If heartaches was commercials, we'd all be on TV.
John PrineRead
I always had an affinity for older people. I had a job delivering newspapers, and one place I had to go was an old people's home. Some people would introduce you to their neighbors as if you were a nephew or grandson. They didn't get many visitors, so they acted like you were coming to see them. And that stuck with me for a long time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the profound connections formed between young and old, emphasizing the importance of companionship and attention given to the elderly.
In this quote, John Prine shares a personal experience that highlights the deep bonds formed with older individuals, particularly in a setting where companionship is scarce. By delivering newspapers to an old people's home, he learned that these interactions held significant value for the residents, who often treated him like family due to their loneliness. Prine’s reflections point out the importance of connection across generations and how simple acts of kindness can leave a lasting impression.
Themes
ElderlyCompanionshipConnectionGenerationsLoneliness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing volunteers at an elderly care facility, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of their efforts.
More from John Prine
All quotes →One time, I went to school, and they asked us all to find out where our roots were. It's goin' around the class, and the kids were going, 'I'm Swedish-German' or 'I'm English-Irish.' They got to me and I said, 'Pure Kentuckian.'
John PrineRead
I just tried to come up with some honest songs. What I was writing about was real plain stuff that I wasn't sure was going to be interesting to other people. But I guess it was...I've never had any discipline whatsoever. I just wait on a song like I was waiting for lightning to strike. And eventually-usually sometime around 3 in the morning-I'll have a good idea. By the time the sun comes up, hopefully, I'll have a decent song.
John PrineRead
I feel basically good about my career because it's remained constant. What I do has never been especially in vogue or gotten high on the charts. At the same time, I haven't had to stop performing any of my music because it aged in style.
John PrineRead
You know that first love that leaves you? You never forget that, especially if you're a songwriter. I must have gotten nine songs out of that girl.
John PrineRead
You get to thinking that because you've written 50 or 100 songs, you think maybe you know how to do it. But when they're not coming along, you're just as in the dark as you ever were. When they're coming along, there's nothing to it. Sometimes it's so easy, it's like you're a court stenographer.
John PrineRead
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