I was listening to WMMR radio in Philadelphia in 1973, when they played this song. I did not know who John Prine was. At "Signed, Just Married" I burst out laughing. The next day I went and bought Sweet Revenge. Loved it and bought his two prior albums. Now I have all his albums. I saw Prine in Georgetown in 1980, at the Beacon Theatre in 2004 and in Brooklyn in 2018. I sang his songs (off key) Paradise, Please Don't Bury Me, Christmas in Prison and Blue Umbrella to my 3 kids at bedtime. They took me to see him in Brooklyn. I miss the guy, one of my favorites.
Hey,bro! I am 69...You are who you are!.. Few singers can say something wise and make the listener think. John was a wise preacher of his life position, do as I do, think as I do! My friend, you and I are participating in this test! Thank you
I saw John Prine play in Dec '71 at Middlesex County College in NJ. After the show my sister and I were the only ones to speak with this incredible and very humble "young kid" back in the boy's locker room. He wore jeans and a denim shirt. Almost too bashful to talk with us. His mgr was there who said it John's 2nd public appearance having performed at NYC's "The Bitter End" the night before. I was 18yrs old back then, Prine I guess in his early 20's. You just knew he was going to make it big.
Dear Abby passed away today (01/17/2013) at 94 years old. First thing I thought of was this song and looked it up here. Great version...long live Prine!
I'm 64 and never made it home from woodstock. It makes me feel good and safe to know there are still lots of you listening out there. PEACE FOREVER LUV Doreen
Dear Abby, dear Abby, I'm getting too old. My high has sunk low and my hot's getting cold. I'd like to remember when life was a breeze - but I'm just passing gas and I burp when I sneeze. Signed 'Old Geezer' "Old Geezer, old geezer, you have no complaint. You ain't what you was - never were what you ain't. So quit all your griping and puttin' on aires, cause nobody's listenin' and nobody cares. Signed Dear Abby." Thanks for the fun, John. sc
The man has an endless list of wonderful songs. This is one I have always enjoyed and found great humor in it. Even though this is in a lot of ways one of his lighter tunes from the period, it sure does have a lot to say in three minutes and forty seconds worth of time. I consider myself lucky to have been introduced to his music when I was twenty.
Someone actually wrote "Dear Abby" using the Noisemaker verse. She responded to it with her usual words of wisdom and a few days later, she acknowledged that she'd been punked. Damn, I'm old and I remember too many silly things!
I'm amazed by the clarity of sound in this live version. When listening to Prine, I think back to younger days, sitting around a bonfire at a keg party, loud talking, screeches of laughter, the occasional disagreement, heavy metal music blasting through the speakers, then it went from Black Sabbath to John Prine. Everyone would forget their conversation and start singing along like it was a peace rally and a chorus of Kumbaya. It's like some kind of black magic the way the drunker we were, the better we could remember Prine's lyrics. Although thinking back, if those night sessions had been recorded, we may have heard 100 people singing 100 different nonsensical songs to the tune of John's song -lol. I seen that you had some info at the bottom of the screen popping up, I was trying to keep up but missed some of it. I'm not sure if you mentioned that John Prine had been highly noted by other artists like Johnny Cash, Dylan, even Roger Waters and more. He's one of the greats that are famous, and yet unknown. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
A Florida Son add a lefty , and you're telling my story . I drive a school bus in my second career , the kids get regular doses of John Prine . I keep it PG with the little ones , high schoolers get a kick out of giving my stomach to Milwaukee if they run out of beer.................technology changes , human nature doesn't . Unfortunately there are too many holes in daddy's arm , where all the money goes , no matter where I go . thanks !
So, by keeping it PG for the little ones, are you saying, "Little pitchers have big ears?" -lol. I actually use that phrase a lot. That's very cool that you have an outlet to share John with the younger generations.
A Florida Son I know just what you are saying. The reason we could remember John's lyrics, even drunk, were that they were so good! I remember one night in the late 70's, some friends and I were sitting around, playing guitar and drinking beer and singing songs. We played Charlie Daniels Uneasy Rider, I was the only one who knew all the lyrics. After we finish I could not find my beer. One of the others said "you can remember all the words to a 10 year old song but you can't remember where you put your beer 10 minutes ago! I guess the song was just more important!
Mark Nebhut Holy Donald And Lydia, I know exactly what you're saying. Taking a trip to L.A. when the tire blew, and stopping in at the Do Drop Inn... I think I was on that trip, or I may have drank your beer when mine was empty but I was too drunk to walk to the fridge - lol.
I am old enough to remember this from 1973, age does have some advantages. John had his band with him but started by saying that their instruments were still at the airport. Nevertheless he played a brilliant solo set that included some of his beautifully understated masterpieces including 'Donald and Lydia', 'Paradise', 'Sam Stone', and I believe the haunting, 'Hello in There'. Many many thanks for posting.
This song brings back so many memories. My father used to play this song on his guitar when I was little. He's been gone almost a decade now, bittersweet but awesome nonetheless.
Rest in Peace Ms. Phillips, may you and your pen name forever be remembered as the voice of reason which John Prine so lovingly sings about in his song.
I was lucky enough to see this when it was aired - started a habit I haven,t broken yet (and don,t intend to).God bless ya John and thanks for all the years of great songs and the Joy you,ve brought
I played the classic anti war song "No man's land" by Eric Bogle at a gig last night. An American (about my age - 68) said he had never heard the song. He asked me if I had heard "Sam Stone" by this fellow. Until last night I had never heard of John Prine although I have been gigging solo and with band for 57 years. Funny that. Still nobody has heard of me but, looking at recent footage, I think John Prine has had a harder life than me. Peace.
A friend of mine in college told me about this song in 1983, sang what little he could remember, and gave us both a good laugh. Every so often I get the chorus in my head and wish I could hear the song. A few minutes ago, and it dawned on me: "RUclips!" So, here I am. What a funny song! Don't know why it took so long to think of looking here; I've done the same with many other songs, including: "Shaving Cream", "I Like Beer -- It Makes Me a Jolly Good Fellow", "Batman's Grandmother", and others.
This brings me back in time , my sons father and I had the album lol Rick Dupuis and Lisa Savard, back in the late seventy to early 80s , I had the time of my life.From Arnprior, canada
I also love John Prime!! Some friends gave me that album in 1977 as a going away present when I got transfered from my job. I got hooked!! He is a GREAT writer!
@wilderberry2 I am a 6 month old fetus who was born premature. I'm currently residing in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit of my local hospital. They're piping John Prine's entire discography into my unit on a 24 hour basis. Nurses say I'm progressing at a remarkable rate--much better than they had originally hoped. I am John Prine's youngest fan.
there was this fellow at the circus that I worked at and he could play and sing some of these songs this was one of my favorites, this and rocky raccoon(beatles of corse) Tom was his first name, but none of us used our real names. Mine was Doc
To all Flamewarriors and anyone who mentions Justin Whoever-he-is Noisemaker, Noisemaker Ya have no complaint You are what you are And you ain't what you ain't ...
John Prine - "The first time other than the army when I left the states I went to Italy. Rome. I wanted a newspaper, I liked to read the papers, and all they had was the International Herald Tribune, which is all the tragic news in the world crammed into six pages with no sports results and no comics. And yet here's my old friend "Dear Abby." She was the only relief in the whole paper. That's where I wrote most of the song - in Rome, Italy, that is."
A lot of people perform music - very few have something to say.
Beautiful song.
The music business has filtered the artist out of popular music
Rest in Peace John. So sad to loose such a talented poet and musician, with a great voice. R.I.P.
I was listening to WMMR radio in Philadelphia in 1973, when they played this song. I did not know who John Prine was. At "Signed, Just Married" I burst out laughing. The next day I went and bought Sweet Revenge. Loved it and bought his two prior albums. Now I have all his albums. I saw Prine in Georgetown in 1980, at the Beacon Theatre in 2004 and in Brooklyn in 2018. I sang his songs (off key) Paradise, Please Don't Bury Me, Christmas in Prison and Blue Umbrella to my 3 kids at bedtime. They took me to see him in Brooklyn. I miss the guy, one of my favorites.
Hey,bro! I am 69...You are who you are!.. Few singers can say something wise and make the listener think. John was a wise preacher of his life position, do as I do, think as I do! My friend, you and I are participating in this test! Thank you
I saw John Prine play in Dec '71 at Middlesex County College in NJ. After the show my sister and I were the only ones to speak with this incredible and very humble "young kid" back in the boy's locker room. He wore jeans and a denim shirt. Almost too bashful to talk with us. His mgr was there who said it John's 2nd public appearance having performed at NYC's "The Bitter End" the night before. I was 18yrs old back then, Prine I guess in his early 20's. You just knew he was going to make it big.
you are what you are and you ain't what you ain't...........
"You are what you are, and you ain't what you ain't."Wiser words have rarely, if ever, been writ.
"I am what I am". Popeye,,,
Dear Abby passed away today (01/17/2013) at 94 years old. First thing I thought of was this song and looked it up here. Great version...long live Prine!
I'm 64 and never made it home from woodstock. It makes me feel good and safe to know there are still lots of you listening out there. PEACE FOREVER LUV Doreen
Wow lucky,I never would have come back either
Bill Bishop You must have taken the brown acid.
Dear Abby, dear Abby, I'm getting too old. My high has sunk low and my hot's getting cold. I'd like to remember when life was a breeze - but I'm just passing gas and I burp when I sneeze. Signed 'Old Geezer'
"Old Geezer, old geezer, you have no complaint. You ain't what you was - never were what you ain't. So quit all your griping and puttin' on aires, cause nobody's listenin' and nobody cares. Signed Dear Abby." Thanks for the fun, John. sc
Fucking awesome and too fucking true. Signed John Prine friend.
John Prine for president! You know that it's the right choice!
him or Alice Cooper
A hell of a lot better than what we are stuck with now. At least, he had a marvelous soul. We miss you, John!
His lyrics are spectacular.
John prine wow so glad I clicked RUclips did good
The man has an endless list of wonderful songs. This is one I have always enjoyed and found great humor in it. Even though this is in a lot of ways one of his lighter tunes from the period, it sure does have a lot to say in three minutes and forty seconds worth of time. I consider myself lucky to have been introduced to his music when I was twenty.
A poet with a guitar. He was an artist. RIP John. Hope to meet you someday.
Takes me back to the first time I saw him do this live, I think at a Willie Nelson 4th of July picnic, with 10000 drunk music lovers.
A true American troubadore in the purest sense of the word!! Prine's as good a songwriter that has ever lived, IMO.
Someone actually wrote "Dear Abby" using the Noisemaker verse. She responded to it with her usual words of wisdom and a few days later, she acknowledged that she'd been punked. Damn, I'm old and I remember too many silly things!
Nobody can tell the truth quite the way John Prine does. Thanks for everything, John and Abby.
Thank you John Prine!
I'm amazed by the clarity of sound in this live version. When listening to Prine, I think back to younger days, sitting around a bonfire at a keg party, loud talking, screeches of laughter, the occasional disagreement, heavy metal music blasting through the speakers, then it went from Black Sabbath to John Prine. Everyone would forget their conversation and start singing along like it was a peace rally and a chorus of Kumbaya. It's like some kind of black magic the way the drunker we were, the better we could remember Prine's lyrics. Although thinking back, if those night sessions had been recorded, we may have heard 100 people singing 100 different nonsensical songs to the tune of John's song -lol. I seen that you had some info at the bottom of the screen popping up, I was trying to keep up but missed some of it. I'm not sure if you mentioned that John Prine had been highly noted by other artists like Johnny Cash, Dylan, even Roger Waters and more. He's one of the greats that are famous, and yet unknown. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
nice.... john wouldn't care the lyrics weren't his.. he'd enjoy the nonsense too.... just guessing.
A Florida Son add a lefty , and you're telling my story . I drive a school bus in my second career , the kids get regular doses of John Prine . I keep it PG with the little ones , high schoolers get a kick out of giving my stomach to Milwaukee if they run out of beer.................technology changes , human nature doesn't . Unfortunately there are too many holes in daddy's arm , where all the money goes , no matter where I go . thanks !
So, by keeping it PG for the little ones, are you saying, "Little pitchers have big ears?" -lol. I actually use that phrase a lot. That's very cool that you have an outlet to share John with the younger generations.
A Florida Son I know just what you are saying. The reason we could remember John's lyrics, even drunk, were that they were so good! I remember one night in the late 70's, some friends and I were sitting around, playing guitar and drinking beer and singing songs. We played Charlie Daniels Uneasy Rider, I was the only one who knew all the lyrics. After we finish I could not find my beer. One of the others said "you can remember all the words to a 10 year old song but you can't remember where you put your beer 10 minutes ago! I guess the song was just more important!
Mark Nebhut Holy Donald And Lydia, I know exactly what you're saying. Taking a trip to L.A. when the tire blew, and stopping in at the Do Drop Inn... I think I was on that trip, or I may have drank your beer when mine was empty but I was too drunk to walk to the fridge - lol.
J.P. wrote some of the most entertaining lyrics ever!He is a natural and a national treassure!
john prines music and lyrics never age greatest singer songwriter of our times
My ol man played this on record ....ALOT. Takes me back.
John Prine has been my favorite for over 30 years!
I am old enough to remember this from 1973, age does have some advantages. John had his band with him but started by saying that their instruments were still at the airport. Nevertheless he played a brilliant solo set that included some of his beautifully understated masterpieces including 'Donald and Lydia', 'Paradise', 'Sam Stone', and I believe the haunting, 'Hello in There'. Many many thanks for posting.
John is a folk song singer. Thanks man .
And a dam good one too.
Just a good old song that gets stuck n ur head. Love it.
Dear ABby was a contestant on the January 16, 2013 episode of Celebrity BUcket Kickers.
This song brings back so many memories. My father used to play this song on his guitar when I was little. He's been gone almost a decade now, bittersweet but awesome nonetheless.
Rest in Peace Ms. Phillips, may you and your pen name forever be remembered as the voice of reason which John Prine so lovingly sings about in his song.
this may be from 1973 but the lyrics are so accurate like "my kids are all freaks" and "you aint what you aint"
im 23 and a john prine fan. i remember only knowing him by the song illegal smile but than i started listening to more of his songs and im a big fan
I wonder who remember 's Dear Abby ?? Besides John n me ,, rip john ❤🎶🎵🎶🌹❤❣😥🥀
I was lucky enough to see this when it was aired - started a habit I haven,t broken yet (and don,t intend to).God bless ya John and thanks for all the years of great songs and the Joy you,ve brought
I played the classic anti war song "No man's land" by Eric Bogle at a gig last night. An American (about my age - 68) said he had never heard the song. He asked me if I had heard "Sam Stone" by this fellow. Until last night I had never heard of John Prine although I have been gigging solo and with band for 57 years. Funny that. Still nobody has heard of me but, looking at recent footage, I think John Prine has had a harder life than me. Peace.
........ as we all sit and enjoy the fruit of that hard life
I hope you've heard of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt
One of my music heroes :)
You have good taste!
Everyone here has good taste if you love John Prine
Para-Dice Rider I feel sorry for people that don't know John Prine.
What a fabulous song writer!!!
A friend of mine in college told me about this song in 1983, sang what little he could remember, and gave us both a good laugh. Every so often I get the chorus in my head and wish I could hear the song. A few minutes ago, and it dawned on me: "RUclips!" So, here I am. What a funny song! Don't know why it took so long to think of looking here; I've done the same with many other songs, including: "Shaving Cream", "I Like Beer -- It Makes Me a Jolly Good Fellow", "Batman's Grandmother", and others.
Playing tonight in heaven: John prine and bill withers... Rest well my friends another door being shut only opens the next
Love John Prine . he is a folk singer hero.... "Siiiiiigned Rich-ard"
Become what you are; don't become what you ain't.
Dear Abby,
Rest in peace.
Signed a fan
Rest in Peace John Prine. Thanks for your music!
his songs will last forever!
this is the first John Prine song I heard years ago, I listen to him all the time now and also Iris Dement.... I listen to both of them everyday..
It is AMAZING how a song can take you back 31 years.... jeeessshhhh!
great song
A voice of reason and thoughtfullness is gone. May she rest is peace.
I’m not a folk fan but this guy ... oh hell yeah
came here after reading a reference to this song from a Russ Smith column. Glad I did.
Such a great song!!
Thank you John. It was so good to finally see you in Vicar Street.
I was born in 1971 and my dad always played John Prine on his turn table and we hooked up those big headphones. Great memories for me!
Your songs are still being heard from heaven.
Thank you John for your lifetime treasure of songs.
*wow* haven heard this if forever and was just thinking about it the other day and I stumble across it by accident.....
you go john
She helped me grow up. Unforgettable. RIP
thanx for playing the song last night John. Dear Abbey never shows up for shows.
My dad used to sing this a lot when I was a child. He's been gone 18 years now. He committed suicide in 1999.
These songs make me feel close to him.
This brings me back in time , my sons father and I had the album lol Rick Dupuis and Lisa Savard, back in the late seventy to early 80s , I had the time of my life.From Arnprior, canada
this prime is so AWESOME
this was one of my FAVORITES of his!
Waaaah. I miss my idol and namesake.
I also love John Prime!! Some friends gave me that album in 1977 as a going away present when I got transfered from my job. I got hooked!! He is a GREAT writer!
Genius
oh lord I love John Prine...RIP Dear Abby
fantastic...remember this show. super. take me back, now !
this is amazing its true,,,you are what you are and you aint what you aint
Damn this guy could write a song
John Prine music is Soul music to me he writes words to live by
This was 1982. darn I feel old.
Saw him and Bonnie Koloc at the Earl of Old Town in Chicago. Amazing stuff.
\
Had to come listen to this great song. Have a pleasant journey to your next level Dear Abby. Signed Noise Maker :)
@wilderberry2 I am a 6 month old fetus who was born premature. I'm currently residing in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit of my local hospital. They're piping John Prine's entire discography into my unit on a 24 hour basis. Nurses say I'm progressing at a remarkable rate--much better than they had originally hoped. I am John Prine's youngest fan.
I'm the newest John Prine fan.just discovered him 60 seconds ago
John Prine is an American Treasure!
"my rights are all wrong" signed, bewilder. A musical example of Vonnegut 'echoalia' ..~
If it weren't so expensive, I'd wish I were dead
oct 29th st. john's nfld... looking forward .. again
Great song John. R.I.P. Dear Abby
there was this fellow at the circus that I worked at and he could play and sing some of these songs this was one of my favorites, this and rocky raccoon(beatles of corse) Tom was his first name, but none of us used our real names. Mine was Doc
Now who are we going to take our problems to? FRIENDS? RIP Dear Abby.
This could be the clip that Bernie Taupin was searching for, as mentioned on his biography.
Wow - the BBC! love this man. Been listening since the 1st album.
For all you people who don't know this guy
sending a lotta love to john
We love Mr. John Prine!!!! SING ON!!! CAn you call John,,tell i',m a big fan!!! Lol!!
RIP Dear Abby, and thank you John Prine
To all Flamewarriors and anyone who mentions Justin Whoever-he-is
Noisemaker, Noisemaker
Ya have no complaint
You are what you are
And you ain't what you ain't ...
Great song!
Best advice ever.
John Prine - "The first time other than the army when I left the states I went to Italy. Rome. I wanted a newspaper, I liked to read the papers, and all they had was the International Herald Tribune, which is all the tragic news in the world crammed into six pages with no sports results and no comics. And yet here's my old friend "Dear Abby." She was the only relief in the whole paper. That's where I wrote most of the song - in Rome, Italy, that is."
One of my Favorite
I love this song it is the best
just bought tickets for the dec. show in kc mo. Lookin forward to a great show
This is great advice, should be used in schools.
first to listen to him,he,s great
I think we sang this great song at Camp Onas!
one of the greats
RIP John Prine
great then even greater now