John Prine - Christmas In Prison Lyrics






It was Christmas in prison
And the food was real good
We had turkey and pistols
Carved out of wood
And I dream of her always
Even when I don't dream
Her name's on my tongue
And her blood's in my stream.

[Chorus:]
Wait awhile eternity
Old mother nature's got nothing on me
Come to me
Run to me
Come to me, now
We're rolling
My sweetheart
We're flowing
By God!

She reminds me of a chess game
With someone I admire
Or a picnic in the rain
After a prairie fire
Her heart is as big
As this whole goddamn jail
And she's sweeter than saccharine
At a drug store sale.

[Chorus]

The search light in the big yard
Swings round with the gun
And spotlights the snowflakes
Like the dust in the sun
It's Christmas in prison
There'll be music tonight
I'll probably get homesick
I love you. Goodnight.

[Chorus]





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John Prine Christmas In Prison Comments
  1. L.... Y....

    It was Christmas in prison and the food was real good
    We has turkey and pistols carved out of wood
    I dream of her always even when I don't dream
    Her name's on my tongue and her blood's in my strings
    Wait a while eternity
    Old Mother Nature's got nothin' on me
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now
    I'm rollin' my sweetheart
    I'm flowin' by God
    She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire
    Or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire
    Her heart is as big as this whole goddamn jail
    And she's sweeter than saccharine at a drug store sale
    Wait a while eternity
    Old Mother Nature's got nothin' on me
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now
    I'm rollin' my sweetheart
    I'm flowin' by God
    The search light in the big yard turns 'round with the gun
    And spotlights the snowflakes like the dust in the sun
    It's Christmas in prison there'll be music tonight
    I'll probably get homesick, I love you, Good night
    Wait a while eternity
    Old Mother Nature's got nothin' on me
    Come to me, run to me, come to me now
    I'm rollin' my sweetheart
    I'm flowin' by God

  2. J.... M....

    John Prine is a National Treasure! Kind of Mark Twain legendary stuff.

  3. B.... G....

    "She reminds me of a chess game with someone I admire" - who else would come up with a line like that?

  4. S.... C....

    John Prine may be my favorite musician. His music speaks to me, I never tire of listening to him.

  5. M.... ....

    I'm 60 and and heard Sam Stone and Illegal smile when in my early teens and never looked back! I walk around singing his songs and people think I made them up because they have never heard them. I have turned a lot of people on to John Prine in my life time. Us Baby Boomers had the best music ever made growing up, we were blessed!

  6. J.... B....

    It's a crying shame that John Prine hasn't been awarded the Kennedy Honors award yet. I hope the nominating committee makes up for this oversight. John is a great American Treasure and deserving of this honor.

    J.... B....

    Absolutely.

    J.... B....

    They would have to mail it to him, why would he want to dress up & go to some darn dog & pony shit show?

  7. J.... U....

    Hoxton did it better

    J.... U....

    Hoxton who?

    J.... U....

    @John Lamb It's a joke about another song called Christmas in prison. By simon Viklund sung by a character called Hoxton.

  8. A.... R....

    I was in prison at Christmas and me and my pad mate heard this song come on the radio and we both laughed,

  9. p.... ....

    John Prine is a gem.

  10. T.... H....

    Wonder song . I can relate to this song whole heartedly.

  11. b.... ....

    Some folks are arguing about "Baby, it's cold outside". They should just be listening to this, A REAL Christmas song.

  12. f.... o....

    I love the truth 4 walls and a roof
    U love a lie and for Botham Jean to die
    Blue LIES matter we live in fear
    Blue ISIS murders 1200 a year

    No victim no crime until they invent it
    All cops are Corrupt and Sadistic

  13. D.... P....

    "Her heart is as big as this whole goddamn jail
    And she's sweeter than saccharine at a drug store sale"..who else can put these lyrics together?

    D.... P....

    Absolutely.

    D.... P....

    This song grabs you right off the top with "... the food was real good, we had turkey, and pistols carved out of wood." John Prine is in a league of his own with his lyrics.

    D.... P....

    Tom Waits

  14. H.... C....

    14 people should b in prison

  15. D.... B....

    I sang this song in prison on Christmas more than once. Nobody blinked an eye. But I winked at Johnny and told him to get me some popcorn.

  16. H.... T....

    She reminds me of a chess game with some I admire, or a picnic in the rain after a prairie fire. I go back a long way with John. I've seen him with Steve Goodman , Bonnie Raitt and Junior Brown(best show ever)!

    H.... T....

    Me too. I used to see Prine, Goodman and Bonnie Koloc at the Earl in Chicago more than 45 years ago. I still manage to see John once or twice a year.

  17. M.... W....

    I am constantly amazed that so many people have no fkn idea who John Prine is....even people around my age (Im 61 this year)

    M.... W....

    @Snodgrass Gerald 74 here. Been a fan since he was a very young man!

    M.... W....

    My dad was a country fanatic and as most teens i rebelled and thought it was shit dad music, but sam stone turned my head and I never turned back. Turns out my father had immaculate taste in music.

    M.... W....

    Im so pissed i only discovered John maybe a year ago. Hes playing in my country this week. Way down here in NZ. Love his music and as a man he is great. Thanks Kristofferson for leading me to him. Im 63 yrs old.

    M.... W....

    I agree have been a fan ever since Sam stone I was using then

  18. R.... F....

    Just discovered John Prine...and then of course,  Steve Goodman. WOW, where have I been all my life? Just amazing stuff!

    R.... F....

    Ray Frumalorra I’m a lucky man. Been a Prine fan for 45 years.

    R.... F....

    You are kinda lucky. I mean you have all this new music to dig. In case you haven't checked it out before go look up the Felice Brothers.

  19. j.... ....

    heard this on the radio few days ago and I had to hear it again, love this song of his sooooooooooooo much so!

  20. M.... ....

    Respect... another pure genius song by John

  21. K.... M....

    he's at the top where all the others also don't need to squabble about #1 or #2..God Bless Jp

  22. A.... K....

    My mom love this song

  23. G.... L....

    this is a real good song...

  24. l.... g....

    beautiful song

  25. A.... S....

    love♡

    A.... S....

    This song is so brilliant and Prines voice just makes it.......

  26. N.... M....

    I could be wrong, but this sounds a lot like the original version of the song. The Souvenirs version is slower and longer, and his voice sounds lower. I'm glad to have this version, though ... it's by far my favorite!

    N.... M....

    You are correct

    N.... M....

    "this sounds a lot like the original version of the song"....uh yeah..

    N.... M....

    Yep, I listen to this album a lot and I'm pretty sure this is the original.