Eons ago, I was studying for college semester finals in mid-December at about 3 a.m., listening to the radio as background, when the local "underground" station played a song that made me sit up and take notice. After waiting what seemed like hours for the set to end, I waited to hear what the song was that had stunned me . . . and the dj simply went on to the next set. It was the only time I called a radio station (apart from occasional calls to Steve Post). I got the dj (who else would be there at 3 a.m.?), who told me the song was called "Sam Stone" and was from the eponymous first album by one John Prine. I ran out and bought the album later that morning.
I still have the album, still play it, and still love it. One of the great ones.
Never mind John Prine; Steve Post was the best. John Prine had a way of telling a story that said what needed to be said without any nonsense. And great melodies. How about "Souveniers"? "It took me years; To get those souveniers, And I don't know how they Slipped away from me?"
Another guy who was good with words was Tom Paxton/Paxon. His song about Viet Nam was a hoot. I forget most of it except for the line that went "A lovely meal they'd prepared for us. With a taste like a seat on a cross town bus. Obviously he has eaten Army chow.
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