The family of John Prine has released “I Remember Everything”, the last song the singer-songwriter wrote before he died of COVID-19 on April 7th. Along with the song comes a video of Prine performing the tune in his living room with producer Dave Cobb.
This posthumous release marks the first new music from Prine since his widely-acclaimed 2018 album, The Tree of Forgiveness. That record, also produced by Cobb, featured the first new music from Prine in over 13 years and debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
“I Remember Everything” finds Prine reminiscing about what turned out to be the end of his life. As one might expect from somebody with a wit as sharp as Prine’s, his mind stayed keen and, as the title dictates, he remembered everything—from “every blade of grass/and every hotel room” to “every song I ever sang/on a guitar out of tune.” Placed in the context of Prine’s recent, untimely passing, the song takes on an eerie, all-knowing tone.
Much like Johnny Cash‘s recording of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails shortly before the end of his life, “I Remember Everything” gives off the tone of a man reflecting on a life well-lived with varying degrees of regret. Obviously, Prine’s final recording is much more upbeat, just as he was in life, and it gives the listener a sense of closure that Prine left it all out there on the stage, in the studio, and in our hearts.
Watch John Prine perform his final song, “I Remember Everything” from his living room.
John Prine — “I Remember Everything”
[Video: John Prine]
“I Remember Everything” premiered on Thursday night following the Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine webcast sendoff to the iconic singer-songwriter. Among those who participated were Dan Auerbach, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Jim James, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson, Todd Snider, Kurt Vile, and many more musicians and entertainers who were inspired by Prine’s expansive body of work.
Scroll down to see the lyrics for “I Remember Everything”.