John Prine - When I Get To Heaven (Lyric Video)

Lyric video for "When I Get to Heaven" off of 'The Tree of Forgiveness'

FOLLOW JOHN:

Lyrics:
When I get to heaven, I'm gonna shake God's hand
Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand
Then I'm gonna get a guitar and start a rock-n-roll band
Check into a swell hotel; ain't the afterlife grand?
And then I'm gonna get a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah, I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
'Cause this old man is goin' to town
Then as God as my witness, I'm gettin' back into showbusiness
I'm gonna open up a nightclub called "The Tree of Forgiveness"
And forgive everybody ever done me any harm
Well, I might even invite a few choice critics, those syph'litic parasitics
Buy 'em a pint of [?] and smother 'em with my charm
'Cause then I'm gonna get a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
Yeah this old man is goin' to town
Yeah when I get to heaven, I'm gonna take that wristwatch off my arm
What are you gonna do with time after you've bought the farm?
And them I'm gonna go find my mom and dad, and good old brother Doug
Well I bet him and cousin Jackie are still cuttin' up a rug
I wanna see all my mama's sisters, 'cause that's where all the love starts
I miss 'em all like crazy, bless their little hearts
And I always will remember these words my daddy said
He said, "Buddy, when you're dead, you're a dead pecker-head"
I hope to prove him wrong, that is, when I get to heaven
'Cause I'm gonna have a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
Yeah this old man is goin' to town
Yeah this old man is goin' to town

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.

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 #treeofforgiveness

[soozidarling]

My dad died in February. When planning his memorial service, I went through his playlists to start making a playlist for the memorial. When I opened up the app, this was the last song he had listened to.

It took me three months to work up the courage to listen to it. I was expecting it to be a sad song, and instead was greeted with a joyful song about enjoying things and forgiving people. Which is exactly the kind of thing Dad would have wanted for us. I'm so glad this was the last song he chose to listen to. It feels like it was his way of saying he'll be okay. I miss him so much.

Tonight, I'm having a cocktail of vodka and ginger ale. Here's to you pops.

[Remembrancer]

He didn’t write this song for himself. He wrote it for us, so we’d be able to deal with his passage.

[barrygioportmorien]

Yesterday we lost Toby Keith, I hope John Prine will meet him at the golden gates, and they will have a cocktail, Vodka and ginger ale, together. RIP Toby and John.

[joekopsick]

"More blessings than one man can stand" is damn right. This guy brought so much joy to people through his music and his stories

[mtndweller]

My dad just passed on August 10th. He had blood cancer. Had a bone marrow transplant in May that failed. Every complication he could have gotten, he did. From the chemo, from the transplant, from the lack of immune system. He got a booster transplant in June and that also failed. He was living through hell. He had one last chance of trying a third transplant of cord blood, but his liver started failing and the doctor had to take that option off the table. They loaded him up with an extra unit of blood and gave him a life expectancy of 4-5 days. Oddly enough, he seemed happier after hearing that. Knowing that his suffering would soon be over. He was a prine fan for as long as I can remember. We listened to this song several times in those last 4-5 days, along with so many other great Prine songs. He made it to day 6... my dad never was one to follow rules. I have a little peace knowing he is up there helping John with that 9 mile long cigarette... exchanging stories and having a hell of a party.
Rest in peace Dad. "If you aren't livin on the edge, you're taking up space" 💗

[paulkethman]

God speed John. Save me a a table at the Tree of Forgiveness.

[blindjohn]

John’s drinking a vodka and Ginger ale with his mom and dad “i miss them all like crazy”

[winott]

Hang in there, John. Heaven can wait a while longer.

[AI-mghy]

My mom passed 3 days ago. It's 4 am and I've been sitting up all night listening to old songs she loved. I know John Prine was one of her favorites, and this one popped up in my feed. This guy's making some complicated tears come out right now. What a storyteller.

[augustmoon]

Mom Transcended Dec 23, 2018. This song found me a few days after her service for the first time. John was our guy. Anytime we rode together..She would have the CD Ready to go. And we would sing. Just like when I was a kid. This one helped me so damn much. I laughed till I cried. She had metastatic Lung cancer and quit smoking. So She Definitely Smoke a Cigarette 9 miles long.. probably 2😂.
She sent me a message this morning..and this song popped right back in my head.
It's fitting that He moved on shortly after. She still sings with me. Damn I miss our laughing till we need inhailers..
We talked every single day for hours about the dumbest shit..Love &Hugs to all of you who know. And to all of you who dont. Treasure Every Single Second Like we did. ❤

[carlryan]

Stood at the back door in Missoula, Montana waiting to get a John Prine autograph but didn’t see him. I’m 75 years old and normally wouldn’t walk across the street to watch Jesus build a pyramid so?.

[seanmeisner]

Maybe John Prine has never been a big star, but he's never been anything less than a colossal talent. He's made this old world a better place.

[stefanomagaddino]

" When I get to Heaven " was the first song I listened to after hearing of Johns death. This Viet Nam vet isn't too proud to admit that I was sitting there laughing and crying at the same time. Love you, John.

[martyharris]

You're there now John. From all your fans...have one on us!!

[Theresa]

This is for all of those grieving in the comment section: no one ever truly dies. Your loved one is present, talk to them, they will talk back within their own capacity. That may be though the remembrance of a song, the appearance of a butterfly, or even finding a penny with their birth year or something along those lines. They are here helping you move mountains. Try to think of them as part of your spiritual team of protection.

[AmyAnnLand]

RIP to a pure legend. I hope you're resting easy, smoking a cigarette and drinking a cocktail.

[jonkeith]

Cash once said "John Prine is 24 years old and writes songs like he's 240 years old!"

[larrybachmusic]

"This old man is goin' to town..." Heartbroken.

[keithschmidt]

Some good comments here, i believe John Prine wrote this song because it's how he felt and what he believed, and if anyone felt the same and it made them happy, he was happy and if you listened and didn't like it l, i doubt he could care less. RIP. Mr Prine.

[JohnnieTaylor-chky]

He was one of the most under-rated performers. I love this song.