Huge John Prine fan here. Been to his shows all over the east coast. My favorite story about his songs is when my daughter was three years old we were riding home from daycare listening to John Prine in the car. Donald and Lydia was playing when we got home. I shut the car off and came around to get her out and I hear her singing in her little girl voice “And dreaming just comes natural like the first breath of a baby”. I think that is my favorite song now.
I’m one of the millions of people who met John Prine and he instantly made me feel like I was an old buddy he just hadnt seen for a while. I asked him “John, you’ve travelled the whole world making music for 50 years. I barely have travelled outside the US. If I have a month to travel and money is no object, where should I go?” John’s face lit up! “Man!! Thats a great question! Nobody has ever asked me that!” He said he didnt want to just answer that without really thinking about it and asked if I would hang out for a while and he’d come back once he felt he had really thought about it and had an honest answer for me. He came back later and said “Mike, I’ve got it - You go to Donegal, in Ireland. I want you to start working your way down the West Coast of Ireland. Dont make any plans. Just go where your heart tells you. Gradually work your way down the coast until you get to Cork and Mike, I promise you, you’ll be a different man when you get to Cork than you were when you left Donegal.”
Life’s challenges and commitments have not allowed me to make that trip yet, but I promise one and all I am working to make it happen!
Oh… Otis Gibbs YouTube channel has tons of great John Prine stories in it. Long interview with John’s brother Billy, Keith Sykes and so many more. This one, with singer Steve Poltz, has a great John Prine story and my jaw dropped when I realized it was all about what John was doing in the hours before I met him at his show at the Spreckels Theater in San Diego. Its a hilarious story and well worth clicking this link for. Poltz is a great storyteller and a massive John Prine fan.
Michael, thank you so much for this amazing story! What a great question. And what a swell guy to sit on that one and give you an honest answer. I know you're new to the swap, but you should check out this tribute we did to two Irish artists we lost in 2023. https://themusicswap.substack.com/p/artists-weve-lost-in-2023.
Thanks again for interacting with us. We'll be seeing you around!
Huge John Prine fan here. Been to his shows all over the east coast. My favorite story about his songs is when my daughter was three years old we were riding home from daycare listening to John Prine in the car. Donald and Lydia was playing when we got home. I shut the car off and came around to get her out and I hear her singing in her little girl voice “And dreaming just comes natural like the first breath of a baby”. I think that is my favorite song now.
Thanks for sharing. What a sweet story about your daughter singing Prine. Nothing like it.
I’m one of the millions of people who met John Prine and he instantly made me feel like I was an old buddy he just hadnt seen for a while. I asked him “John, you’ve travelled the whole world making music for 50 years. I barely have travelled outside the US. If I have a month to travel and money is no object, where should I go?” John’s face lit up! “Man!! Thats a great question! Nobody has ever asked me that!” He said he didnt want to just answer that without really thinking about it and asked if I would hang out for a while and he’d come back once he felt he had really thought about it and had an honest answer for me. He came back later and said “Mike, I’ve got it - You go to Donegal, in Ireland. I want you to start working your way down the West Coast of Ireland. Dont make any plans. Just go where your heart tells you. Gradually work your way down the coast until you get to Cork and Mike, I promise you, you’ll be a different man when you get to Cork than you were when you left Donegal.”
Life’s challenges and commitments have not allowed me to make that trip yet, but I promise one and all I am working to make it happen!
Oh… Otis Gibbs YouTube channel has tons of great John Prine stories in it. Long interview with John’s brother Billy, Keith Sykes and so many more. This one, with singer Steve Poltz, has a great John Prine story and my jaw dropped when I realized it was all about what John was doing in the hours before I met him at his show at the Spreckels Theater in San Diego. Its a hilarious story and well worth clicking this link for. Poltz is a great storyteller and a massive John Prine fan.
https://youtu.be/5LbBat-ILXA?si=95RzWAyi4GnfVh5Q
Michael, thank you so much for this amazing story! What a great question. And what a swell guy to sit on that one and give you an honest answer. I know you're new to the swap, but you should check out this tribute we did to two Irish artists we lost in 2023. https://themusicswap.substack.com/p/artists-weve-lost-in-2023.
Thanks again for interacting with us. We'll be seeing you around!
“But Gib wasn’t one to take a closed door as an answer. We decided to track him down.” … like father like son
Great swap. Really enjoyed Russ’s story with Gib and hope to read more of them!
You know it! Thanks for reading!
Awesome swap! Love y’all and make it a point to pray for you every year on this date.
Thank you, Chris!
Great swap, guys! Would have made Gib's day.
Thank you, Kaydee!
Angel From Montgomery is one of my favorites. I love his duet with Bonnie Raitt and Emmy Lou Harris' version.
Great song! Thank you so much for reading our post this week!