TROUT AND JOHN PRINE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY

  I was lucky enough to see John at his first appearance on The Grand Ole Opry. John had Marty Stuart and Jason with him and sang Paradise.  He looked healthy and did a great job on the song... seemed a little nervous, but did a fine job. I managed to get a couple of pictures and should have them back in a couple of days. If they turn out... I'll let you know, and if you are interested... maybe I can send you a copy or two. Here's a link to an article in Billboard that has a short mention of the upcoming film. http://www.billboard.com/daily/1999/0315_04.html 

John looked good... and I noticed that he never smoked a cigarette during the soundcheck, show, or afterward.. that I saw...Since the cancer has already been present.. stopping smoking may not help that... but he will certainly feel better.. and it will help in other ways.. (This from a guy that smoked 3 packs a day for several years and quit)

I think Bonnie Raitt said it best in an interview with Rolling Stone in 1992.  "What makes John's songs so special is that there's no separating who he is from his music - you just love him."  "He's a true folk singer in the best tradition, cutting right to the heart of things, as pure and simple as rain."

One of the things that has always fascinated me about Prine's lyrics.. You can be laughing about a lyric in a song.. and then the very next lyric will make you "shake your head and wonder".. the next line brings the "I've been there" feeling and a sad smile... All of this in a few lines of ONE song.. and in one way or another, most of them do it...

©Richard Weintraut