John Prine’s “Paradise” is a poignant ballad that resonates with listeners through its nostalgic melody and heartfelt lyrics. This iconic song tells a story of lost beauty and environmental change, deeply rooted in personal history and broader themes of progress versus preservation. Let’s delve into the lyrics of “Paradise John Prine Lyrics” to understand the story and emotions woven within this classic folk tune.
Paradise John Prine Lyrics
When I was a child my family would travel
Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born
And there’s a backwards old town that’s often remembered
So many times that my memories are worn
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
Well, sometimes we’d travel right down the Green River
To the abandoned old prison down by Adrie Hill
Where the air smelled like snakes and we’d shoot with our pistols
But empty pop bottles was all we would kill
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
Then the coal company came with the world’s largest shovel
And they tortured the timber and stripped all the land
Well, they dug for their coal till the land was forsaken
Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
I’ll be halfway to Heaven with paradise waitin’
Just five miles away from wherever I am
“And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the green river where paradise lay?”
“Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away”
Through these verses, John Prine masterfully captures the essence of nostalgia and loss. The repeated chorus, “And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County,” becomes a haunting plea for a return to a paradise that is no more. The imagery of the Green River and Muhlenberg County paints a vivid picture of a natural haven, contrasted sharply with the destructive force of “Mister Peabody’s coal train.” “Paradise John Prine Lyrics” serves as a timeless reminder of the impact of industrialization on the environment and the enduring power of memory and longing for a simpler, more beautiful past.
