Complete List Of John Prine Songs From A to Z

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John Prine’s music spoke truth in a language everyone understood, blending humor, heartbreak, and humanity into stories that resonated deeply. His roots were planted in Maywood, Illinois, a blue-collar suburb of Chicago, where he grew up absorbing the rhythms of everyday life that would later color his songwriting. His early experiences as a mail carrier and his service in the U.S. Army stationed in West Germany gave him perspectives that vividly surfaced in his poignant lyrics.

Prine’s professional music journey took flight in the late 1960s on Chicago’s bustling folk scene. He began performing at clubs like the Fifth Peg and Earl of Old Town, catching the ear of fellow musicians like Steve Goodman. It was Goodman who brought Kris Kristofferson to hear Prine perform, an encounter pivotal enough to propel him into a record deal. His 1971 debut album, simply titled John Prine, quickly became a landmark in the singer-songwriter movement. Songs like “Angel from Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” and “Paradise” established him as a voice capable of turning everyday struggles and joys into profound lyrical snapshots.

Throughout a prolific career spanning nearly five decades, John Prine released eighteen studio albums, each showcasing his uncanny ability to balance humor and sorrow effortlessly. Albums such as Sweet Revenge (1973), Bruised Orange (1978), and The Missing Years (1991), the latter of which featured guest contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bonnie Raitt, demonstrated his remarkable talent for storytelling. Notable hits including “Illegal Smile,” “Dear Abby,” and “In Spite of Ourselves” highlighted Prine’s distinctive wit and poignant observation.

Prine’s songs often achieved acclaim through covers by other prominent artists. Bonnie Raitt’s heartfelt rendition of “Angel from Montgomery” became widely celebrated, significantly expanding Prine’s influence beyond his core fanbase. Similarly, Johnny Cash’s recording of “Sam Stone,” a devastating narrative of a Vietnam veteran struggling with addiction, further reinforced Prine’s profound impact as a songwriter whose works addressed complex societal issues with clarity and compassion.

Recognition for John Prine’s artistry came in numerous prestigious forms. He received four Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary Folk Album for The Missing Years and Fair & Square, the latter also earning him widespread critical acclaim. In 2020, he was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, underscoring the enduring significance of his contributions to music. Prine’s accolades reflect more than his musical accomplishments—they celebrate his authentic voice and the genuine connection he maintained with audiences over generations.

One of the most profound reasons Prine resonated with listeners and fellow musicians alike was his authentic voice—both literal and figurative. He wrote with disarming simplicity yet profound depth, effortlessly moving between biting satire and gentle empathy. His ability to capture human experience in all its complexity made him beloved within the industry, admired equally by legends like Bob Dylan and emerging songwriters who viewed Prine as a foundational influence.

Beyond the stage and studio, Prine established his own independent label, Oh Boy Records, in 1981, becoming one of the earliest musicians to embrace artist-run enterprises. This label enabled him creative freedom while also providing opportunities for other artists, notably enhancing his legacy as both an innovator and supporter of independent music. His dedication to artistic integrity and self-sufficiency was an inspiration, setting a model for how artists could control their careers without major label interference.

Throughout his life, Prine was committed to charitable causes, notably supporting veterans’ organizations, health care initiatives, and environmental efforts. His generosity extended beyond music, reflecting the same compassion evident in his songwriting. His work often raised awareness for social and political issues subtly embedded within the narratives of his songs, revealing his belief that music could serve as a powerful medium for change.

John Prine’s life was cut short in April 2020 due to complications from COVID-19, a loss mourned deeply throughout the musical community and beyond. Tributes poured in from artists spanning genres and generations, reflecting the widespread admiration for a man whose simple wisdom and heartfelt humor touched countless lives. John Prine’s legacy endures through his timeless music—songs filled with truth, compassion, and a gentle reminder of the beauty found in everyday life.

Complete List Of John Prine Songs From A to Z

The Accident (Things Could Be Worse) – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Aimless Love – Aimless Love – 1984
Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
All Night Blue – Storm Windows – 1980
All the Best – The Missing Years – 1991
All the Best – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
All the Way With You – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
Angel from Montgomery – John Prine – 1971
Angel from Montgomery – Souvenirs – 2000
Automobile – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Aw Heck – Bruised Orange – 1978
Baby Let’s Play House – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Baby Ruth – Storm Windows – 1980
Back Street Affair – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Bad Boy – German Afternoons – 1986
Bear Creek Blues – Fair & Square – 2005
Be My Friend Tonight – Aimless Love – 1984
Big Fat Love – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
Billy the Bum – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Blue Eyed Elaine – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Blue Side of Lonesome – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Blue Umbrella – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Blue Umbrella – Souvenirs – 2000
The Bottomless Lake – Aimless Love – 1984
Boundless Love – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow) – Bruised Orange – 1978
Caravan of Fools – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
Carousel of Love – Fair & Square – 2005
Chinatown – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Christmas in Prison – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Christmas in Prison – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
Christmas in Prison – Souvenirs – 2000
Clay Pigeons – Fair & Square – 2005
Clocks and Spoons – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Cold War (This Cold War with You) – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Cold, Cold Heart – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Color of the Blues – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard – Common Sense – 1975
Common Sense – Common Sense – 1975
Crazy as a Loon – Fair & Square – 2005
Crooked Piece of Time – Bruised Orange – 1978
Daddy’s Little Pumpkin – The Missing Years – 1991
Day Is Done – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
Dear Abby – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home) – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Death of Floyd Collins – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Diamonds in the Rough – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Donald and Lydia – John Prine – 1971
Donald and Lydia – Souvenirs – 2000
Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Age – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Down By the Side of the Road – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Dreaming My Dreams with You – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Dual Custody – Fair & Square – 2005
Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone) – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
Everybody – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Everybody Wants to Feel Like You – The Missing Years – 1991
Everything Is Cool – The Missing Years – 1991
Everything Is Cool – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
Falling in Love Again – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Far from Me – John Prine – 1971
Far from Me – Souvenirs – 2000
Fifteen Years Ago – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Fish and Whistle – Bruised Orange – 1978
Fish and Whistle – Souvenirs – 2000
Flashback Blues – John Prine – 1971
Forbidden Jimmy – Common Sense – 1975
The Frying Pan – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Glory of True Love – Fair & Square – 2005
God Only Knows – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
A Good Time – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Grandpa Was a Carpenter – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Grandpa Was a Carpenter – Souvenirs – 2000
Great Rain – The Missing Years – 1991
The Great Compromise – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
He Forgot That It Was Sunday – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
He Was in Heaven Before He Died – Common Sense – 1975
Hello in There – Souvenirs – 2000
Hello In There – John Prine – 1971
The Hobo Song – Bruised Orange – 1978
How Lucky – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Humidity Built the Snowman – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
I Forgot to Remember to Forget – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
I Had a Dream – Storm Windows – 1980
I Hate It When That Happens to Me – Fair & Square – 2005
I Have Met My Love Today – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
I Just Want to Dance with You – German Afternoons – 1986
I Know One – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
I Love You Because – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
I Love You So Much It Hurts – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
I’m Tellin’ You – For Better, or Worse – 2016
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
I Want to Be With You Always – The Missing Years – 1991
If She Were You – German Afternoons – 1986
If You Don’t Want My Love – Bruised Orange – 1978
If You Were the Woman and I Was the Man – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
Illegal Smile – John Prine – 1971
In a Town This Size – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
In Spite of Ourselves – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
In the Garden – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Iron Ore Betty – Bruised Orange – 1978
It’s a Big Old Goofy World – The Missing Years – 1991
It’s a Cheating Situation – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
It’s Happening to You – Storm Windows – 1980
Jesus the Missing Years – The Missing Years – 1991
A John Prine Christmas – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
Just the Other Side of Nowhere – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Just Waitin’ – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Just Wanna Be With You – Storm Windows – 1980
Killing the Blues – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Knockin’ on Your Screen Door – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
Lake Marie – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
The Late John Garfield Blues – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
The Late John Garfield Blues – Souvenirs – 2000
Leave the Lights On – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
Let’s Invite Them Over – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian – German Afternoons – 1986
Linda Goes to Mars – German Afternoons – 1986
Living in the Future – Storm Windows – 1980
The Lonesome Friends of Science – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
Long Monday – Fair & Square – 2005
Look at Us – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Loose Talk – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Love, Love, Love – German Afternoons – 1986
Lulu Walls – German Afternoons – 1986
Maureen, Maureen – Aimless Love – 1984
Me, Myself and I – Aimless Love – 1984
Mental Cruelty – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Mexican Home – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Middle Man – Common Sense – 1975
Milwaukee, Here I Come – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
The Moon Is Down – Fair & Square – 2005
Morning Train – Fair & Square – 2005
Mr. & Mrs. Used to Be – For Better, or Worse – 2016
My Darlin’ Hometown – Fair & Square – 2005
My Happiness – For Better, or Worse – 2016
My Own Best Friend – Common Sense – 1975
New Train – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
Nine Pound Hammer – Sweet Revenge – 1973
No Name Girl – Pink Cadillac – 1979
No Ordinary Blue – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
(We’re Not) The Jet Set – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Often is a Word I Seldom Use – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Old Cape Cod – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
The Oldest Baby in the World – Aimless Love – 1984
Old Rugged Cross – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
One Red Rose – Storm Windows – 1980
Onomatopoeia – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Only Love – Aimless Love – 1984
Other Side of Town – Fair & Square – 2005
Out of Love – German Afternoons – 1986
Paradise – John Prine – 1971
Paradise – German Afternoons – 1986
People Puttin’ People Down – Aimless Love – 1984
People Puttin’ People Down – Souvenirs – 2000
Picture Show – The Missing Years – 1991
Pistol Packin’ Mama – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Please Don’t Bury Me – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Please Don’t Bury Me – Souvenirs – 2000
Pretty Good – John Prine – 1971
Quiet Man – John Prine – 1971
Quit Hollerin’ at Me – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
Remember Me (When Candlelights Are Gleaming) – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Rocky Mountain Time – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone – Bruised Orange – 1978
Saddle in the Rain – Common Sense – 1975
Safety Joe – Fair & Square – 2005
Saginaw, Michigan – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Saigon – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Sailin’ Around – German Afternoons – 1986
Sam Stone – John Prine – 1971
Sam Stone – Souvenirs – 2000
Same Thing Happened to Me – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
She Is My Everything – Fair & Square – 2005
Shop Talk – Storm Windows – 1980
Silent Night All Day Long – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
Silver Bells – A John Prine Christmas – 1993
The Sins of Memphisto – The Missing Years – 1991
Six O’Clock News – John Prine – 1971
Six O’Clock News – Souvenirs – 2000
Sleepy Eyed Boy – Storm Windows – 1980
Slow Boat to China – Aimless Love – 1984
So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Some Humans Ain’t Human – Fair & Square – 2005
Somewhere Someone’s Falling in Love – Aimless Love – 1984
Sour Grapes – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Souvenirs – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Souvenirs – Souvenirs – 2000
Spanish Pipedream – John Prine – 1971
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness – German Afternoons – 1986
Storm Windows – Storm Windows – 1980
Storm Windows – Souvenirs – 2000
Storms Never Last – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Summer’s End – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
Sweet Revenge – Sweet Revenge – 1973
Take a Look at My Heart – The Missing Years – 1991
Take the Star Out of the Window – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Taking a Walk – Fair & Square – 2005
That Close to You – Common Sense – 1975
That’s Alright By Me – Fair & Square – 2005
That’s How Every Empire Falls – Fair & Square – 2005
That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round – Bruised Orange – 1978
There She Goes – Bruised Orange – 1978
They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me – German Afternoons – 1986
This Love Is Real – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
‘Til a Tear Becomes a Rose – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
The Torch Singer – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
Ubangi Stomp – Pink Cadillac – 1979
Unlonely – The Missing Years – 1991
Unwed Fathers – Aimless Love – 1984
Way Back Then – The Missing Years – 1991
Way Down – Common Sense – 1975
We Are the Lonely – Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings – 1995
We Could – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Wedding Bells/Let’s Turn Back the Years – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Wedding Day in Funeralville – Common Sense – 1975
When I Get to Heaven – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018
When Two Worlds Collide – In Spite of Ourselves – 1999
Where the Blue of the Night – Standard Songs for Average People – 2007
Who’s Gonna Take the Garbage Out – For Better, or Worse – 2016
Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You – Diamonds in the Rough – 1972
You Got Gold – The Missing Years – 1991
You Never Can Tell – Common Sense – 1975
Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You into Heaven Anymore – John Prine – 1971