We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Good Book of Prine

from Outstanding in his Field by Richard Bowdon

/

about

The late John Prine -- one of my songwriting heroes -- wrote “Donald and Lydia” about real people. Did they ever get together in person, or only in their dreams? “Mostly they made love from ten miles away.” Mostly, not only. Soon enough they went separate ways, but what happened after that? Imagine they heard John’s record, recognized themselves, and became lifelong fans. Then imagine decades and failed marriages later, they applied what they had learned from all of John’s songs and got back together for good.

lyrics

Lydia
[C]Starin’ out the window of her [F]Chevy SUV
[C]Countin’ years she wasted with that [G]lyin’ SOB
[C]Best years of her [C7]life / as a [F]poker player’s wife
Startin’ [Dm]over at the [G]age of sixty-[Am]three-[F]ee
[C]Hmm [G7]mm [C]mm

Donald
[C]No one ever told him when the [F]kids were grown and gone
[C]He’d be on his own again just [G]like when he was young
[C]Best years of his [C7]life but not ac[F]cording to his wife
In that [Dm]game she was the [G]queen he was the [Am]pawn [F]
[C]Hmm [G7]mm [C]mm

{c:Chorus}
But [F]dreamin’ just comes [C]natural
They learned that from the good book of [G]Prine
Through [F]broken hearts and dirty windows
They can [C]still find each [F]other
[C]Never mind they’re [G]running out of [Am]ti-[F]me
They [C]learned that from the [G]good book of [C]Prine

{c:bridge}
They’ve heard [F]preachers promise heaven when you [C]die
But they [G]tasted heaven back in sixty-[C]nine
Now [F]starting over back again is [C]daisies and sun[Am]shine
They [D]learned that from the good book of [G]Prine
{c:verse break then repeat bridge}

Now they’re [C]shacking up together and their [F]lives are pretty good
And they’re [C]keeping all those promises they [G]never thought they would
The [C]best years of their [C7]lives / the [F]ones that satisfy
You know [Dm]happiness is [G]simply under [Am]stoo- [F]ood
They’re [C]together and their [G]lives are pretty [C]good

{c:repeat chorus}
{c:outro: change to 3/4 time}
But [F]dreamin’ just comes [C]natural
like the [G]first breath[G7] from a [C]baby.....

credits

from Outstanding in his Field, released June 19, 2021

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Richard Bowdon image

Richard Bowdon Cary, North Carolina

A prolific singer-songwriter over four decades, Richard Bowdon carries forward the best Americana traditions of country, rock, blues, and folk.

Richard was selected three times for the Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition.

Richard performs at festivals, parties, showcases, restaurants, wineries, and brewpubs in the NC Triangle area. ... more

contact / help

Contact Richard Bowdon

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Richard Bowdon, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now