Country and Midwestern has been making its rounds in the Chicago suburbs, bringing insightful conversations and community spirit to towns that resonate deeply with the book’s themes. Recently, Oak Park, a village steeped in musical history and the birthplace of the Old Town School of Folk Music, played host to a captivating discussion led by singer-songwriter Mark Dvorak at the Oak Park River Forest Museum. Dvorak, a former Old Town School teacher himself, engaged a packed house, emphasizing the universal power of music and even leading attendees in song.
The journey continued north to Lake Villa, near the Wisconsin border, where a lively event unfolded at Harbor Brewing Company. There, I discussed Country and Midwestern with my friend Brett Neveu, while Little Bean Books from Antioch provided copies for eager readers. The evening kicked off with a musical set by Brett and guitarist-songwriter Rich Sparks as The Breaks, setting a perfect tone for the literary conversation that followed.
Airwaves and Newsprint: Spreading the Word
Gratitude is due to Steve Darnell for featuring Country and Midwestern on his renowned radio program Those Were the Days on WDCB 90.9 FM. Growing up listening to the show founded by Chuck Schaden, who introduced me to the golden age of radio, it was a privilege to join Steve in continuing this legacy.
Thanks also to Kevin Schmit of the Daily Herald for his generous article about Country and Midwestern, highlighting the book’s exploration of Chicago’s suburban history.
Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events
Looking ahead, I’ll be at the Craftsman Café in the American Legion Hall in downtown Libertyville, Illinois on October 13th. Following a discussion, music will fill the air. Tickets are complimentary but require online reservation. Further details are coming soon, but you can find initial information on the event page.
September will see me in conversation with journalist Rick Kogan at the prestigious Printers Row Lit Fest in downtown Chicago. This 38th annual literary festival will also feature Jon Langford, a prominent figure in the book and the artist behind its cover art. Jon will join the discussion and perform afterwards. Stay tuned for the exact date and time!
The “Lake Marie” Connection: John Prine’s Suburban Anthem
The Lake Villa event naturally brought John Prine to mind. Just a short distance away lies Lake Marie, a significant 480-acre lake part of the Chain O’Lakes, a name that always held a certain allure. These lakes, once havens for Chicagoans seeking weekend escapes, are now vital recreational and residential areas.
“Lake Marie” is also the title of a poignant and evocative song by John Prine, featured on his 1995 album Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings. Often considered a hidden gem in his extensive discography, this album came out shortly before my first interview with John. I was particularly curious about the genesis of “Lake Marie,” a song that uses the lake as both a specific place and a powerful metaphor for the unsettling undercurrents of everyday life. For those familiar with the region, the song’s imagery—local forest preserves, unsettling suburban news stories, and the familiar scent of Italian sausages—strikes a chord.
Over the next two decades, “Lake Marie” became a staple of John Prine’s concerts, often considered a highlight of his live performances.
In a 1999 interview, John Prine shared the story behind “Lake Marie”:
“It was just an idea I had brewing. I wanted to write a song that was part spoken word, part sung. It needed a strong chorus and a historical opening. That was all I had, just this concept. I was waiting for the right subject to fit into that framework.
“I was doing a soundcheck at the Woodstock Opera House in Illinois. The sound guy mentioned Lake Marie to someone else. I asked, ‘Lake Marie? Is that nearby?’ He said, ‘Yeah, about 20 minutes.’ I realized I hadn’t been there in years. He gave me directions, and my brother Billy and I drove over in February. It was pretty deserted, mostly closed for the winter. I found this small, one-room library. Inside, I noticed a bulletin board and asked the librarian if anyone had written about the local history. She said no, but there was a man working on it for years and gave me his card.
“I called him – feeling like a detective – and he sent me articles. One article told the story of the two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, for whom the lakes were named, and a tale about Native Americans in the area when the girls were found.
“That clicked. That was the song’s starting point. The second verse, about meeting a girl and the Italian sausages, is autobiographical. My high school sweetheart and I, like everyone else, used to go to Crystal Lake and Lake Marie, all those Chain O’Lakes on weekends. Picnics, best cars, Italian sausage on the grill, baseball games.
“The third verse, about the mayhem and murders, probably came from all those unsolved suburban murders in the late 50s and early 60s. It was like, ‘Who would do such a thing?’ These weird, unsolved crimes, all in the suburbs. We grew up thinking downtown was dangerous, and suddenly, there were real ‘screwballs’ in the suburbs. It was like Blue Velvet, you know? That’s where the third verse came from. I just pieced it all together, and it felt right, so I went with it.”
“Lake Marie” by John Prine
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Many years ago along the Illinois Wisconsin border
There was this Indian tribe
They found two babies in the woods
White babies
One of them was named Elizabeth
She was the fairer of the two
While the smaller and more fragile one was named Marie
Having never seen white girls before
And living on the two lakes known as the Twin Lakes
They named the larger and more beautiful lake Lake Elizabeth
And thus the smaller lake that was hidden from the highway
Became known forever as Lake Marie
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Many years later I found myself talking to this girl
Who was standing there with her back turned to Lake Marie
The wind was blowing especially through her hair
There was four Italian sausages cooking
On the outdoor grill
And they were sizzlin’
Many years later we found ourselves in Canada
Trying to save our marriage
And perhaps catch a few fish
Whatever came first
That night she fell asleep in my arms
Humming the tune to “Louie Louie”
Aah baby, we gotta go now
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
The dogs were barking as the cars were parking
The loan sharks were sharking
The narcs were narcing
Practically everyone was there
In the parking lot by the forest preserve
The police had found two bodies
Nay, naked bodies!
Their faces had been horribly disfigured
By some sharp object
Saw it on the news
The TV news
In a black and white video
Do you know what blood looks like in a black and white video?
Shadows, shadows!
That’s what it looks like
All the love we shared between her and me was slammed
Slammed up against the banks of old Lake Marie
Marie!
We were standing
Standing by peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Whoa wah oh wha oh
Peaceful waters
Standing by peaceful waters
Aah baby, we gotta go now
