--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone like John Prine can write a song…" description: "\"Someone like John Prine can write a song that tears into your soul, turn it over, and write a song that makes you laugh and feel light as a feather. Wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/scott-avett-29364_expression_someone-like-john-prine-can-write-a-song_2271242.png" --- # Someone like John Prine can write a song that tears into… ![“Someone like John Prine can write a song that tears into your soul, turn it over, and write a song that makes you laugh and feel light as a feather. With someone like him, you're getting a real picture of a person, a real expression.” quote by Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/scott-avett-29364_expression_someone-like-john-prine-can-write-a-song_2271242.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/scott-avett-29364_expression_someone-like-john-prine-can-write-a-song_2271242.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/390/scott-avett-29364_expression_someone-like-john-prine-can-write-a-song_2271242.png) > “Someone like John Prine can write a song that tears into your soul, turn it over, and write a song that makes you laugh and feel light as a feather. With someone like him, you're getting a real picture of a person, a real expression.” [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A great songwriter captures both deep sorrow and lightness, revealing a full human portrait. **In simple terms:** Music can show both pain and joy. Key Takeaway Seek art that reflects life's range. Themes art music empathy Mood reflective inspired Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - listening - songwriting - therapy - performance Key Concepts emotional depth versatility Questions to Reflect On - What songs move you to both laugh and cry? - How does humor soften sorrow? A Different Perspective Not all songs achieve this balance; some may feel superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Your soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-soul/) ## Related quotes > [I love Lee Ann Womack and John Prine. That's kind of my ideal cross point. If I can sing it like Lee Ann would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-love-lee-ann-womack-and-john-prine-that-s-kind-of-my-ideal-cross/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If you can write a song that makes people have emotions and show their feelings, that's a powerful thing and a beautiful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/if-you-can-write-a-song-that-makes-people-have-emotions-and-show/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [I think Im different from a lot of singer-songwriters because some of my favorite singer-songwriters told stories. Like John Prine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-sobule/i-think-im-different-from-a-lot-of-singer-songwriters-because-some-of/) [Jill Sobule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-sobule/) > [My parents have always had a great sense of humor. And I really appreciate good humor in songs, witty lyrics that sneak up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/my-parents-have-always-had-a-great-sense-of-humor-and-i-really/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [I think I'm the oldest new Bob Dylan around. I predate Bruce Springsteen, Steve Forbat and John Prine. I was probably the first of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-think-i-m-the-oldest-new-bob-dylan-around-i-predate-bruce/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [My favorite time in music is probably 1970-75. Still Bill by Bill Withers, Harvest by Neil Young, John Prine's first album, James Taylor's One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-lee/my-favorite-time-in-music-is-probably-1970-75-still-bill-by-bill/) [Amos Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-lee/) > [Alastair Moock is the second coming of John Prine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-paul/alastair-moock-is-the-second-coming-of-john-prine/) Ellis Paul > [I'm a really huge John Prine fan; I love his clever conversationalist songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-m-a-really-huge-john-prine-fan-i-love-his-clever-conversationalist/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [I admire John Prine and his way with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-childers/i-admire-john-prine-and-his-way-with-words/) [Tyler Childers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-childers/) > [If God's got a favorite songwriter, I think it's John Prine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/if-god-s-got-a-favorite-songwriter-i-think-it-s-john-prine/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [I've grown up on American songwriters my whole life - listening to Paul Simon and Bob Dylan and people like John Prine - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/passenger/i-ve-grown-up-on-american-songwriters-my-whole-life-listening-to-paul/) [Passenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/passenger/) > [John Prine in particular... just the chord changes combined with the words. He definitely can make you cry a little bit. Just a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vile/john-prine-in-particular-just-the-chord-changes-combined-with-the/) [Kurt Vile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vile/) > [I don't really listen to Radiohead. I listened to the albums and they just didn't move me in the way, say, John Prine does.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/i-don-t-really-listen-to-radiohead-i-listened-to-the-albums-and-they/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“I come home from work this evening there was a note in the frying pan said Fix Your Own Supper Babe I Run Off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-come-home-from-work-this-evening-there-was-a-note-in-the-frying-pan/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [As a bit of loner, prone to melancholy, with a questionable sexuality, I found great solace in the words of-Dylan, Joni, John Prine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-sobule/as-a-bit-of-loner-prone-to-melancholy-with-a-questionable-sexuality-i/) [Jill Sobule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-sobule/) ## More by Scott Avett > [I have always considered myself an artist and painting was the first medium that I claimed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/i-have-always-considered-myself-an-artist-and-painting-was-the-first/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [In the world of music, the audience is not just fans of music; they're fans of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/in-the-world-of-music-the-audience-is-not-just-fans-of-music-they-re/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [If humor is not present, I tend to be concerned about the artist, or distrusting of what they're presenting - unless there is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/if-humor-is-not-present-i-tend-to-be-concerned-about-the-artist-or/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [Women of all looks, shapes, sizes, everything, if they recognize how beautiful they are-because they all are-then they carry it that way. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/women-of-all-looks-shapes-sizes-everything-if-they-recognize-how/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [In the music world, when we're making work, we are obligated to no longer be completely free from what we are to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/in-the-music-world-when-we-re-making-work-we-are-obligated-to-no/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [We have to continue to grow within and outwardly. We have to keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/we-have-to-continue-to-grow-within-and-outwardly-we-have-to-keep-going/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [One of the things that I love about painting is that I never consider myself to have an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/one-of-the-things-that-i-love-about-painting-is-that-i-never-consider/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [It was Rick's Rubin idea to have the 'Brooklyn' verse repeat. It already was a story, but having that made it a folk song.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/it-was-rick-s-rubin-idea-to-have-the-brooklyn-verse-repeat-it-already/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [ A great show means we have to connect; we have to prove to \[the audience\] that we do something great or blow their socks… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/a-great-show-means-we-have-to-connect-we-have-to-prove-to-the/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [I had a dream that Louis Armstrong was playing the 'Swept Away' melody. I have no idea where it came from. But Louis Armstrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/i-had-a-dream-that-louis-armstrong-was-playing-the-swept-away-melody/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [Sometimes I'm extremely afraid of the unknown, but I'm so grateful to be on that journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/sometimes-i-m-extremely-afraid-of-the-unknown-but-i-m-so-grateful-to/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [Whether it's about children or not, we have to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/whether-it-s-about-children-or-not-we-have-to-move-forward/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [I very much enjoyed Leo Tolstoy's What is Art? I can't quote it, it's been a while, but at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/i-very-much-enjoyed-leo-tolstoy-s-what-is-art-i-can-t-quote-it-it-s/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [I think everyone on the planet is a fan of a painting because everyone is a fan of visual stimulation, but I've had freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/i-think-everyone-on-the-planet-is-a-fan-of-a-painting-because/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) > [When it comes to performing and entertaining, the art removes itself from the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-avett/when-it-comes-to-performing-and-entertaining-the-art-removes-itself/) [Scott Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) [Explore all 18 Scott Avett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-avett/) ## More Expression quotes > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [The mountain receives our expressions and becomes part of us; we imprint our memories upon it and trust it with out dearest divisions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barcott/the-mountain-receives-our-expressions-and-becomes-part-of-us-we/) [Bruce Barcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barcott/) > [In science, the most exciting expression isn’t ‘Eureka!’ It’s ‘Huh?’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hawley/in-science-the-most-exciting-expression-isn-t-eureka-it-s-huh/) Michael Hawley > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 5,024 Expression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Someone like John Prine can write a song that tears into your soul, turn it over, and write a song that makes you laugh and feel light as a feather. 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