Tag: John Prine

Arlo McKinley: “Watching Vermont”

Arlo McKinley adds to his wonderful songs of loss and heartbreak with “Watching Vermont,” the first song from an upcoming EP release.

Singer-songwriter Arlo McKinley has released a new song, “Watching Vermont.” In addition to posting “Watching Vermont,” McKinley announced plans to release a new song in each of the next few months, leading to his upcoming three-song EP, Borrowed & Blue.

The Ohio-born McKinley has three outstanding albums under his belt, after only releasing his first album, Arlo McKinley & The Lonesome Sound (2014), at the age of 35. Following that release in 2019, John Prine stopped by a show and became a fan. Subsequently, Prine’s indie label Oh Boy Records signed McKinley, who released the albums Die Midwestern (2020) and This Mess We’re In (2022). At the time of the release of the latter album during the pandemic, Chimesfreedom called it an “outstanding timely and timeless album” that “reflects on pain, loss, and hope.”

In the new track, “Watching Vermont,” the lyrics do not mention the state that is in the title. But the evocation of winter and an old road create an image of Vermont. In the song, the singer says goodbye to a former love: “As your old place / It fades in the rearview / I’m trying to get my mind off you.”

Check out McKinley playing “Watching Vermont” below.

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  • John Prine’s Touching Posthumous Single: “I Remember Everything”
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    • Buy from Amazon

    On the Hill Where Angels Sing: John Prine and Justin Townes Earle Singing “Far From Me”

    John Prine and Justin Townes Earle, who both passed away in 2020, shared the stage in 2015 on Prine’s song, “Far From Me.”

    John Prine Justin Townes Earle

    During a year of much loss, it was sad to lose such beauty with John Prine and Justin Townes Earle both dying in 2020. They were both unique talents, and brought such humanity with their songs, often touching on sad parts of life, but with love and a touch of humor. Five years before their death, they shared a stage in Houston and performed Prine’s song, “Far From Me.”

    In “Far From Me,” the singer recounts the ending of a relationship as the singer realizes it is coming to an end and cannot do anything about it. He sees things are different between the two of them, even as he tries to maintain the relationship the way it once was.

    And the sky is black and still now
    On the hill where the angels sing
    Ain’t it funny how an old broken bottle
    Looks just like a diamond ring
    But it’s far, far from me.

    Justin Townes Earle did a beautiful cover of the song on the John Prine Tribute album, Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows, The Songs of John Prine. And on May 15, 2015, the two men appeared on stage together in Houston, Texas at the Cullen Performance Hall to perform “Far From Me” together. Check it out.

    What is your favorite cover of a John Prine song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    We sang, “Silent Night” All Day Long

    Listen to John Prine’s “Silent Night, All Day Long” as we reflect back on a difficult year with guarded hope for the coming year.

    John Prine Christmas

    The world faced numerous losses this year. Although it is part of the human condition that we lose loved ones every year, this year was collectively difficult as we were struck by a pandemic that was not even on many of our minds one year ago today. As we watched the numbers climb on our television screens, we could lose track of the incalculable individual personal tragedies, largely because taking it all in would be too much to bear. The affected people we knew brought the impact home. And people in the spotlight killed by Covid, like Charley Pride, might bring together a divided country in unified grieving, if only for a moment.

    One of the earlier deaths of a national figure occurred in April, when singer-songwriter John Prine passed away from complications related to Covid-19. From his lyrics and his warmth, many of us felt a special personal connection to Prine, even if we had only heard his music and seen him on stage.

    And so it seems appropriate that for this Christmas, we remember those we lost and reflect on the coming year with one of Prine’s perfect Christmas songs from his 1993 album A John Prine Christmas, “Silent Night All Day Long.”

    We held hands and stared at the lights on the tree,
    As if Christmas was invented for you and for me;
    When the angel on the treetop requested a song,
    We sang, “Silent Night” all day long.

    Even as we are reminded, through memories of a year ago, that we can never know what tragedies and joys await us in the new year, we look forward to this coming year with guarded hope. As we persist through this winter, we pray for the changes from the new vaccines, new leadership, and the coming seasons.

    And most of all we keep our faith that, as in the images of love in John Prine’s song, somehow we will get through it all together.

    Peace to you this holiday season.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    John Prine’s Touching Posthumous Single: “I Remember Everything”

    John Prine recorded “I Remember Everything” not long before he died, and the posthumous release gave him his first number one song.

    John Prine I Remember

    John Prine recently scored his first number one song on the Billboard charts with “I Remember Everything.” Prine wrote the song with Pat McLaughlin. And he recorded it in his living room, his final song before he died of complications from Covid-19 on April 7, 2020.

    Prine fans will not be surprised that he is still capable of bringing a smile and a tear to our eyes even after he passed away.

    The song is about missing someone (“How I miss you in the morning light /
    Like roses miss the dew”). But it also functions as someone looking back on life.

    I’ve been down this road before,
    Alone as I can be;
    Careful not to let my past,
    Go sneaking up on me;
    Got no future in my happiness,
    Though regrets are very few;
    Sometimes a little tenderness,
    Was the best that I could do    .

    Check out the video below of John Prine singing “I Remember Everything” in his living room.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Arlo McKinley: “Watching Vermont”
  • On the Hill Where Angels Sing: John Prine and Justin Townes Earle Singing “Far From Me”
  • We sang, “Silent Night” All Day Long
  • Picture Show Online Tribute to John Prine
  • John Prine is Goin’ to Town in Heaven
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    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Buy from Amazon

    Picture Show Online Tribute to John Prine

    Picture Show John Prine

    There was a lot of love going around in last night’s tribute to John Prine called Pictire Show: Tribute to John Prine. Singers, performers, and friends appearing with stories and songs included Bonnie Raitt , Todd Snider, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Bill Murray, Kevin Bacon, Rita Wilson, and many others.

    Throughout the tribute, Prine’s wife Fiona Prine makes several appearances to introduce artists. It is a loving tribute with great stories and music.

    The full tribute is available for a limited time through Sunday, June 14. So, for now, check it out below. [Update: The full show is no longer online.]

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • John Prine Takes the Stage With New Music at Radio City Music Hall
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  • Arlo McKinley: “Watching Vermont”
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  • On the Hill Where Angels Sing: John Prine and Justin Townes Earle Singing “Far From Me”
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Buy from Amazon