Todd Snider – Handsome John

For many, many years John Prine would end most of his concerts with “Paradise.”

Daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County 

Down by the Green River where Paradise lay 

Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking 

Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away  

But on his last tour, Prine would end concerts with “Lake Marie.” After an extended jam, he’d put down his guitar and do a little dance.

As his backing band brought home the song, Prine would shimmy and spin and shuffle his way to the front of the stage and then to the side until he’d exit stage right.

At his concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall on Friday, Todd Snider told a story about witnessing this for the first time.

Snider was standing backstage. As Prine exited and shimmied past, he turned to Snider with a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye and said, “Betcha didn’t see that comin’!”

Another Prine story that Snider told the other night: One time Prine was with some pals and someone asked, “If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be?”

Prine smiled and said, “Call me ‘Handsome John.'”

This man who wrote the song, “They Oughta Name a Drink After You,” later named his favorite cocktail, “The Handsome Johnny.”

Google it. You’ll find various references to the drink — including stories of artists who poured themselves a Handsome Johnny (vodka and ginger ale) to toast John Prine after he passed away last year.

So…if you’re the drinkin’ kind, pour yourself a Handsome Johnny, raise your glass to the heavens, and listen to today’s song. It comes from Snider’s latest album. It’s his tribute to the singing mailman from Maywood, Illinois.


Enjoy…

Today’s Song 

Title: Handsome John
 

Artist: Todd Snider
 

Album: First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder (2021)

YouTube Link: 

youtu.be/F5cibFut-cs

Lyrics

I didn’t know him as well as I tell everyone I did 

Hell he was nearly fifty and I was only a kid 

But even way back in those missing years when he was still just catching on 

There was nobody better than Handsome John 

Oh boy 

Look no further for your real McCoy 

Here comes the singing mailman from Maywood, Illinois 

Oh boy 

The next time I saw him he walked off to paradise 

In a way that I would say that I still take for advice 

For with a plain spoken word and a simple melody 

You can see this world with dignity 

Oh boy 

Look no further for your real McCoy 

Here comes the singing mailman from Maywood, Illinois 

Oh boy 

The last time I saw him he danced off to lake Marie 

When I realized I was crying out in tears of victory 

For with a few still missing and a new one coming on 

There was still nobody better than Handsome John 

Oh boy 

Look no further for your real McCoy 

Here comes the singing mailman from Maywood, Illinois 

Oh boy 

Oh boy  

Here are the Playlists:  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xYKtYparrdJRYAjBj9kjx?si=eb6c3ebc30484204 

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/ware-house-concerts-song-of-the-day/pl.u-Ggz26cZlAVLj 

Join the Email List

Email Signup Front Page