John Prine, “Sam Stone”
WORDS VS. MELODY
John Prine is a big influence on my work; his easygoing style distracts you from the hard hitting social commentary he uses in this song, but (if you’re paying attention) it strengthens its effectiveness. A lot of songwriters mate commentary with on-the-nose music. Serious message, for some, requires “serious” music.
I don’t say that never works, but I prefer catchy to preachy myself. Got a message? Melody will always help sell it.
The verse contrasts with the chorus in two ways that I notice.
Melodically, the verse uses the poignant notes the major scale gives you; the half-step dissonances 7 and 4. The chorus is more major pentatonic, the scale that leaves those half step options out.
This fits perfectly with the verbal approach; the verse gives you events, timeline, and story. The chorus gives you metaphor and message, and the simpler melody scale (with fewer subtle colors) fits the simpler statement.
I recommend buying Prine’s first album, the one with this song. It’s got several of his classics, and it’s produced by the great Turkish-American producer Arif Mardin.
I saw a recent online chat about melody vs. words. For me, this is the wrong way to look at it; it’s like debating mac vs. cheese. Or Gilbert vs. Sullivan. Or if you want to make it more complicated— Holland vs. Dozier vs. Holland. I don’t want to choose, and I don’t have to. Give me two Hollands, please, and don’t skimp on the Dozier.
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.
there is much to be learned from John’s simplicity and warmth. he makes me cozy just lookin at him