John Prine - Other Side of Town - Fair & Square

John Prine singing "Other Side of Town" off of his 2005 album, "Fair & Square"
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Lyrics:
Why must you always seem to criticize me?
I seems like everything I do just turns out wrong
Why don't you come on out and despise me
So I could pack my bag and baby I'd be gone?
Remember when you used to call me honey
Well, I'd turn around and call you honey too
You might think it's a joke, but it ain't funny
To hurt someone who's so in love with you
A clown puts his make-up on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I'm here when you put me down
But actually I'm on the other side of town
My body's in this room with you just catching hell
While my soul is drinking beer down the road a spell
You might think I'm listening to your grocery list
But I'm leaning on the jukebox and I'm about half way there
A clown puts his make-up on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I'm here when you put me down
But actually I'm on the other side of town
I'm sittin' on a chair just behind my ear
Playing dominoes and drinking some ice cold beer
When you get done talking I'll come back downstairs
And assume the body of the person you presume who cares
A clown puts his make-up on upside down
So he wears a smile even when he wears a frown
You might think I'm here when you put me down
But actually I'm on the other side of town
I'm across the river on the other side of town
In my mind I'm going to the dog racing side of town
Singer. Songwriter. Poet. Icon.
John Prine was an artist’s artist with a list of admirers and collaborators that cut across musical genres and generations - names like Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Brandi Carlile, George Strait, Kurt Vile, Miranda Lambert, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, among others.
Though he was born in Maywood, Illinois, in 1946, John declared himself “pure Kentuckian” throughout his life. His parents, Willian and Verna, were natives of Paradise, Kentucky. The family would spend summers there in Muhlenberg County, where John listened to bluegrass music and studied the guitar styles of country music heroes Doc Watson and Merle Travis with his older brother, Dave.
In Maywood, he worked as a postman before being drafted into the army in 1966. It was as a postman that John began to write the songs that would connect with so many. He sang at Chicago folk clubs, where he was introduced to singer-songwriter Kris Kristopherson, who invited John to open for him in New York. It was there that Jerry Wexler, president of Atlantic Records, first heard Prine and offered him a recording contract. His self-titled debut album was released in 1971 and featured a list of songs now regarded as classics, including “Paradise,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “Illegal Smile,” Hello in There,” and “Sam Stone.” Prine received the first of his 13 Grammy nominations in 1972 for Best New Artist. He would record three more albums for Atlantic and another three with Asylum.
His profound impact on American music was amplified in 1981 when John co-founded Oh Boy Records, and independent label where he released most of his subsequent work and which gave voice and respect to so many fellow singers and songwriters.
In his distinguished career, John won four Grammys and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2020). He was a three-time recipient of the Artist of the Year Award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards, which also honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting. He won the Pen/New England Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award (2016) and was enshrined in the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2019). In addition, John was named Honorary Poet Laureate of Illinois (2020).
John Prine passed away on April 7, 2020 due to complications from Covid-19. The outpouring of grief and love from his fan community was staggering. Over 500,000 viewers participated in an online memorial and tribute that raised more than half a million dollars for Covid-related community causes. In 2021, the Prine family created the Hello In There Foundation to honor John’s spirit of generosity towards those in need. Fiona Prine and her sons continue to operate and expand the reach of John’s independent record label, Oh Boy Records.
#johnprine

[@davidmullens7565]

We lost an American Treasure when we lost John. R.I.P. Mr. Prine - So many of your songs spoke to me in a quiet way. Sometimes helping me attain some calm when the storms inside me raged. Sometimes making me smile when to be able to smile was like receiving a precious gift. Sometimes stirring the stagnant lake which had filled me to the brim and suddenly I could carelessly drift past my worries like a leaf on a slow-moving country stream. Sometimes pulling the heartstrings exposing the tender heart inside, reminding me I am not so bad after all. I can still have compassion, I can still feel joy. I can still love others and others can still love me. Your thoughtful insights about the human condition we all experience at some point in our lives were simply sublime. Thank you.

[@tdd652]

Congratulations on such a beautiful tribute. It shows a wonderful beauty within yourself to be able to write such an appreciation. He would have loved to have been held in such respect.

[@donnah4713]

My sentiments exactly, especially " many of your songs spoke to me in a quiet way". Love that guitar picking as well.

[@citizenbeeswax7985]

I might as well just copy and paste what you just said and claim it as my own thoughts. Beautifully put. Thanks for sharing brother.

[@davidmullens7565]

@@citizenbeeswax7985Thank you

[@davidmullens7565]

@@tdd652 Thank you

[@ghosttrigger4023]

Sounds like my ol’ neighbors around the corner on Alford Rd. Miss me!

[@ronaldjohnson902]

John once said that It’s a great feeling to have a hit record in your pocket and you’re the only one listening to it…❤❤❤

[@RodFraserMusician]

I love that. Never heard it before. I'm also a songwriter with pretty whacky sense of humor and the son of a man who's a prolific songwriter who I always thought wrote one hit after another...and I still do...and he still does. He raised me on John Prine like John was my Uncle who I just never actually met. One hit after another is how I've lived out my life. :)

[@stevenanderson4294]

RIP Sir. You won't be forgotten. God, I hate 2020.

[@OzarkMan]

I miss you John

[@jonw12]

Thank you John Prine for teaching me about this special ability :) miss you bud

[@jacquismith3277]

A gem of a song.

[@gracegraceful4929]

Love, love, love this song.

[@ramrodsanbonito5028]

Senor Prine tells the truth in this song, amigos!

[@kathypiazza7228]

‘Cause he read about this guy. Many Long married people could be this character or at least relate.

[@richardbittle619]

RIP John, you made my life better in the worse of times

[@martybeckman5178]

Reading the top 20 comments.. made my eyes water like a facet I love john prine music and my most favorite songs are. Its gonna be a Long Monday and My Old Man And Gosh there are so many more songs than I can remember titles of them R.I.P. Mr.John Prine ! Wish this virus was not true but it's no dream or not something to take lightly

[@jeanineshiman8228]

Just keep missing you John Prine

[@CherylSimser]

I miss him.Thankfully, we all have his music during these very sad and stressful times.

[@mikemcnamara6119]

Greatist song writer who ever lived

[@chipperbagwell2317]

I've enjoyed his songs and stories. RIP John... You will be missed

[@fred9083]

I just knew him for the past 2 months thru KZbin. Now he's gone...so sad. R.I.P John.

[@shawnduffy3380]

Well, at least you have a whole lot of future memories to obtain. Enjoy.

[@jamesmccolez4984]

I am a year and a half old if you can understand I just got introduced to JOHN PRINE a year and a half ago. I hope to see him this year. If there was a ALL-STAR LEAGUE FOR WRITING AND ENTERTAINING IT IS MR.PRINE FOR ME..

[@SkunkyH3rb]

James McColez same, i just knew him for a year and a half too. Been listening everyday since and changed my life. But, sadly my friend he is gone. You would never see him but he'll remain in our hearts. RIP JOHN

[@kellycoleman2895]

God bless💜🙏🙏😇

[@goldengrifen]

My grandpa pasted a while back and he really liked John Prine, when we got his stuff one of his items was a phone, it was given to me and so I charged it to take a look, it still had a video pulled up on KZbin it seems like the phone might have died while this song was playing or the song was one of the last things he listened to before he died It was this song, it makes me wonder what he was thinking about his last day this song already gives me a few ideas but either way whenever I miss him or I wish he'd be there to comfort me I listen to this song and sometimes it feels like he's here still here My grandpa was one of my biggest supports he never judged me or anything I did and always did his best to help me even if he wasn't That great at helping himself I'll miss him, but I'm thankful to have this song to remember him. RIP John Prine: an amazing artist who made songs that spoke to many RIP Jim Martin A beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather

[@barrygioportmorien1]

Love it.

[@brockett]

This virus has no respect for class or culture. RIP John.

[@jnagarya519]

Just like Trump.

[@toddmartin9857]

Such a great singer songwriter 😢. Listen every chance I can.

[@bvanpelt8]

What an extraordinary song. The depth and layers of emotion hit home so well. First time I heard the song, I thought it was a funny song. But now, it is a deeply pained song.

[@jacquismith3277]

He certainly had a gift for moving songs.

[@davidmorgan4821]

I never have heard my fav Prine song but I'm well aware of this. must have

[@shayneevans73]

Love it , even if over the years listening to it over n over again ... THANKYOU...

[@geofixated]

Miss you, John.

[@betty8834]

Boy, I sure do miss him. What a great man. Love his lyrics

[@PeterLRuden]

"I read about this guy."

[@joebrowne9217]

Stop reading and just listen....!

[@SH-th4wy]

I don't like that you can only give one thumbs-up.

[@robertchappell3916]

RIP JOHN. Prayers up for you and yours.🙏🙏🙏Thank you for your music which brings back so many fond memories and was an intricate part of my life.

[@joepollard3228]

The greatest songwriters of all time in no particular order: Bob Dylan Steve Goodman John Prine Jim Steinman Paul Simon Top those!

[@artissonbeats3057]

Good stuff

[@jeremytaylor7049]

RIP John

[@1Decos]

thank you

[@simonerusso6920]

I love this filosofy

[@karinenjellepelle]

Rip john

[@bjwmorgan]

awesome, nice one sir, i think its about me lolol cheers

[@allan8371]

Damn.

[@davidhughes5771]

why has it taken sp long to find this!!

[@cherylschmacher701]

🎶🎶🧜‍♀️🌹🥰🥰🥰🌹🧜‍♀️🎶🎶🌹

[@rickyisaacs480]

Rip

[@jasper_north]

He sings about my wife...😂

[@lukemeacham1282]

All wives...

[@emmacarey]

He sung about everyone's life

[@meatlast]

He sings about my EX wife

[@lazarusthebook]

0:31

[@user-em6qu2bb2s]

😆

[@raindeerprojekt4119]

Songwriters.... Jesus we a mess but we right

[@Thadmotor1044]

god bless john prine fans . rip John Prine an American treasure . Atrue American songbook that rivals Bob Dylan . trump touches turns to shit . vote blue

[@roballen8431]

Get over it bitch

[@jerryross6898]

No thank you

[@ronaldjohnson902]

There’s nothing biographical about this song…

[@donaldwyer1111]

Don't like adds

[@christinedureau3467]

So, buy Premium.

[@frankkassel6579]

Rip john

[@frankkassel6579]

This song is so fitting for my life right now