John Prine : You've Never Even Called Me By My Name

[racefan550]

Fist time I've head John do this song and it was great. I've been a fan of Johns since the 70s and have seen him in concert more times than I can count on both hands would Love to see him do it in an upcoming concert John YOU ARE THE GREATEST I never tire of hearing any of your songs. Never heard one I didn't like

[ALRULZ1965]

We lost an American music legend when Steve died....Its hard to believe it was close to 30 years ago!

[gabeshedd]

I love that something they played around with for fun became one of the more iconic country songs out there. These guys are something special.

[betzdoodle43]

The "perfect Country and Western song"! You know it.

thank you gentlemen...well done! <3 :)

[MrFlatroofer]

beautiful

[CactassDupree]

Since Mom and DAC went to prison Things just don't seem the same. : Love that line

[MarcBrewer]

I saw John and Steve playing back to back on a revolving stage in Phoenix in the 1970s. They had a helluva good time and so did I.

[rgjerde53]

I try to keep hidden the fact that I'm a Cub fan -- but every time I hear a Steve Goodman song, I don't feel bad admitting it.  Only the good die young -- which means you don't have much of a chance to see the Cubs win a World Series. But just "wait until next year".

[ALRULZ1965]

@rgjerde53 Dont be ashamed to be a Cub fan! just listen to Steve's ''A dying Cub fans last request'' a few more times and all will be fine!

[MrFlatroofer]

Briliant.

[lowell191]

love this guy!

[sallanyeager]

I had read an interview once where Prine says all he wanted royalty-wise for co-writing this song was a juke box, so one day David Coe bought and sent him a juke box,

[CactassDupree]

Damn, i No we the wife and i went to see John and kriss Kris openned for JP then the Ovation brought them both out to continue. One of the best times of my Life (61)

[Cornygirl48]

I never knew that John and Steve wrote this. My Mom used to sing this all the time. I just seen John at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor Michigan Saturday Night 5/7/11 and he was so good!!! I been wanting to see him for the longest time! He puts on a great show and he showcases those in his band as well as his opening act. He is a good man. One of the best and I love him so much!

[junebugc25]

My god that man is so good unreal

[capt777737]

John Prine is much better than DAC , and a true musicality hero.

[coleyman1]

@capt777737 Entirely two different types of entertainers and music. You can't compare the two. You may like Prine better, but to say he is better at what he does than Prine is not a fair analysis. I like them both, but they do different stuff...

[HFDP49]

@coleyman1 I agree completely and many people forget David Allen Coe is a increadable song writer in his own rite. They are apples and oranges, both look different and have different textures but both taste very good.

[yeahmedude]

It's Elvis Costello at 3:32...well not really.

[marydutch]

On my way to see John Prine this evening!!

[mommenon1]

John Prine, all the stars are for you!! You make music that will never get out of fashion like those " one day flies" that come and go.....

[Grainan86]

What do you call the guy on electric guitar?

[lucasebert]

@Grainan86 um. amazing?

[jeffkahl]

@Grainan86 I think that might be Jason Wilbur who played with him on the Session at West 54th DVD performance. 

[artwdog]

MY HERO...John Prine

[gonzobuc1]

I miss Steve Goodman.

God bless John Prine.

[jpth05070809]

I've been a 'Prine fan for more years than I care to think about, and i've heard so many bands 'butcher this song, but I did'nt know the 'whole story behind the story son' until a couple of years ago....KUDOS Steve Goodman and John!!!!

[RatBug]

They can claim it all they want, and I respect the songwriters for their talent, but the fact is the DAC version is the one everyone knows and remembers, and everything else sounds strange.

[sumlvf]

This is a good song Steve and John are great songwriters! RIP Steve

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

always remeber Kris singin this? cool.. Prine and Goodman dun did it.. swweeet. its been 'a line' in my brain in many an acquaintance of ernest inclinations and promisations.. uh huh.

[smgu6176]

Who is playing accordion? Can it be Leon Redbone?

[sboys02]

@smgu6176 That's an excellent guess,but it is actually Phil Parlapiano*(i think thats how he spells it?) He used to play with John alot back in the early nineties. And for some little known "Phil trivia": if you ever watch the big nineties film "Titanic", Phil is one of the musicians that are playing on the ship, even as it starts making it's big downward descent into the ocean!

[SCOTTISHman91]

@smgu6176 that's phil parlapiano

[otherworldtrader1]

wonder why john wasn't mentioned in david allen coes version

[1catbob]

The correct title of this song is:

You Never Even Call Me By My Name

Can someone tell me when and where this was performed?

cb

[FlashbackBlues]

I love Johns stories!

[d3liriumtr3m3ns]

i love this song

[katvanbus]

I don't care about the history of the song, just like the song and love John Prine!

[dorrisrae]

I love John Prine, he is from Mulenburg County and whenever I was alot younger I used to hang out in a bar called the B&B, and this song was constantly playing!!!!

He is, a very unique individual and REAL...

[whamfan87]

I grew up on Coe's version...so it will always be my favorite. But Steve/Primes verse, "Your the one who always tried to change me, and that is why I"ll always stay the same" is perfection. Thanks for posting this 'lil gem!

[Correspondguy]

Oh, and while we're at it, David Allan Coe had no input on writing the song at all. His story about the last verse is just that, a story, and Steve Goodman was not happy about it, although he later calmed down a bit. If you like, you can check "Facing the Music," which has an extensive discussion about it.

[oregongirl210]

Some friends saw DAC in concert this fall...he came out on stage using a walker!!

[30millioncrabs]

Anyways,.... DAC is a piece of crap, bogus, He ripped everybody off from John Prine to Hank Jr., and even the Outlaws, MC, FLA. dont appreciate his sorry ass anymore. Dude WAS good, but he is all messed up now,....May GOD have Mercy on him.

[RealityCheckerz]

May u burn in hell...

[stuwad1]

@30millioncrabs sorry your so brain dead

[rorygg1]

@30millioncrabs you are so right about DAC. waylon jennings said the only outlawing he ever did was double parking his tour bus on music row. waylon in his autobiography said he told DAC if he didn't like that comment, he'd stomp his poser ass into oblivion

[30millioncrabs]

@rorygg1 @sboys02 Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!!!!! Fucking Idiots Dont Know. You Knew. So why is all the others so damn stupid? DAC was an OUTLAW ..MC type guy. So The Fuck WHAT? Biker. SCOOTER TRASH,......I want that on my Resume! Where is that Badassed MoFo, today??????? Fuck Him. If You Dont Like Hank Williams, You Can KISS my ASS! Thanks Brother, I support you 2 . Vote Confederate in 2012. 3.5Billion Crabs.

[Correspondguy]

Here's the story, and I just read "Facing the Music" which is a 700 page biography of Steve Goodman. John and Steve collaborated on the song, long before David Allan Coe ever heard of them or the song. Steve always said that the song was co-written with John Prine, but John turned down the co-writing credit, even though Steve kept offering it to him as DAC's version got more famous. John thought it wouldn't be fair to take the credit once the song was popular, so Steve bought him a jukebox.

[parrothead04578]

Seriously. Seriously folks....read the past posts and LISTEN to what John says......

Steve Goodman wrote this with a LITTLE bit of help from John Prine. Without the collaboration though it wouldn't have been as good as it is.

[oregongirl210]

John Prine is a musical GOD!! This in one of my favorite songs, for sure, but I thought Steve Goodman wrote it. Yeah, JP!!!!

[namnoiz]

ITS TRUE ! John Prine did co-write this perfect country and western song ! He said so !

[ranedae]

Love it! Really excited to get to learn more about this song. I play a terrible version on the accordion so it's great to see it done well.

[dokweed]

I had always thought David Allen Coe sang the original song, and didn't know it was actually John Prine that was the original!

To be honest, I never heard of John Prine before (and I'm an over-40 yr old). It was really interesting to hear the original version ... and funny he mentione D.A.C. in the song.

[starznstrpies]

If you listen to DAC's version, he tells you that Steve Goodman wrote it. I can't imagine how you missewd it.

[dokweed]

Yes, of course I heard D.A.C. mention in the song that Steve Goodman wrote it. I guess what I was trying to say was that I thought Goodman wrote the song specifically for D.A.C. My impression now is that Goodman & Prine wrote the song for nobody in particular (maybe for themelves?). Also, I had no idea Prine was a co-writer, because he wasn't mentioned in the song. IF Prine was the original singer ... then he was the original.

Was it truly written for D.A.C. to sing?

[cflusby42]

All I could find about it is that Steve Goodman wrote the song...John Prine isn't mentioned as a co-author

[cflusby42]

Hope this doesn't show up two times! My apologies...I found a web site that said the author of this song is Steve Goodman and [although he won't admit it] John Prine.

I have always liked John's music. At one time many years ago I made bumper stickers and pins for the Moberly, MO chapter of his fan club. The day John Prine leaves this old earth, he will be sorely missed!

[PyroGuySr]

John Prine was the person that brought Steve Goodman to prominence in the early 70's. He opened for Kris Kristofferson and told him he had to come to the Earl of Oldtown (in Chicago) to hear "the best damned train song ever written." John and Steve were best friends at the time and wrote songs for each other, occasionally appearing on stage together. John is best known for two songs, "Illegal Smile" and the anti-Vietnam War anthem, "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore"

[BignJames]

You've got the story backwards....Goodman became famous upon Arlo Guthrie's release of "City of New Orleans"....he introduced Kristofferson to Prine.

[oregongirl210]

My mom saw Kris Kristofferson & John Prine in concert. JP opened for KK & she said the crowd went crazy when JP ended his set & KK had him come back out & do another set. I love both of them!!

[batouchofclass]

I also LOVE them both!! Kriss Kristofferson...and John Prine. I rate them both a 10 +_++++++

[spurnthemuse]

Kris is a Rhodes Scholar, which means he is some kind of secret agent, involved in psychological warfare. SPURN THE MUSE!!

[CactassDupree]

@batouchofclass They have to be a 20 cause there ain't no 10's :) peace

[oldgreybroad]

@oregongirl210 I saw them in Knoxville TN in 1973. Both were extremely drunk! One of my top five concerts, 30+ years later.

[TheSauceybrown]

@oldgreybroad me to awsome at the Tennesee theater

[Suzenbe]

@oregongirl210 ...What a cool story wish I was your mom! How old is she? I'm 47.



[skyblue611]

i've been into prine since '76. and a fan of coe's since...um...'80. i loved this song, and today i learn for the 1st time in 34 yrs that prine helped penning this ditty...amazing people, one and all! merry festivus and may there be peace.

[jcincosiete]

beautiful video for a great song, thanks for posting.

[jordanthecat]

Great stuff. Thanks to 21susan59 for recommending this video to me.

[21susan59]

was this the concert in Canada? Never heard John do this one before.

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

V V Good Laurie, thanks

[lowemk]

Fun story and good to hear the original lyrics.  Thanks for posting.