OT - RIP John Prine

YukonRon

Many years ago....

I was at UK, and on New Circle Road in Lexington, an Irish pub/bar/grill had John Prine in house. We distilled our own hootch for the weekends, and that is where me and my loser nerd friends would end up.

He played there frequently, it was not an elegant place by any means, if he was not starting out at the time he was there, he had to be, at least ,very early in his career.

We would slip him shots of our chem lab made ethanol and eventually, we had a permanent table reserved up front, whenever he came, and we were lucky enough to see him do his show there. Suddenly we went from the most uncool of all nerds, to just, nerds.

Kentucky fell in love with this man, everybody soon knew John Prine, from Asland in the east to the LBL in the west.

His music, about the recollection of his childhood, which was not long before this time in his career, was captured in a song called; "Paradise" which seemed to speak intimately to Kentuckians, his music spoke to us all.

Strip mining ruined a hills forests and streams in Kentucky, and the story he told in this song, delivered the awareness, but also created much support for the movement to ban that practice of harvesting coal, without reclamation of the land.

I would also say, that music changed many decisions that ultimatelty lead to a stronger and significant environmental stance within our commonwealth.

When I knew him, a biref few drunken evenings over a few semesters in college, I can tell you this, there was not a more kind soul on earth, whose heart beat and passion was in every word he wrote. You would see it in his performance you could feel it. Or maybe it was the moonshine.

He saw struggles, he felt them, his music was the reach for help many grasped and committed to.

Years later, about 10-12 years ago, we met again, both older, time had not been kind to him, and truth be told, not great for me either. He spoke to me like he did then, grateful and genuine. He talked to me like I was somebody. I was nothing more than one of his millions of fans, he has performed for during his career.

I  had to ask if he remembered playing in a pub, in Lexington, Kentucky, 30 years ago. He kind of grimaced in thought then grinned, like he recognized me for a moment. But he didn't. But he did acknowledge Flaherty's by name, and said the folks there during that time were among the most fun he had on stage. He said then, "there will always be a part of me in Kentucky."

Got that going for me, if, of course, he was referring to the nights we were there, but then again, perhaps not. We were nerds, just not a lot of fun.

The bar has long since closed. Bankrupt and shut down. John Prine went from moonshine soaked bar room singer to international acclaim and success, my friends and I went our separate ways with our lives.

However, when news of his passing was shared, it made us all reach out to one another during the days that followed. I thought that was pretty cool.

His family mentioned 1/2 of his ashes will be be placed, "down by the Green River, where Paridise lay."

Very fitting,

In Kentucky, a part of him will always be here.

Lifting a shot glass to you John, thank you from Kentucky.

https://youtu.be/DEy6EuZp9IY

Onions.

I would be remiss if I did not add this man impacted my life, where I dedicated my carreer to trying to minimalize our carbon footprint, and work towards cleaner air.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

RRP said:

Thanks. Trust me I will watch that tribute, but not tonight. 

I bite my lip and try not to tear up when I listen to “Hello in there, hello”. The lyrics may be dated, but to me some one dear to me is slipping away daily so John’s lyrics have taken on a different meaning.

There was a great version of that in the tribute. 

Acn

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

RRP said:

Thanks. Trust me I will watch that tribute, but not tonight. 

I bite my lip and try not to tear up when I listen to “Hello in there, hello”. The lyrics may be dated, but to me some one dear to me is slipping away daily so John’s lyrics have taken on a different meaning.

There was a great version of that in the tribute. 

Jason & Amanda are amazing.

johnmitchell

@YukonRon..cool story😂

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Acn said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

RRP said:

Thanks. Trust me I will watch that tribute, but not tonight. 

I bite my lip and try not to tear up when I listen to “Hello in there, hello”. The lyrics may be dated, but to me some one dear to me is slipping away daily so John’s lyrics have taken on a different meaning.

There was a great version of that in the tribute. 

Jason & Amanda are amazing.

They are and did an awesome job. Bonnie Raitt brought down the house though. I loved Sturgill Simpson too. Really all of it.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

johnmitchell said:

@YukonRon..cool story😂

I really need to drink slushies with @YukonRon. Something tells me he has more...

johnmitchell

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

johnmitchell said:

@YukonRon..cool story😂

I really need to drink slushies with @YukonRon. Something tells me he has more...

He is one awesome dude!!

JethroBodeen

@The Cen-Tex Smoker Thanks for posting, well worth watching and nicely done.

northGAcock

YukonRon said:

Many years ago....

I was at UK, and on New Circle Road in Lexington, an Irish pub/bar/grill had John Prine in house. We distilled our own hootch for the weekends, and that is where me and my loser nerd friends would end up.

He played there frequently, it was not an elegant place by any means, if he was not starting out at the time he was there, he had to be, at least ,very early in his career.

We would slip him shots of our chem lab made ethanol and eventually, we had a permanent table reserved up front, whenever he came, and we were lucky enough to see him do his show there. Suddenly we went from the most uncool of all nerds, to just, nerds.

Kentucky fell in love with this man, everybody soon knew John Prine, from Asland in the east to the LBL in the west.

His music, about the recollection of his childhood, which was not long before this time in his career, was captured in a song called; "Paradise" which seemed to speak intimately to Kentuckians, his music spoke to us all.

Strip mining ruined a hills forests and streams in Kentucky, and the story he told in this song, delivered the awareness, but also created much support for the movement to ban that practice of harvesting coal, without reclamation of the land.

I would also say, that music changed many decisions that ultimatelty lead to a stronger and significant environmental stance within our commonwealth.

When I knew him, a biref few drunken evenings over a few semesters in college, I can tell you this, there was not a more kind soul on earth, whose heart beat and passion was in every word he wrote. You would see it in his performance you could feel it. Or maybe it was the moonshine.

He saw struggles, he felt them, his music was the reach for help many grasped and committed to.

Years later, about 10-12 years ago, we met again, both older, time had not been kind to him, and truth be told, not great for me either. He spoke to me like he did then, grateful and genuine. He talked to me like I was somebody. I was nothing more than one of his millions of fans, he has performed for during his career.

I  had to ask if he remembered playing in a pub, in Lexington, Kentucky, 30 years ago. He kind of grimaced in thought then grinned, like he recognized me for a moment. But he didn't. But he did acknowledge Flaherty's by name, and said the folks there during that time were among the most fun he had on stage. He said then, "there will always be a part of me in Kentucky."

Got that going for me, if, of course, he was referring to the nights we were there, but then again, perhaps not. We were nerds, just not a lot of fun.

The bar has long since closed. Bankrupt and shut down. John Prine went from moonshine soaked bar room singer to international acclaim and success, my friends and I went our separate ways with our lives.

However, when news of his passing was shared, it made us all reach out to one another during the days that followed. I thought that was pretty cool.

His family mentioned 1/2 of his ashes will be be placed, "down by the Green River, where Paridise lay."

Very fitting,

In Kentucky, a part of him will always be here.

Lifting a shot glass to you John, thank you from Kentucky.

https://youtu.be/DEy6EuZp9IY

Onions.

I would be remiss if I did not add this man impacted my life, where I dedicated my carreer to trying to minimalize our carbon footprint, and work towards cleaner air.

Saw him early.....and again late in his carrer. Remains one of my all time favorites. To my buddy Ron....and to John, Cheers.