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John Prine — It's a Big Old Goofy World
Album: The Missing Years
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 502









Released: 1991
Length: 4:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Up in the morning
Work like a dog
Is better than sitting
Like a bump on a log
Mind all your manners
Be quiet as a mouse
Some day you'll own a home
That's as big as a house

I know a fella
He eats like a horse
Knocks his old balls
Round the old golf course
You oughta see his wife
She's a cute little dish
She smokes like a chimney
And drinks like a fish

There's a big old goofy man
Dancing with a big old goofy girl
Ooh baby
It's a big old goofy world

Now Elvis had a woman
With a head like a rock
I wished I had a woman
That made my knees knock
She'd sing like an angel
And eat like a bird
And if I wrote a song
She'd know ever single word

Kiss a little baby
Give the world a smile
If you take an inch
Give 'em back a mile
Cause if you lie like a rug
And you don't give a damn
You're never gonna be
As happy as a clam

So I'm sitting in a hotel
Trying to write a song
My head is just as empty
As the day is long
Why it's clear as a bell
I should have gone to school
I'd be wise as an owl
Stead of stubborn as a mule.
Comments (52)add comment
Neat song, I also like the toy piano sound at the beginning and in between the verses
Posted 8 months ago by Sofa_King    [ Reply ]


greetings, so many wonderful words for this wonderful music by so many wonderful musicians from all parts of our beloved planet,
I love the music, and in deepest gratitude to Bill and Rebecca,
BUT, I am always blown away and love to watch the slideshow with each and every tune - incomparable visual candy . . .
how on this earth to you do this? Jedi mind tricks?

Posted 2 years ago by B4D3neaker3    [ Reply ]
The whole album is incredible. Well worth adding to your library.
Posted 3 years ago by nmcvaugh    [ Reply ]
 daveesh wrote:
now i know where barenaked ladies got their inspiration. awful.
 

They wish they could be as silly and insightful as John Prine was.
Posted 3 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
this man is fantastic, just what we need in this goofy world
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]

John Prine - It's A Big Old Goofy World, Live

"I have never heard this song before till right now. And I never realized how great and wonderfull john was as a writer. He is certainly gifted and a deep thinker. A shame the world doesn,t recognize him more and that includes me. He is a great writer and singer. "   montezumameddie

"I wouldn't listen to him as a kid in the 70s because I thought he'd be another Bob Dylan folkie type. Don't bother flaming on, if you like bob right on, most folk music not my thing, but then around 90 or so I got turned on to John & pretty much went nuts for the guy. Then seeing him in an interview that sealed the deal. As wise, unique, non-judgmental and unpretentious as Johnny Cash and a true poet, song writer & artist. In fact one of the best songwriters for the last several decades!  " redfishradical   


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]

John Prine - "Angel From Montgomery" - Live (2004)

Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
now i know where barenaked ladies got their inspiration. awful.
Posted 15 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
Hey Bill, thanks for playing some Prine! {#Sunny} 
Posted 15 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]

Prine feels like a brother to me:

I feel like picking on him alot of times, but if someone else does it, I'll defend him tooth and nail.


Posted 15 years ago by conglif    [ Reply ]
Just bought tickets for his summer visit to the DC area.  Always nice to hear JP on RP.  Thanks Bill!
Posted 15 years ago by KevH    [ Reply ]
The essence of Saturday Morning Music - I grew up on this album!
Posted 15 years ago by osbyec    [ Reply ]
 stkman wrote:

Now thats a diehard Prine fan lol Don't know that I would go 90% but you are on right track. This is a whimsical song meant to be just what it is a bunch of cliches and John did a great job of it. From his serious songs like Sam Stone to ballads like Angel From Montgomery, and I could go on , he has showed his lyrical genius.

 
Interesting...I never realized it was nothing but cliches.  "You learn something new everyday"


Posted 15 years ago by papaman    [ Reply ]
{#Bounce}
Posted 15 years ago by Darrooon    [ Reply ]
 toterola wrote:
My old buddy John Prine on RP! Will wonders never cease!

By the way: John's farts over the phone would have more artistic content than about 90% of the rest of popular music. In my humble opinion. {#Cowboy}
 
Now thats a diehard Prine fan lol Don't know that I would go 90% but you are on right track. This is a whimsical song meant to be just what it is a bunch of cliches and John did a great job of it. From his serious songs like Sam Stone to ballads like Angel From Montgomery, and I could go on , he has showed his lyrical genius.

Posted 15 years ago by stkman    [ Reply ]
 plight wrote:
Not a bad tune, but repetitive and his rhymes sounded like they were out of a gradeschool book. "quiet as a mouse/ ... home big as a house?" did I hear that right? Certainly, I've heard much, much worse. -PL-
 
Given the title of the song, it should not be surprising that the lyrics and/or rhyming patterns would seem somewhat child-like.  Not my favorite song by Mr. Prine, but it's still a great one.

Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
One of THE best songwriters of our time.  So poignant.
Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
My old buddy John Prine on RP! Will wonders never cease!

By the way: John's farts over the phone would have more artistic content than about 90% of the rest of popular music. In my humble opinion. {#Cowboy}
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
Absolutely love JP.
Posted 15 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
Umm.... no.
Posted 15 years ago by iam_overlord    [ Reply ]
rockstarbro wrote:
JP is not for everyone as your (and other) comment illucidates. However, while this song may not be the greatest, (I give it a 7) it is only one leaf on the Tree of Prine. His bio is huge. On this album there are several GREAT songs... Great Rain is almost a blues standard. Everything is cool is a song about everything NOT being cool. The song, however, is very cool. And, finally, one of the most haunting lines from "audio entertainment" can be found on this album... forgive me if I don't get it exact... From The Sins of Memphisto: "Grandpas standing in the front yard, staring at a rake. Wondering if his marriage was a terrible mistake." - WOAH!
My favorite line of his is from the Barbara Lewis song: "If heartaches were commercials, we'd all be on TV."
Posted 16 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
hgodsoe wrote:
Oh God. I do not like this song. I do not like it at all.
JP is not for everyone as your (and other) comment illucidates. However, while this song may not be the greatest, (I give it a 7) it is only one leaf on the Tree of Prine. His bio is huge. On this album there are several GREAT songs... Great Rain is almost a blues standard. Everything is cool is a song about everything NOT being cool. The song, however, is very cool. And, finally, one of the most haunting lines from "audio entertainment" can be found on this album... forgive me if I don't get it exact... From The Sins of Memphisto: "Grandpas standing in the front yard, staring at a rake. Wondering if his marriage was a terrible mistake." - WOAH!
Posted 16 years ago by rockstarbro    [ Reply ]
This song is a Big "ZERO" for me...sorry.
Posted 16 years ago by rgr0707    [ Reply ]
Wow- 2 negative comments for Prine out of the last three. Feeling the need to turn that around in a hurry. John Prine is MAN!!!!!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by mjaded    [ Reply ]
nice melody, nice singing. random cliches and 3rd-grade rhymes get old FAST.
Posted 16 years ago by donpdonp    [ Reply ]
Has anyone seen the Soundstage DVD of Prine? I watched it last weekend. It's a must see for all Prine fans.
Posted 16 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
Oh God. I do not like this song. I do not like it at all.
Posted 17 years ago by hgodsoe    [ Reply ]
John Prine
Posted 17 years ago by Alafia    [ Reply ]
Death_to_Clear_Channel wrote:
I suppose I see the appeal in a lazy, whimsical number such as this. Not very inspired and definitely repetitive but I guess that's what folks like from time to time. Likely the same folks who can't wait to attend one Hollywood blockbuster sequel after another.
With a name such as yours one would think you would embrace diversity not berate it? Go figger? btw, I do like "John Prine", this song & "Lethal Weapon 2".
Posted 17 years ago by stratrjb    [ Reply ]
I always thought of John Prine as being timeless. Certainly for me he has been a huge musical inspiration in my life. I need to check and make sure I have passed that on to my children...
Posted 17 years ago by fox_dog    [ Reply ]
Death_to_Clear_Channel wrote:
I suppose I see the appeal in a lazy, whimsical number such as this. Not very inspired and definitely repetitive but I guess that's what folks like from time to time. Likely the same folks who can't wait to attend one Hollywood blockbuster sequel after another.
Just say it. Anybody who doesn't share my taste in music is an idiot.
Posted 17 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
Saw him in concert recently. He's great. Still performing even after having his throat taken apart and put back together cancer-free. Love him.
Posted 17 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
Fiji5555 wrote:
Wow no comments since 2001? Where have they been hiding John?
"The Missing Years" indeed.
Posted 17 years ago by TheLoneIguana    [ Reply ]
Hell let's break out the Gordon Lightfoot too!
Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
this is horrible
Posted 17 years ago by rocco1207    [ Reply ]
I love John Prine -- he gives us his own slice of life!
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
What a great song. Haven't heard anything by John Prine in ages. Looking at the comments it seems that a lot of people don't really 'get' this. Funny to think of some time in the future when another generation will 'rediscover' Prine & his contemporaries, along with all the roots he comes from, make their own excitedly heartfelt contributions to the genre, and then be dismissed by the next generation as repetitive, simplistic & boring :)
Posted 17 years ago by robadr    [ Reply ]
I suppose I see the appeal in a lazy, whimsical number such as this. Not very inspired and definitely repetitive but I guess that's what folks like from time to time. Likely the same folks who can't wait to attend one Hollywood blockbuster sequel after another.
Posted 17 years ago by Death_to_Clear_Channel    [ Reply ]
PL, did you even look at the song title? What exactly were you expecting? Its a sign of Mr. John Prine's virtuosity that he can take those lyrics and turn them into a beautiful, soulful tune of pure americana. plight wrote:
Not a bad tune, but repetitive and his rhymes sounded like they were out of a gradeschool book. "quiet as a mouse/ ... home big as a house?" did I hear that right? Certainly, I've heard much, much worse. -PL-
Posted 17 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
I guess you have to come from another planet than I do to appreciate this song.
Posted 17 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
plight wrote:
Not a bad tune, but repetitive and his rhymes sounded like they were out of a gradeschool book. "quiet as a mouse/ ... home big as a house?" did I hear that right? Certainly, I've heard much, much worse. -PL-
Not that this was the point of the lyrics or anything... *sigh* Is it possible you don't know a litany of cliches when you hear them?
Posted 17 years ago by dsrtfalcon    [ Reply ]
Fiji5555 wrote:
People like you to need stick with whatever you like and leave the joyful fun songs to the rest of us please
People like you need to chill and let people express their opinions.
Posted 17 years ago by walkerboh    [ Reply ]
All I had to hear was the first opening notes and all work stopped. Sam Stone is on the playlist but never played....even though rated by about 20 people!
Posted 17 years ago by KermitDfrog    [ Reply ]
I've heard this song by Prine before, but not this version. I like this one best.
Posted 17 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing this delightful old song by John, we love John Prine at our house.
Posted 17 years ago by PurplePrincess    [ Reply ]
Love the album, this is great song from a great perfomrer. I have seen him many times and have never been disappointed
Posted 17 years ago by eastcoast    [ Reply ]
I saw him once at some music festival in the mountains in Virgina. I don't who was higher- John, the mountains or me. But I've always liked his sound.
Posted 17 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
plight wrote:
Not a bad tune, but repetitive and his rhymes sounded like they were out of a gradeschool book. "quiet as a mouse/ ... home big as a house?" did I hear that right? Certainly, I've heard much, much worse. -PL-
People like you to need stick with whatever you like and leave the joyful fun songs to the rest of us please
Posted 17 years ago by Fiji5555    [ Reply ]
Not a bad tune, but repetitive and his rhymes sounded like they were out of a gradeschool book. "quiet as a mouse/ ... home big as a house?" did I hear that right? Certainly, I've heard much, much worse. -PL-
Posted 17 years ago by plight    [ Reply ]
Wow no comments since 2001? Where have they been hiding John?
Posted 17 years ago by Fiji5555    [ Reply ]