Any week that starts with some John Prine feels a little more bearable, doesn’t it? Prine, who would have turned 79 last week, left behind a catalog full of songs that notice what the rest of us miss—the loneliness in a mundane conversation, the dignity in just getting by, the whole emotional landscape hidden in “I can’t complain.” His ability to make the ordinary feel profound, without ever overselling it, has shaped generations of songwriters who are still trying to figure out how he made it look so easy. “Pretty Good” is a perfect example: just a few simple lines that somehow capture exactly how most of us are actually doing.
Pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain
‘Cause actually, everything is just about the same
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.