John Prine Trivia

1. Where *exactly* was Sam Stone serving, according to the song?

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: overseas

The author doesn't actually mention the name of the war, although it is widely assumed that he has returned from the Vietnam war which ended in 1975. "Sam Stone came home, To his wife and family After serving in the conflict overseas."

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Less I feel blue

"Oh I get drunk most every night, seems like all we do is fight, the more I drink, the less I feel blue."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: child that's grown old

"If dreams were lightning, and thunder was desire, this old house would have burnt down a long time ago." "Angel from Montgomery", from his first album "John Prine"(1971). Bonnie Raitt covered this song on her "Streetlights" album (1974). In the Raitt version, this lyric goes "If dreams were thunder, and lightning was desire..."

From Quiz Hello In There: The Songs Of John Prine

Answer: Bonnie Raitt

"I am an old woman named after my mother My old man is another child that's grown old If dreams were lightning thunder was desire This old house would have burnt down a long time ago "Make me an angel that flies from Montgom'ry Make me a poster of an old rodeo Just give me one thing that I can hold on to To believe in this living is just a hard way to go..." "Time" noted: "Bonnie Raitt's rich, raw cover made the song famous and didn't hurt her career either; in 2000 she told Performing Songwriter magazine, 'I think 'Angel from Montgomery' probably meant more to my fans and my body of work than any other song.'" While "Time" did not rank the 100 songs they listed, in other places this has been listed as the best cover of any John Prine song.

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: Purple Heart

"With a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back." The Purple Heart is awared to those serving with the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in service. It is a very honorable award. Sadly, he also returned home with a heroin addiction which is referred to as the monkey on his back.

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Bloody Mary

Later in the song he also suggests "Near Beer". I'm not sure where the heck that came from.

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: the lake was that deep

"Bottomless Lake" from the album "Aimless Love" (1984). This was the first John Prine release from his own independent label, "Oh Boy Records".

From Quiz Hello In There: The Songs Of John Prine

Answer: Flag decal

"While digesting Reader's Digest in the back of a dirty book store A plastic flag, with gum on the back fell out on the floor Well, I picked it up and I ran outside, slapped it on my window shield And if I could see old Betsy Ross I'd tell her how good I feel. "But your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore They're already overcrowded from your dirty little war Now Jesus don't like killin', no matter what the reason's for And your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore..." "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" was on Prine's first album in 1971. In 2017 in a Billboard feature on "John Prine's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks", the song was listed at number four. "Billboard" noted this remained a divisive song: "His more conservative fan base will sometimes walk out of performances when he does this Vietnam protest number, while many have cheered in agreement over the years."

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: little pitchers

The phrase used is "little pitchers have big ears" which means that young children often overhear something they should not. The shape of a pitcher's handles are likened to ears.

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Rose

"Venus de Milo can have my arms, look out I've got your nose, sell my heart to the junkman and give my love to Rose."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: Donald and Lydia

"Donald and Lydia" from the first album. John Prine says that the picture of Donald came easily to him, but that Lydia "the fat girl daughter of Virginia and Ray" was more difficult.

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: $100

"He went to work when he'd spent his last dime And Sammy took to stealing When he got that empty feeling For a hundred dollar habit without overtime. "

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Milwaukee

"Send my stomach to Milwuakee if they run out of beer." I tried to ask what happens after they send his mouth way down south, but the answer got censored. Those of you who know this song, you know what line I'm referring to, so please laugh anyway.

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: wacka wacka nooka likka

From "German Afternoons" (1986). "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" ("Would you like a lei?"). This album was nominated for a Grammy award.

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: railroad trains

"And the gold rolled through his veins Like a thousand railroad trains," This is quite a dramatic description of the hit from his drugs.

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Sabu would forever rest

"The movie wasn't really doing so hot, said the new producer to the old big shot, it's dying on the edge of the great midwest, Sabu must tour or forever rest."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: Singer sewing machine

"Grampa was a Carpenter", from 1973's "Sweet Revenge". "Used to drive to church on Sunday, and take me with him too, stained glass in every window, hearing aids in every pew."

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: nothing

"Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose." When Johnny Cash covered this song, he changed this line to "Daddy must have known something, I suppose".

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: The elephant's trunk

"Sabu was sad, the whole tour stunk, the airlines lost the elephant's trunk."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: Dear Abby

"Dear Abby, Dear Abby, you won't believe this, but my stomach makes noises whenever I kiss..." From "Sweet Revenge". Years after this song came out, a fan sent a non-rhyming paraphrase of one of the verses to "Dear Abby", who answered it in her column.

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Western Kentucky

"When I was a child, my family would travel, down to Western Kentucky, where my parents were born."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: That's the Way that the World Goes Round

This song is from the album "Bruised Orange", 1978. This album was produced by John's good friend, Steve Goodman (the writer of "City of New Orleans", among other songs).

From Quiz Hello In There: The Songs Of John Prine

Answer: Lake Marie

Prine told the story of an Indian tribe that found two white babies in the woods on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. They called one Elizabeth and the other Marie and gave the names also to the twin lakes they lived on. Bob Dylan has named John Prine as one of his favourite songwriters and told MTV: "Prine's stuff is pure Proustian existentialism. Midwestern mindtrips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs. I remember when Kris Kristofferson first brought him on the scene. All that stuff about Sam Stone the soldier junky daddy and Donald and Lydia, where people make love from ten miles away. Nobody but Prine could write like that. If I had to pick one song of his, it might be Lake Marie..."

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: fun

"But life had lost its fun And there was nothing to be done"

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Mr. Peabody's coal train had hauled it away

"And Daddy won't you take me back to Mulenberg County, down by the Green River, where Paradise lay? Well I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking, Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: died

"Please Don't Bury Me" from "Sweet Revenge". John Prine says of this song "It's the best organ-donor campfire song I know of."

From Quiz Sam Stone

Answer: on a local heroes' hill

"But trade his house that he bought on the G. I. Bill For a flag draped casket on a local heroes' hill." Even after his overdose, he was buried as a hero.

From Quiz More lyrics of John Prine

Answer: Total silence

"When I woke up this morning, things were looking bad, seemed like total silence was the only friend I had."

From Quiz Sing Along with John Prine

Answer: insurance salesmen

"Illegal Smile" from "John Prine". This song is a pretty thinly veiled reference to smoking marijuana. "Ah, but fortunately I have the key, to escape reality, and you may see me tonight with an illegal smile, it don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while".

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Last Updated Apr 25 2026 5:48 AM

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