The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Wednesday March 26, 2015
Songwriting legend John Prine is featured on today's #DiggingDeep, a series that highlights album cuts from our favorite artists.
Far From Me from the 1971 LP John Prine
Prine's 1971 debut album is filled with great songs, from fun pot anthem "Illegal Smile" to brilliant, psychologically aware anti-war classic "Sam Stone." Tucked away on the b-side is "Far From Me," which proves Prine's gift as a story teller. It's perhaps the best breakup song of all time. The lyrics bring the listener into the scene in an evocative way and the weepy pedal steel fits the mood perfectly.
Yes I Guess they Oughta Name a Drink After You from the 1972 LP Diamonds in the Rough
Yes I Guess they Oughta Name a Drink After You from the 1972 LP Diamonds in the Rough
A humorous song with a classic theme: drinking away the pain of a lost love. It's hard honky tonk style is so authentic that it could have easily been written by Webb Pierce in 1954. "When I started out I only meant to have a few"...didn't we all, John. Didn't we all.
Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone from the 1978 LP Bruised Orange
Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone from the 1978 LP Bruised Orange
This song is dear to my heart because it mentions the specific place I was born and raised: the east side of St. Paul, Minnesota. It's certainly one of Prine's weirdest songs, as he even attests:
"What a strange song. Who would want to write a song like this?" It tells the story of a B-Movie actor from India named Sabu who goes on a promotional tour across the Midwest in the middle of a brutal winter. One critic said it was an allegory for life on the road as a touring musician. If so, kudos to Prine for going over everybody's head.
Hey look ma, here comes the elephant boy
Bundled all up in his corduroy
Heading down south toward Illinois
From the jungles of east St. Paul
He's got one thing right, at least: it is a jungle on the mean streets of the old East Side.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
"What a strange song. Who would want to write a song like this?" It tells the story of a B-Movie actor from India named Sabu who goes on a promotional tour across the Midwest in the middle of a brutal winter. One critic said it was an allegory for life on the road as a touring musician. If so, kudos to Prine for going over everybody's head.
Hey look ma, here comes the elephant boy
Bundled all up in his corduroy
Heading down south toward Illinois
From the jungles of east St. Paul
He's got one thing right, at least: it is a jungle on the mean streets of the old East Side.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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