Hello in there
Here’s a very sweet and touching story for you, amidst all the gloom. I’ve noticed, though, that between the time I first read it late last night and now, they’re eliminated one sentence in the story, which is that the little girl first approached the elderly man by saying something like, “Hello old man, it’s my birthday!”
Reminds me of this song:
By the way, John Prine, who wrote and sings that song, has an interesting human-interest story, too:
In the late 1960s, while Prine was delivering mail, he began to sing at open mic evenings at the Fifth Peg on Armitage Avenue in Chicago. Prine was initially a spectator, reluctant to perform, but eventually did so in response to a “You think you can do better?” comment made to him by another performer. Chicago Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert heard him there and wrote the first review Prine ever received, calling him a great songwriter. He became a central figure in the Chicago folk revival..
…thoroughly refreshing break. Thx.
The best treat of Halloween last night was the parents of the not-quite 2 year old across the street introducing her to us over her first-ever trick-or-treat.
We kind of melted when we opened the door and looked waay down and there’s this little fairy-voice saying “twikotweet” from an equally tiny – but truly radiant – smile looking expectantly up at us.
Princess!
Best!
Listened to a lot of early Prine when I was a young person. Which was a long time ago, and sort of got away from most music for a couple of reasons. Played his first two albums a lot.
We knew somebody who worked for John Prine, and ended up hearing a lot of his music. Some of it is very fine indeed, and the song you linked is probably the best of that.
John Prine is a treasure. I’ve loved him since I first heard him.
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd credits Prine as an influence:
His is just extraordinarily eloquent music — and he lives on that plane with Neil Young and Lennon.
I saw that quote before it appeared in wikipedia. It’s somewhat surprising given how out-there Floyd is. I wouldn’t have expected it.
Though it is true that Waters also credited “Music from Big Pink” by The Band (Dylan’s pivotal rock group after he went electric) as an influence second only to “Sgt Pepper’s.”
Maybe you won’t like this version, but give it a shot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csAp1KeueUU
The sentence is still there.
Or am my missing something?
I’m confused.
And I love the story about the not quite two year old.
Twikotweet. Priceless!
Chris:
They had it in, took it out, and apparently put it in again.
Weird.
And I don’t think it was just me not seeing it; I checked it pretty carefully and it was gone, and now it’s right back in there again.