Complete List Of John Prine Songs From A to Z

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Before John Prine became one of America’s most revered songwriters, he carried mail through the western suburbs of Chicago and learned how much drama, humor, and loneliness could hide inside an ordinary day. That everyday point of view never left him: across the 226 album-track entries in this A-to-Z guide, Prine found comedy in disappointment, dignity in solitude, and complete lives inside a few carefully chosen lines.

Complete List Of John Prine Studio Album Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

John Prine grew up in Maywood, Illinois, a working-class suburb of Chicago. His experiences as a mail carrier and his service in the U.S. Army, including time stationed in West Germany, gave him perspectives that later surfaced throughout his sharply observed songwriting.

Prine’s professional career took shape in Chicago’s folk clubs during the late 1960s. He performed at venues including the Fifth Peg and the Earl of Old Town, where fellow songwriter Steve Goodman became one of his earliest champions. Goodman eventually persuaded Kris Kristofferson to hear Prine perform, helping set in motion the events that led to Prine’s recording contract with Atlantic Records.

His self-titled 1971 debut immediately established the qualities that would define his work. “Angel from Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Paradise,” “Hello in There,” and “Illegal Smile” revealed a writer who could address aging, war, environmental destruction, loneliness, and absurdity without losing warmth or conversational ease.

The 18 studio projects represented below trace nearly five decades of recording. Albums including Sweet Revenge (1973), Bruised Orange (1978), The Missing Years (1991), In Spite of Ourselves (1999), Fair & Square (2005), and The Tree of Forgiveness (2018) demonstrate how consistently Prine balanced sorrow with humor and plainspoken language with unexpected imagery.

Prine’s songs also traveled widely through other voices. Bonnie Raitt’s interpretation of “Angel from Montgomery” became one of the best-known recordings of his work, while artists across folk, country, rock, and Americana repeatedly returned to songs including “Paradise,” “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There,” and “That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round.”

His honors included four competitive Grammy Awards. The Missing Years and Fair & Square won Best Contemporary Folk Album, while “I Remember Everything” received posthumous Grammys for Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song in 2021. The Recording Academy also presented Prine with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

Prine protected his creative independence by co-founding Oh Boy Records with his manager, Al Bunetta, in 1981. The artist-run label became the home of much of his later catalog and created a lasting model for musicians seeking greater control over their work.

What made Prine exceptional was not simply his subject matter but the compassion and precision with which he approached it. He could move from satire to grief within a verse, write convincingly from another person’s point of view, and make a strange detail feel more truthful than a broad declaration.

John Prine died on April 7, 2020, at age 73 from complications of COVID-19. The response from musicians and listeners across generations reflected the uncommon place his songs had earned: intimate enough to feel privately owned, yet universal enough to be passed from one singer and one family to another.

This catalog is organized as an album-track guide rather than a list of unique compositions. It preserves separate studio versions when Prine rerecorded a song for another album, particularly the 15 newly recorded performances on Souvenirs. It does not include every live recording, compilation appearance, guest performance, posthumous archival release, or standalone single.

Complete List Of John Prine Studio Album Songs From A to Z

A–E

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)

F–J

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)

K–O

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)

P–T

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)

U–Z

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)