John Prine and Iris DeMent - In Spite of Ourselves (Live From Sessions at West 54th)

John Prine and Iris DeMent sing "In Spite of Ourselves" Live from the Sessions on 54th St.

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Lyrics:

She don't like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go
He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He's my baby
And I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.
She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She takes a lickin'
And keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go.
He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a whacked out weirdo and a lovebug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's howlin' at the moon
He's my baby I don't mean maybe
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite our noses
Right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes.
(Spoken) In spite of ourselves

Singer. Songwriter. Poet. Icon.
John Prine was an artist’s artist with a list of admirers and collaborators that cut across musical genres and generations - names like Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Brandi Carlile, George Strait, Kurt Vile, Miranda Lambert, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, among others.

Though he was born in Maywood, Illinois, in 1946, John declared himself “pure Kentuckian” throughout his life. His parents, Willian and Verna, were natives of Paradise, Kentucky. The family would spend summers there in Muhlenberg County, where John listened to bluegrass music and studied the guitar styles of country music heroes Doc Watson and Merle Travis with his older brother, Dave.

In Maywood, he worked as a postman before being drafted into the army in 1966. It was as a postman that John began to write the songs that would connect with so many. He sang at Chicago folk clubs, where he was introduced to singer-songwriter Kris Kristopherson, who invited John to open for him in New York. It was there that Jerry Wexler, president of Atlantic Records, first heard Prine and offered him a recording contract. His self-titled debut album was released in 1971 and featured a list of songs now regarded as classics, including “Paradise,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “Illegal Smile,” Hello in There,” and “Sam Stone.” Prine received the first of his 13 Grammy nominations in 1972 for Best New Artist. He would record three more albums for Atlantic and another three with Asylum.

His profound impact on American music was amplified in 1981 when John co-founded Oh Boy Records, and independent label where he released most of his subsequent work and which gave voice and respect to so many fellow singers and songwriters.

In his distinguished career, John won four Grammys and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2020). He was a three-time recipient of the Artist of the Year Award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards, which also honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting. He won the Pen/New England Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award (2016) and was enshrined in the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2019). In addition, John was named Honorary Poet Laureate of Illinois (2020).

John Prine passed away on April 7, 2020 due to complications from Covid-19. The outpouring of grief and love from his fan community was staggering. Over 500,000 viewers participated in an online memorial and tribute that raised more than half a million dollars for Covid-related community causes. In 2021, the Prine family created the Hello In There Foundation to honor John’s spirit of generosity towards those in need. Fiona Prine and her sons continue to operate and expand the reach of John’s independent record label, Oh Boy Records.

#JohnPrine #IrisDeMent #InSpiteofOurselves

[DwightBeach-nsdw]

Sittin here smokin one and listenin to. John Prine im 72 years old .

[rshackleford]

Prine is a legend, but I'm here for Iris! Who's with me?

[Shirley-fmyr]

When COVID took John it took an unreplaceable friend of us all see you in heaven brother.

[sharyldutter]

My Honey and I got married in 2023. This was our first dance song together.💕😻💕🤣

[freedomaintfree]

Iris DeMent's voice is perfect for this duet.

[maxcudd]

If you ever need to know how important John Prine was to Music and Humanity, just read these comments. I miss you John.

[samimcfee]

I suddenly lost my partner of 34 years last last month. I'm devastated, so here I am at 4:05 am, can't sleep, and thinking of the songs we used to sing to each other. I miss her so much. We thought this song was written for us and it made us so happy.💔

[michaelmiceli]

Quite possibly the greatest love song ever written

[chriscawthorn]

I was a young man contemplating suicide one night. I came across Austin City Limits and heard you singing Sam Stone. I don't think I'd ever heard a more beautiful song. So I kept watching, and watching it again and again until the sun came up. I cant thank you enough for your music that night and will be forever grateful to both yourself and Austin City Limits for saving a young mans life that night. You are gone but will never ever be forgotten. I just wish I could have seen you live so I could have thanked you for saving my life that night in person. R.I.P beautiful poet.

[joemicucci]

We lost a American treasure tonight. RIP

[jeanhartely]

Yup. My husband died two months ago, and this was our song. I asked myself tonight, "Do you want to cry?" And I guess I did want to cry, because I played this song, and I cried.

[amylinkletter]

It's yrs later and I still end up listening to john Prine. I can still hear my Grammy saying Amy turn that up. Makes me cry but I'm glad I have her reminding me of memories on how much she loved me. She gave up her life to take care of a 5 year old girl and gave me so much love and happiness. She died in 1989. I miss her so much

[laurabens]

I cried and cried when I heard John died.Covid became so real that day. I listened to his music for hours each day for months while I sewed masks to be given away. His music is so comforting. As others have said, i felt like i lost an old friend.

[dwood]

Two years ago, I dedicated this song to my Husband on our 13th Wedding Anniversary. O8/30/23 will be our 15th yr anniversary. Sadly, my husband passed away 7 months ago from COVID. I'll be posting this song on our upcoming anniversary and I KNOW my husband will be enjoying it from Heaven <3 RIP DW

[ShipticCanker]

The happiest, goofiest, funniest love song ever. So why does it put a lump in my throat? And how is this not everybody’s go-to wedding song? Pure magic

[rockymillwood]

My ex-wife and I used to cover this song when we played. It's a bittersweet memory, but wouldn't change a thing. In spite of ourselves.😢❤

[quixotetuber]

We always had pet names for each other. This song came up again after I brought her home from the hospital. I started calling her my "big door prize." It made her smile when she didn't have much to smile about. Cancer took her from me just months later. She is still the best thing I ever had, my big door prize. How fortunate we are to have such creative artists such as Mr. Prine that help define the things that matter to us most in life.

[sawbuzz]

John Prine, the best Folk singer ever, bar none!

[zackdavis]

Rest in peace to my personal favorite songwriter ❤

[camndino]

Iris Dement is an angel just sharing her voice with us mortals.