Happy as a clam

First an obituary in the local rag triggered pondering over what song should be sung at one’s dirge. Then the loss of Riho Sibul when he should have had many more years on the stage of life.

While searching for happier music recently, a John Prine disc practically begged to be listened to. And another musical journey was returned to, one broken when Prine became the first prominent North American musician to succumb to Covid. Pre-vaccine, no matter what one’s opinion of getting jabbed or not might be. (He was honored with his song “Souvenirs” played as the opening song on CBC Radio One’s year-end show in 2020, noting who from the musical world had passed, not necessarily falling victim to Covid.

T’was a loss, for Prine certainly had a way with words. His Grammy-winning CD The Missing Years addressed in the title song Jesus’ early life, before his ministry, not in a sacrilegious manner but with wit and sly humour. Then there was the classic album Sweet Revenge. A must-listen for tunes such as “Dear Abby” and “Christmas in Prison”.

Prine co-founded Oh Boy records, an indication of his sense of humour. His early work had oodles of social commentary, elements of protest, not surprising as his career began in the 1970’s. However, what caught the gracile guy’s ears back then was his way with a simile. The classic example is to be found on the above-mentioned Missing Years disc, with “It’s A Big Old Goofy World”. To be found on YouTube, natch. Simile after simile, from being quiet as a mouse, eating like a horse, and being cute as a dish while drinking like a fish. You get the idea. And yes, the mollusk in the title of this philosophical rambling – how do you determine whether it is even content? The beauty of words, of metaphors, alliteration and allegory. Prime Prine was at his utmost best with his wordplay. Confirming a love of the language. As the song “Often Is a Word I Seldom Use”, also on Sweet Revenge, proves rather well.