If heartaches was commercials, we'd all be on TV.
John PrineRead
I was kind of thrown into - I didn't expect to do this for a living, being a recording artist. I was just playing music for the fun of it and writing songs. That was kind of my escape, you know, from the humdrum of the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses how John Prine unintentionally became a recording artist through his passion for music, viewing it as an escape from mundane life.
In this quote, John Prine reflects on his journey as a musician, revealing that he did not set out with the intention of becoming a professional recording artist. Instead, his love for music and songwriting served as a form of escape from the ordinary routines of life, highlighting the transformative power of art and creative expression.
Themes
MusicEscapeCreativityArtPassion
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at an art festival, one could quote Prine to emphasize the importance of following one's creative passions.
More from John Prine
All quotes →One time, I went to school, and they asked us all to find out where our roots were. It's goin' around the class, and the kids were going, 'I'm Swedish-German' or 'I'm English-Irish.' They got to me and I said, 'Pure Kentuckian.'
John PrineRead
I just tried to come up with some honest songs. What I was writing about was real plain stuff that I wasn't sure was going to be interesting to other people. But I guess it was...I've never had any discipline whatsoever. I just wait on a song like I was waiting for lightning to strike. And eventually-usually sometime around 3 in the morning-I'll have a good idea. By the time the sun comes up, hopefully, I'll have a decent song.
John PrineRead
I feel basically good about my career because it's remained constant. What I do has never been especially in vogue or gotten high on the charts. At the same time, I haven't had to stop performing any of my music because it aged in style.
John PrineRead
You know that first love that leaves you? You never forget that, especially if you're a songwriter. I must have gotten nine songs out of that girl.
John PrineRead
You get to thinking that because you've written 50 or 100 songs, you think maybe you know how to do it. But when they're not coming along, you're just as in the dark as you ever were. When they're coming along, there's nothing to it. Sometimes it's so easy, it's like you're a court stenographer.
John PrineRead
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