I saw John Prine and so I listened. I love his thoughts expressed in song, even if I don't always get the deeper meaning. So easy to listen to and not in your face. I think your interpretation was great, Don!
I always enjoy a John Prine reaction. Thanks! And here's an explanation from John on where it came from. "I never do my homework until after I'm done writing. And at the time, I thought that Memphisto was the city in ancient Egypt that Memphis, Tennessee, was named after. But the city in Egypt is Memphis. I also got it confused with Mephisto, Mephistopheles, the devil. But I thought, that's okay, it's kind of like the devil going to Memphis, Tennessee. I wrote this one under pressure from my producer, Howie Epstein. We were 12 cuts into The Missing Years, and Howie says, "We need one or two more cuts." And I went, "You're kidding. From where? We've been working for nine months. I don't have anything hiding on the shelf. You could take a autopsy, and you won't find a song inside of me." So I went and locked myself in a hotel room and went, "If he wants a song, he'll get a song." I tried to write one from as far in left field as I could and came up with "Memphisto." I'm convinced I was just working the whole song to get around the punch line "exactly Odo, Quasimodo." It's just hip lingo, kind of like "No shit, Sherlock." I'd had it for about four years, trying to work it into song." ~John Prine
I think he explained it once that he wanted something to sound kind of evil like the devil, but something that sounded like something that people had heard of. Memphisto.
I think he was combining Memphis and Mephisto. Mephisto is a comic book character. From Villains Wiki: Monarch of Evil, Mephisto rules a fiery nether realm and loves impersonating the biblical Satan. Empowered by the souls of the damned, he often strikes deceptive bargains with the living, making him one of the evilest and most untrustworthy beings in existence.
I couldn't figure out this song except that he used a lot of words that rhymed. I have heard of the Memphisto Waltz, and now I'm going to see what it sounds like here on youtube. Maybe it's scary.
I just did a quick search. It was a famous classical piece written by Franz Liszt and was also the name of an occult movie in 1971. That's all I know so far.
As per john's notes: "I never do my homework until after I'm done writing. And at the time, I thought that Memphisto was the city in ancient Egypt that Memphis, Tennessee, was named after. But the city in Egypt is Memphis. I also got it confused with Mephisto, Mephistopheles, the devil. But I thought, that's okay, it's kind of like the devil going to Memphis, Tennessee. I wrote this one under pressure from my producer, Howie Epstein. We were 12 cuts into The Missing Years, and Howie says, "We need one or two more cuts." And I went, "You're kidding. From where? We've been working for nine months. I don't have anything hiding on the shelf. You could take a autopsy, and you won't find a song inside of me." So I went and locked myself in a hotel room and went, "If he wants a song, he'll get a song." I tried to write one from as far in left field as I could and came up with "Memphisto." I'm convinced I was just working the whole song to get around the punch line "exactly Odo, Quasimodo." It's just hip lingo, kind of like "No shit, Sherlock." I'd had it for about four years, trying to work it into song." ~John Prine
![John Prine -- Paradise [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pkTPxK-WGv4/mqdefault.jpg)
![John Prine -- Paradise [REACTION]](/img/tr.png)
![Judy Collins -- Someday Soon [REACTION/RATING]](/img/1.gif)
I saw John Prine and so I listened. I love his thoughts expressed in song, even if I don't always get the deeper meaning. So easy to listen to and not in your face. I think your interpretation was great, Don!
Thank you Doug for this excellent request. New one to me and I love it, I always love John. Thanks Don for the terrific reaction
Never get tired of John Prine. Loved the reaction. Great request!!
This was very, very different and unusual. Unique arrangement and clever and interesting lyrically.
I always enjoy a John Prine reaction. Thanks! And here's an explanation from John on where it came from. "I never do my homework until after I'm done writing. And at the time, I thought that Memphisto was the city in ancient Egypt that Memphis, Tennessee, was named after. But the city in Egypt is Memphis. I also got it confused with Mephisto, Mephistopheles, the devil. But I thought, that's okay, it's kind of like the devil going to Memphis, Tennessee. I wrote this one under pressure from my producer, Howie Epstein. We were 12 cuts into The Missing Years, and Howie says, "We need one or two more cuts." And I went, "You're kidding. From where? We've been working for nine months. I don't have anything hiding on the shelf. You could take a autopsy, and you won't find a song inside of me." So I went and locked myself in a hotel room and went, "If he wants a song, he'll get a song." I tried to write one from as far in left field as I could and came up with "Memphisto." I'm convinced I was just working the whole song to get around the punch line "exactly Odo, Quasimodo." It's just hip lingo, kind of like "No shit, Sherlock." I'd had it for about four years, trying to work it into song." ~John Prine
I think he explained it once that he wanted something to sound kind of evil like the devil, but something that sounded like something that people had heard of. Memphisto.
I think he was combining Memphis and Mephisto. Mephisto is a comic book character.
From Villains Wiki:
Monarch of Evil, Mephisto rules a fiery nether realm and loves impersonating the biblical Satan. Empowered by the souls of the damned, he often strikes deceptive bargains with the living, making him one of the evilest and most untrustworthy beings in existence.
I couldn't figure out this song except that he used a lot of words that rhymed. I have heard of the Memphisto Waltz, and now I'm going to see what it sounds like here on youtube. Maybe it's scary.
I just did a quick search. It was a famous classical piece written by Franz Liszt and was also the name of an occult movie in 1971. That's all I know so far.
As per john's notes: "I never do my homework until after I'm done writing. And at the time, I thought that Memphisto was the city in ancient Egypt that Memphis, Tennessee, was named after. But the city in Egypt is Memphis. I also got it confused with Mephisto, Mephistopheles, the devil. But I thought, that's okay, it's kind of like the devil going to Memphis, Tennessee. I wrote this one under pressure from my producer, Howie Epstein. We were 12 cuts into The Missing Years, and Howie says, "We need one or two more cuts." And I went, "You're kidding. From where? We've been working for nine months. I don't have anything hiding on the shelf. You could take a autopsy, and you won't find a song inside of me." So I went and locked myself in a hotel room and went, "If he wants a song, he'll get a song." I tried to write one from as far in left field as I could and came up with "Memphisto." I'm convinced I was just working the whole song to get around the punch line "exactly Odo, Quasimodo." It's just hip lingo, kind of like "No shit, Sherlock." I'd had it for about four years, trying to work it into song." ~John Prine
You should listen to John Rich Revelation
Thank you for using 'a little while' instead of 'it's been a minute.' SO sick of the 'minute' thing, hot or not.
Memphisto used to be a shoe company.😊?
@karowak1 If it wasn’t it’s now sure to become one. Ha!