Prine Numbers

John Prine
Album: John Prine
Sam Stone

The Regina Folk Festival, awesome without fail, is a mere 10 weeks away.  I'm not quite as excited about this year's lineup -- there's no Iron and Wine-like "would give my left testicle to see them" band on the docket -- but it definitely has its high points.

We lived in Victoria for five years in the mid- to late-90s.  One of the couples we befriended had a little girl, Beth, 6-ish, blonde hair, blue eyes, dimples, cute as a button.  One day our friends hosted a dinner party, to which several of their relatives were invited.  Beth looked a pretty picture in her floral print dress reserved for just those sorts of occasions, clutching a favorite doll, hair specially washed and combed.  She was doted upon accordingly.  After supper, the cute little moppet's grandma -- as grandmas are wont to do -- asked for a song.  Beth looked down.  I don't wanna.  Grandma insisted.  Any song will do.  Beth chewed her lip for a moment, then looked up and smiled.  I know one song.  Well, let's hear it!  And the little girl, all sugar and spice, everything nice, chimed in her delicate quavering soprano: "There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes / Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose."

Dunno if Grandma liked it or not.*

John Prine, country folk legend, and the author of said refrain, is a headliner at the 2010 folk festival.  While I'm not his biggest fan, he wrote several songs that still manage to finagle their way onto my mix CDs.  "Sam Stone" is my favorite, and not just cos I get to tell that anecdote when discussing it.  "Sam Stone" is a poignant narrative that seems as relevant today as ever.

From a technical standpoint, listen to the way that Prine sings just fractionally ahead of the beat throughout most of the song, providing a sense of quiet desperation, of inertia, to the simple melody and harmony.  We've talked about the "flow" of a hip-hop MC, the way in which he stretches and shrinks the rhythms within the beats.  Prine provides the folk correlate.  Good stuff.

Incidentally, while our featured track is my favorite, Prine's most famous song is likely "Illegal Smile".  I'm sure that some of you will be able to relate.

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... and won
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
That I was havin' .. no fun

But fortunately I have the key to escape reality

And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun


* Said incident is true, though it reads like a bad joke.