John Prine with Pat McLaughlin Sept 5, 2003 The Virginia Theatre Champaign, IL

by Reeda Buresh, webmistress of the John Prine Shrine http://www.jpshrine.org

As he fiddles with his guitar fit Prine points out: "I got 7 or 8 emails this week about this song, and then today, I got TWO more, so I guess I better play it. This is for Linda, Happy Birthday Linda." We are gifted to Linda Goes To Mars and he does a little German solo in the middle.(oompah). Immediately after Linda is over, requests are shouted out - and without skipping a beat Prine answers  wide-eyed and animated at the audience: "Oh nooo, you gotta email it!" The laughter subsided to giggles and cheers with Dear Abby, quieted by Donald and Lydia and summed up with It's a Big Old Goofy World. His longest song tonight is That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round  because he tells why he wrote it and then what happened after he'd been singing it. It never fails to make one crack up. His into goes from Hit Parader, Fats Domino and Grumbley Beans to file cabinets, enchiladas and Jimmy Buffet. (please don't write in and ask what Grumbley beans are - even Prine doesn't know - they belong in the misheard lyrics as misheard: grumbley beans - real lyrics: don't forget your promise to me) Tonight proved that it really didn't matter how John sounded, as long as he sounded, we were pleasantly held captive. Prine's  truly man song, The Other side of Town is now his oldest new new tune, about a man who has the ability to travel to other places in his mind while the little woman is nagging him. My body's in this room with you just catchin' hell  While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell As he begins the next song, there is a hush in the theatre and he sings the tragic story of Sam Stone. Jacques and Wilber return to the stage to help finish the song. Then Prine sheds his black jacket, folks, I think we're in for a hot time. John and the boys have really turned this old Carter family tune of Bear Creek Blues into their own. John speaks of when he was young and would take the City of New Orleans home. His brother Dave Prine would be playing for their parents, songs by Mississippi John Hurt, Eliza Cotton and the Carter Family. He was so impressed and wanted to be like that too. They deliver this song with so much energy, one would believe that we're just getting started. I'm making a wish that this will be on the new album too. Newly written song number 3 is not introduced by title so we'll label it That's all Right By Me (Fiona's song) he and Phillip Donnelly composed it with John's wife in mind and John only hopes that Phillip was thinking of someone else. You been gone about a week or so  But you'll be coming home to me I know  Your love always sets me free girl  That's all right by me Well, you'll just have to buy the album. back - next