Remembering John Prine

With vaccinations in full force, we appear to be in the last stretch of the painful COVID-19 era. It has been just over a year since we began gradually shutting down and going into relative hibernation. This week, we will pass the anniversary of one of COVID’s first household-name victims. John Prine, the legendary country and folk singer-songwriter, left us on April 7th of last year, passing away from complications due to the rapidly spreading virus. As we approach the anniversary of his death, it is a great time to revisit both his work and the work of those he influenced.

Prine’s final album, The Tree of Forgiveness, released in 2018, is a bittersweet, unintended goodbye. His cozy, gravelly voice is like comfort food, and the album is pure, classic Prine through and through. Even with an abundance of guest vocalists and co-writers lending their talents, Prine’s style remains unadulterated. This album captures American life in all of its warmth and silliness, but also its sadness and melancholy. Consider the closer “When I Get to Heaven,” which confronts death by facing it square in the face with a touch of humor: 'When I get to heaven, I’m gonna shake God’s hand, thank Him for more blessings than one man can stand…And then I’m gonna get a cocktail, vodka, and ginger ale. Yeah, I’m gonna smoke a cigarette that’s nine miles long…This old man is going to town.'

It’s hard not to tear up, this being Prine’s final studio song before his death a few years later, but the music is upbeat, cheerful, and unafraid. Perhaps asking for John to Rest in Peace is an inappropriate sentiment. Based on this song, let’s hope he’s Rock’n’Rollin’ in Peace.

In a recent release, alternative rocker Kurt Vile’s Speed, Sound, Lonely KV (ep) offers a great way to mourn the loss of John Prine while celebrating his influence. Featuring a mix of acoustic covers and original tracks, including “How Lucky,” a posthumously released duet with Prine, this short album captures the lyrical gentleness of Vile’s late mentor. He updates it ever-so-slightly for alternative music ears.

Vile’s annunciation is what I love most about his singing style, with almost every line of his verses ending on a down note. It’s like a teaspoonful of punk to spike an otherwise classic folk recipe. Though this is not a full-blown tribute album to Prine, his spirit shines through the whole thing. Listen to Vile’s lyrics on “Dandelions," one of the album’s original tracks, 'I like the feeling of being sentimental and also a little mental. I don’t mind crying, but I prefer them being tears of joy over rage. Anything over rage… and anything over age, I’m over that.'

There’s a sincerity here that would likely make Prine smile if, of course, he finds the time to listen between his nine-mile cigarettes.

Both records are available on Spotify and in music stores. Enjoy, and continue to be safe as we emerge from the wreckage of COVID-19.