And we hope he’s enjoying himself at least one last time. Truly, if magic exists, it existed in Prine and in his ability to offer this precise insight into the world.Įven though he’s not with us today, we still just may see him some night with an illegal smile, leaning against a gate. But he’s also a keen-eyed, grinning person who can also show us about ourselves. He’s of the people-fearful of the men in blue, even. With the glinting guitar and Prine’s bouncy, delightful voice, we are introduced to his spirit and his crucible all at once. I chased a rainbow down a one-way street dead endĪnd all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen Illegal Smile John Prine When I woke up this morning, Cthings were lookin Gbad seems like total silence is the Donly friend I Ghave a bowl of. John Prine Review by William Ruhlmann A revelation upon its release, this album is now a collection of standards: 'Illegal Smile,' 'Hello in There,' 'Sam Stone,' 'Donald and Lydia,' and, of course, 'Angel from Montgomery. Won’t you please tell the man I didn’t kill anyone It don’t cost very much, but it lasts a long while Seem like total silence was the only friend I hadīowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down, and wonĪnd it was twelve o’clock before I realizedĪh, but fortunately I have the key to escape realityĪnd you may see me tonight with an illegal smile When I woke up this morning, things were lookin’ bad Then the first lyric comes in, When I woke up this morning, things were lookin’ bad… Prine continues: But it was such a good anthem for dope smokers that I didn’t want to stop every time I played it and make a disclaimer.”įor the 3:10 song, which opens side one of the 13-track LP, Prine begins with a bright strummed acoustic guitar. It was more about how, ever since I was a child, I had this view of the world where I can find myself smiling at stuff nobody else was smiling at. He notes: the meaning of the song was “not about smokin’ dope. It was more written as a result of his unique way of merely witnessing the world. But it wasn’t written with that intent, he says. In the same liner note essay, Prine talks about how, specifically, “Illegal Smile” has long been considered an anthem for pot smokers. I went straight from playing by myself, still learning how to sing, to playing with Elvis Presley‘s rhythm section.” Heading into recording the album, Prine said in the Great Days: The John Prine Anthology liner notes, “I was terrified. The story of the debut album goes like this: Atlantic’s famous executive, Jerry Wexler, who coined the term “Rhythm & Blues” and was responsible for helping to break acts like the Allman Brothers and Aretha Franklin, signed Prine to a record deal after Wexler saw Prine perform at a Kris Kristofferson show. The first song from his first album that anyone would hear. (The Illinois-born Prine was 73 years old.)įor all intents and purposes, this song was Prine’s introduction to the world. It had a resurgence in 2020 after Prine passed away from COVID-19 complications, peaking at No. Prine, who is recognized today as one of America’s great songwriters, released “Illegal Smile” in October of 1971 on his self-titled debut album on Atlantic Records.
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