A collection of memories, stories, and tributes from some of his closest friends and collaborators.
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WhenJohn Prinelost his life to complications from COVID-19 on April 7, he went quickly almost overnight.
Still, it was hope; eight days later, though,he was gone.
For five decades, Prine was a songwriters songwriter who never lost touch with the common man.
I dont think Ill ever forget it.
He had that compassionate matter-of-factness to him, and it came so naturally to him.
Its a quality that is so rare now.
I sat there watching him that night with tears streaming down my face.
It was an odd conglomeration of people.
That year, we gave the award to Prine and Tom Waits in Boston at the Kennedy Library.
Man, it was such a moment.
I just locked eyes with him the whole time I was singing.
He had the ability to be vulnerable and unsentimental at the same time.
He was so beautiful in that way.
A lot of people just arent that nice.
There were no walls with John; he brought me right in.
Anytime Id see him, Id give him a hug and just start talking.
There was no ego and no bullshit.
He never regarded himself as someone that was better, or on a different level.
Thats what endeared him to so many of us.
I basically learned how to play acoustic guitar and write songs by listening to John.
He welcomed each guest to the stage, and shared that moment with them.
Kurt Vile:I opened for John in Philly, and sat in with him on multiple shows.
Ive gone to a lot of his concerts and hung backstage.
He dedicated a song to me in Newark.
Every time Id go to Nashville, it always revolved around Prine.
I was there to see John on his 70th birthday at the Ryman.
Id get starstruck and kinda awkward around John.
I couldnt hear any of it, because my brain was flying.
I was so nervous, but everything he said hit me later.
That was really wild, and it meant a lot to me.
Ive met various idols, but John was the most down-to-earth.
Prines dad was a factory guy, so they had that salt-of-the-earth connection.
He could be psychedelic, but there was always a direct, blue-collar mentality behind it.
Im able to hear everything he said now.
Id been working on Drunken Angel forever and I was struggling with it.
We stayed up until the sun came up drinking, talking, and joking.
John did come up with some great lines … for a John Prine song.
But not for a Lucinda Williams song, and it made me realize that hes his own writer.
Im my own writer.
By the time we finally finished decorating the office, it looked like John Prine Disneyland.
He said, Its like my imagination just exploded all over!
Christmas for John started in June.
Hed start singing Christmas songs then.
He loved the gift-giving, and never expected presents back.
But man, he loved giving them.
He was writing and wanted to make another Christmas record.
As much as John loved Christmas, we think it was a sign from him.
He was like the living embodiment of Santa Claus this jolly soul that loved to give.
He always treated people kindly and lovingly.
Hed always give money to homeless people.
He always said that hed rather eat a hot dog than write a song.
Songwriting was work, but being a kind soul just came naturally.
John and Johnny
Rosanne Cash:There was a mutual appreciation between my dad and Prine.
John had been a fan since his youth, and always had Johnny Cash records.
My dad instantly recognized what a tremendous songwriter John was, but I never saw John get starstruck.
It wasnt about that it was about artistry.
I think I was one of the few people that would always laugh at his jokes.
Hed call to tell me silly stories, or about some car that he found on eBay.
He was so excited about that.
John hated doing interviews, and it was like pulling teeth to get him to do them.
John could be a pretty shy guy.
Hed withhold at first, and have a go at figure you out.
If you were open to it, then you got to experience the magic of John.
He said, Werent you worried being out there alone in the middle of nowhere?
I told him I had a dog and a sawed-off shotgun for protection.
He turned to me and said, Livin in a wigwam?!
Whoareyou, Margo Price?
I started laughing so hard I almost cried.
Always meant to put that into a song somehow but at least it lives on in my memory.
I was like, If Johns doing it, were totally doing it.
We all left the Fest together, and went out for a drink.
It was one of those nights where I wish I had a tape recorder.
I really discovered him in my mid-20s, when I got a greatest-hits LP.
I remember being pretty stoned when Sam Stone and Hello in There hit me really hard out the gate.
I kept leaving wherever I was to come home and listen to them, in my own tripped-out world.
But on every record, there were songs that really broke my heart.
I immediately fell in love.
It was so friendly and goofy, with no pretension.
You just kinda liked him immediately.
We sat there listening to it in bed.
She knew it obviously, and it was one of her favorite records.
I just laid there in awe its a perfect record.
