Thursday April 9, 2020 “When I Get To Heaven” John Prine

Damn virus claimed a another valuable talent the other day, John Prine and he was only 73, only, says a contemporary. So I wasn’t that familiar with John’s extensive catalog, sure I knew his songs that got covered by more famous people and the ones you occasionally heard on the progressive stations and college radio so I spent some time with John yesterday…and happy that I did.

I wound up with five songs that I thought should be considered for today’s song to pay just a little homage to John and while I was getting ready to drop them into a hat and pick one out this tune came on and I tossed those other five aside and immediately said ‘of course’.

It may not be his best, heck there are a bunch of those, but it is certainly the most appropriate and allows us to view his passing with a more joyful attitude imagining him with his vodka and ginger ale, in a rock & roll band and smothering everyone with his charm.

So get yourself a pint or two, or three of Smithwick, I bet they deliver, and check out some of John’s other tunes, there really are just so many good ones. This is really not a sing along kind of song, John is really a musical storyteller, so join in on the chorus.

Be safe and well.

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 is my witness, I'm gettin' back into show business
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 Smithwick's 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 then I'm gonna go find my mom and dad, and good old brother Doug
Why 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

Previous
Previous

Friday, April 10, 2020 “Ballad of El Goodo” Big Star

Next
Next

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 “El Paso” Marty Robbins