On a technical level, I don't understand this post at all. On a gut level, though, I am right there with you.
John Prine is heavily featured on the soundtrack of my life from birth, thanks to my dad.
According to Daddy, he was playing this record when I was about five and I asked him why the music "did a funny thing" that other music doesn't do. I didn't have to vocabulary to explain my question. So Daddy played it again and told me to tell him when the "funny thing" happened.
It turned out that I thought John Prine accidentally started playing a different song at the chorus and remembered the right song for the verses. Daddy's answer to my question, as he tells it, was that the music "does that funny thing because John Prine is better than most."
As usual, I agree with Daddy.
The lyrics, I learned later, make this a somewhat questionable selection for Saturday morning donuts with a five-year-old. But I don't judge my Daddy. lol.
Hello, sorry it took me a minute to reply to your very nice comments, I got busy yesterday.
I’m very glad you liked the essay— John Prine is indeed very special and anyone who has his music in their life is lucky.
I don’t know if this music theory explanation will make sense, but the upshot of it is that your young ears did correctly identify an emotional shift that happens in that song.
On that chorus, Prine brings in a minor chord (it’s the minor two chord— I forget the Greek music theory name for it). In the context of the major I IV V chords he’s been using so far in the verse, the two chord is strikingly different in terms of color and emotional effect.
On a technical level, I don't understand this post at all. On a gut level, though, I am right there with you.
John Prine is heavily featured on the soundtrack of my life from birth, thanks to my dad.
According to Daddy, he was playing this record when I was about five and I asked him why the music "did a funny thing" that other music doesn't do. I didn't have to vocabulary to explain my question. So Daddy played it again and told me to tell him when the "funny thing" happened.
It turned out that I thought John Prine accidentally started playing a different song at the chorus and remembered the right song for the verses. Daddy's answer to my question, as he tells it, was that the music "does that funny thing because John Prine is better than most."
As usual, I agree with Daddy.
The lyrics, I learned later, make this a somewhat questionable selection for Saturday morning donuts with a five-year-old. But I don't judge my Daddy. lol.
Hello, sorry it took me a minute to reply to your very nice comments, I got busy yesterday.
I’m very glad you liked the essay— John Prine is indeed very special and anyone who has his music in their life is lucky.
I don’t know if this music theory explanation will make sense, but the upshot of it is that your young ears did correctly identify an emotional shift that happens in that song.
On that chorus, Prine brings in a minor chord (it’s the minor two chord— I forget the Greek music theory name for it). In the context of the major I IV V chords he’s been using so far in the verse, the two chord is strikingly different in terms of color and emotional effect.
It comes in when he sings “money goes”
I appreciate the explanation, but it doesn't improve the song. I have to feel it, that's all. John's got me covered there.
I was a weird kid... I wonder if Daddy's vinyl collection had anything to do with that.
Vinyl can do that to a person.
there is much to be learned from John’s simplicity and warmth. he makes me cozy just lookin at him