire catalog on vinyl, even though we've loaned our turntable out to our sons. I have seen him live a double-handful of times.  Such a brilliant lyricist.  Inspired by the 6+ minute video below, here are some of my favorites: 

Well, a question ain't really a question
If you know the answer too. 
~ Far From Me

A bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... 
and won 
~ Illegal Smile

Some cowboy from Texas
Starts his own war in Iraq 
~ Some Humans Ain't Human

wondering how a man could send a child actor
to visit in the land of the wind chill factor. 
~ Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone

And all the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen. 
~ Hello in There

Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for 
~ Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore

I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve
~ Spanish Pipedream

The cannibals can catch me and fry me in a pan
Long as I got my woman 
~ Aw Heck

Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios. 
~ Sam Stone

I could go on...  :-)


In this short film, Prine spends a typical afternoon driving around Nashville while talking about his journey from midwestern mailman to career songwriter. He plays an emotional version of “Summer’s End,” from The Tree of Forgiveness, his first album in 13 years, while fans including Dan Auerbach, Rosanne Cash and Todd Snider share their favorite Prine lyrics.

And this New Yorker Tree of Forgiveness review



SONG:  When I Get to Heaven by John Prine

BOOK:  John Prine:  Beyond Words by John Prine

POEM:  Wanting Sumptuous Heavens by Robert Bly

No one grumbles among the oyster clans,
And lobsters play their bone guitars all summer.
Only we, with our opposable thumbs, want
Heaven to be, and God to come, again.
There is no end to our grumbling; we want
Comfortable earth and sumptuous Heaven.
But the heron standing on one leg in the bog
Drinks his dark rum all day, and is content.

QUOTE:  "The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake." ~ Kurt Vonnegut

These Four Walls (Shawn Colvin)

Thanks so much to Melanie for passing on this video - how perfectly-timed for Thanksgiving!

My postings will be sporadic over the next five days - my son Eric came home from college tonight (instead of tomorrow when I expected him!)... tomorrow will be housecleaning/prep day, Thursday is obvious (we'll have 8 here for dinner)... and there are plans for Friday and Saturday as well. Lots of family, food and festivity - bring it on... :-)

P.S. SMM...

SONG: These Four Walls by Shawn Colvin

BOOK: Wisdom: 50 Unique and Original Portraits by Andrew Zuckerman

POEM: What's In The Temple? by Tom Barrett

In the quiet spaces of my mind a thought lies still, but ready to

spring.

It begs me to open the door so it can walk about.

The poets speak in obscure terms pointing madly at the unsayable.

The sages say nothing, but walk ahead patting their thigh calling for

us to follow.

The monk sits pen in hand poised to explain the cloud of unknowing.

The seeker seeks, just around the corner from the truth.

If she stands still it will catch up with her.

Pause with us here a while.

Put your ear to the wall of your heart.

Listen for the whisper of knowing there.

Love will touch you if you are very still.

If I say the word God, people run away.

They've been frightened--sat on 'till the spirit cried "uncle."

Now they play hide and seek with somebody they can't name.

They know he's out there looking for them, and they want to be

found,

But there is all this stuff in the way.

I can't talk about God and make any sense,

And I can't not talk about God and make any sense.

So we talk about the weather, and we are talking about God.

I miss the old temples where you could hang out with God.

Still, we have pet pounds where you can feel love draped in warm

fur,

And sense the whole tragedy of life and death.

You see there the consequences of carelessness,

And you feel there the yapping urgency of life that wants to be lived.

The only things lacking are the frankincense and myrrh.

We don't build many temples anymore.

Maybe we learned that the sacred can't be contained.

Or maybe it can't be sustained inside a building.

Buildings crumble.

It's the spirit that lives on.

If you had a temple in the secret spaces of your heart,

What would you worship there?

What would you bring to sacrifice?

What would be behind the curtain in the holy of holies?

Go there now.

QUOTE: "As we practice forgiveness we discover more and more that forgiveness and healing are one." ~ Agnes Sanford

The Heart of the Matter (Don Henley)

SONG: The Heart of the Matter by Don Henley

BOOK: Forgive To Live Devotional: 56 Spiritual Insights on Forgiveness that Could Save Your Life! by Dr. Dick Tibbits

POEM: Forgiveness by Terence Winch

Father Cahir kept us holy.

He smoked cigars in the confessional.

He had a distracted air about him,

as though he wasn't sure what

he was supposed to do next.

I don't remember what he taught.

History, probably. It was his

liberal attitude as a confessor

that made him a legend.

No matter what you confessed to,

he always barked out the same penance:

"Three Hail Marys and a Good Act

of Contrition. Next!" So we tested

this leniency, confessing

to rape, murder, burglary.

Cahir paid no attention.

He knew we were a bunch

of high school punks.

Puffing his cigar,

he'd issue his standard

penance and absolve all sins,

real or imagined,

with godlike aloofness,

his vast indifference to

or total acceptance of the darkness

within the human soul

exactly how I hope the deity

regards us. Take forgiveness

any way you can get it.

QUOTE: "Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves." ~ Sidney and Suzanne Simon