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John Prine — All the Best
Album: The Missing Years
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 956









Released: 1991
Length: 3:22
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I wish you love
And happiness
I guess I wish you
All the best
I wish you don't
Do like I do
And ever fall in love with
Someone like you
Cause if you fell
Just like I did
You'd probably walk around the block
Like a little kid.
But kids don't know
They can only guess
How hard it is
To wish you happiness

I guess that love
Is like a Christmas card
You decorate a tree
You throw it in the yard
It decays and dies
And the snowmen melt
Well I once knew love
I knew how love felt
Yeah I knew love
Love knew me
And when I walked
Love walked with me
And I got no hate
And I got no pride
Well I got so much love
That I cannot hide

Say you drive a Chevy
Say you drive a Ford
You say you drive around the town
Till you just get bored
Then you change your mind
For something else to do
And your heart gets bored with your mind
And it changes you
Well it's a doggone shame
And it's an awful mess
I wish you love
I wish you happiness
I wish you love
I wish you happiness
I guess I wish you
All the best
Comments (64)add comment
 mach-hog wrote:

Such deceptively simple grammar and diction conveying the most complex of Emotion. One of Prine’s exceptional qualities. ❤️



Can't put it any better than that. 
11.
 eyke wrote:

written about going to an ex-wife's wedding. 

Thank you John for all the stories. RIP



In one of his YouTube performances of the song, he says he got a divorce for Christmas.  Made me laugh - I got one for Christmas too - and it put all the Christmas imagery of the song into context , cards (that get thrown away), trees that decay and die
Recently watched an Austin City Limits episode of John Prine appearances. First was around '72 (?), then about every five years after that. Nice.
c.
One of America’s finest song writers. So influential for all who followed.
 mach-hog wrote:

Such deceptively simple grammar and diction conveying the most complex of Emotion. One of Prine’s exceptional qualities. ❤️



Very well put! RIP 
Missing John Prine.
 idiot_wind wrote:

his brevity made all his songs soooooooooooooo easy to listen to, over and over and over



A lot of country music is like this, still now. Deceptively simple lyrics, spoken clearly. It's one of the hallmarks of country music. One of the reasons I love it.
Holy cow does he sound like Bob Dylan
and that brevity seems to leads to the syncopation
his brevity made all his songs soooooooooooooo easy to listen to, over and over and over
Such deceptively simple grammar and diction conveying the most complex of Emotion. One of Prine’s exceptional qualities. ❤️
Hard to beat this one.. I wish you happiness. 
written about going to an ex-wife's wedding. 

Thank you John for all the stories. RIP
Well I once knew love
I knew how love felt
Yeah I knew love
Love knew me
And when I walked
Love walked with me
And I got no hate
And I got no pride
Well I got so much love
That I cannot hide

RIP John.  : (
 Edm23Rocha wrote:

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. From an amazing album! 



John, we will miss you...
 Stefen wrote:
The most recent comment was almost seven years ago.
 
... and 3 years later, I posted a new one...

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. From an amazing album! 
The most recent comment was almost seven years ago.

John Prine & Jim James - All The Best, Live(2010)

John Prine with Jim James of My Morning Jacket performed "All The Best" on the Late Show with David Letterman on 5/26/2010.

"Gets better every single time I hear it...amazing song, love seeing the older and younger generation's singing together, gives me hope for the future, no horrible auto-tune here."  jabstyle22

"wow! this is awesome. Never knew this happened. Love both of these guys. Thx so much for posting this."     kipster9

 




Thistle wrote:
How old is this music? 60's?
Does it matter? Good music is never dated.
How old is this music? 60's?
One of John Prine's best. Great album if you like his music.
Any time I reach for the volume to turn it UP on a song I'm not familiar with, it's a good thing. This one is great!
Best damn singing mailman there is!
Alafia wrote:
the album this song is from, "The Missing Years" is excellent from start to finish...
Especially the title track..Jesus-the missing years....
the album this song is from, "The Missing Years" is excellent from start to finish...
Wow, this song is so very appropriate for the way I'm feeling at the moment.
Ohhhhh maaannn!!! Louis Armstrong, The Pogues, Neil Halstead, and John Prine...and my favorite Prine song to boot...all in like 20 minutes. This makes my whole day. Thanks RP! Dave
the more I hear it, the more I like it...
Always great to hear John Prine. One of the best songwriters ever!
Hearing Prine reminds me of my old friend Jerry. Used to smoke-up while listening to "Illegal Smile"...
IMHO John Prine is one of the best story tellers in the business. I have all of his music and I have to say he is quite a character. I was turned on to him by my ex fiances father and I have been listening ever since. He does a wonderful duet with Bonnie Raitt that is not to be missed.
Just love the sentiment in this song
Happy to hear John Prine. I'd be even happier to hear more. This would go well with Mary Gauthier's Mercy, wouldn't it?
radiojunkie wrote:
Good to hear John Prine again. That voice is unmistakable.
And comforting. A respite.
He's great live. Saw him in a small venue back in the 80s.
great song
Good to hear John Prine again. That voice is unmistakable.
Always great to hear JP. Brings back memories of John and Steve Goodman playing at the First (and last) New England Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival in 1973 somewhere in the wilds of Maine. The Fest was an unorganized disaster, with about 1,500 attendees. But by far the highlight was John and Steve playing together (Seals & Croft were the headliners, go figure :headshake: ). I've been an ardent fan of both since that day (RIP Steve) . Peace
please play more John Prine - LOTS more!
AndyC wrote:
Heard this the first time during a particularly painful breakup, it hit the spot so, I just had to buy the CD and send it to the other party... I *think* she appreciated it :D
Console yourself in what you had if she did, and be glad you lost her if she didn't. ;-) Outstanding tune from Mr. Prine. Among his best, and that's saying something.
nice song, real jem.
Oh, bittersweet song Heard this the first time during a particularly painful breakup, it hit the spot so, I just had to buy the CD and send it to the other party... I *think* she appreciated it :D
If there is a better lyricist, I would be very surprised.
Mmm... John Prine... always brings a smile to my face.
Darlington wrote:
Funny thing happened to me this summer. I was in a rental car on a business trip to Maine. Out of habit I always hit the eject button when I get in a rental car to see if anyone has left a CD in the tray. Sure enough they had, and when I hit eject, Disc One of this CD came out. Very nice. Would recommend anyone who rents a car trying this. It's only happened to me that one time, but who knows....
Hey! Fork it over! I left a Prine CD in my last rental car. And I use the same company you do! Whatever it is...
Definitely an American original.
Darlington wrote:
Funny thing happened to me this summer. I was in a rental car on a business trip to Maine. Out of habit I always hit the eject button when I get in a rental car to see if anyone has left a CD in the tray. Sure enough they had, and when I hit eject, Disc One of this CD came out. Very nice. Would recommend anyone who rents a car trying this. It's only happened to me that one time, but who knows....
Wait! Are you saying that every car will have a John Prine CD?
for me, the intelligent lyrics make this song really memorable. A catchy tune is not everything ...
so upbeat
Woo-hoo! More John Prine!
Funny thing happened to me this summer. I was in a rental car on a business trip to Maine. Out of habit I always hit the eject button when I get in a rental car to see if anyone has left a CD in the tray. Sure enough they had, and when I hit eject, Disc One of this CD came out. Very nice. Would recommend anyone who rents a car trying this. It's only happened to me that one time, but who knows....
Just saw JP last night. The man is always amazing.
YES!
Oh, man... this one always makes me cry.
lowelltr wrote:
YES! John Prine is a (minor) god! And this song is a definite ten, along with "Unlonely" fromt he same album.
I agree with the minor god status. His sound has it's limitations, but what he does with it is masterful. Just an 8 from me. (East German judge)
YES! John Prine is a (minor) god! And this song is a definite ten, along with "Unlonely" fromt he same album.
I became a John Prine fan when I heard him play All The Best during a live radio interview. I've seen him at least a dozen times since then. Thanks for giving us more John Prine. Glad he's healthy again!
Always a treat.
he just came to san antonio last weekend, i didnt make it but a friend of mine did and she said he was great an excellent songwriter this aint his best but its not bad
"I guess that love is like a Christmas card; you decorate a tree, you throw it in the yard." Now there's a lyric. I've always considered John Prine among the greatest American lyricists of all time. His music always makes me smile.
I agree - John is playing in Eureka Springs in early March. Be there or be square.
Nice to hear a little Prine lately. Thanks