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John Prine — Ain't Hurtin' Nobody
Album: Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 327









Released: 1995
Length: 4:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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"I'm a walkin' down the street
Like Lucky LaRue
Got my hand in my pocket
Thinkin' 'bout you
I ain't hurtin' nobody
I ain't hurtin' no one

There's three hundred men
In the State of Tennessee
They're waiting to die
They won't never be free
I ain't hurtin' nobody
I ain't hurtin' no one

Six million seven hundred thousand
And thirty-three lights on
You'd think someone could take the time
To sit down and listen to the words of my song

At the beach in Indiana
I was nine years old
Heard Little Richard singing "Tutti Frutti"
From the top of a telphone pole
I wasn't hurtin' nobody
I wasn't hurtin' no one

There's roosters layin' chickens
And chickens layin' eggs
Farm machinery eating people's arms and legs
I ain't hurtin' nobody
I ain't hurtin' no one

Perfectly crafted popular hit songs never use the wrong rhyme
You'd think that waitress could get my order
Right the first time

She's sittin' on the back steps
Just shuckin' that corn
That gal's been grinnin'
Since the day she was born
She ain't hurtin' nobody
She ain't hurtin' no one

I used to live in Chicago
Where the cold wind blows
I delivered more junk mail
Than the junkyard would hold
I wasn't hurtin' nobody
I wasn't hurtin' no one

You can fool some of the people part of the time
In a rock and roll song
Fifty million Elvis Presley fans
Can't be all wrong"
Comments (52)add comment
 khardog145 wrote:

Them's fightin words!  One of the best singer songwriters of our time.  Hopefully, you've come to your senses in the last 7 years!  His voice is now silent due to COVID-19.  Thank you, Mr. John Prine.

Even with the 8 year later reply, THANK YOU for speaking up for our dearly departed Mr. Prine, may he rest in peace but not silence, as RP continues to play a lot of his wonderful tunes.  

I don't know if I rated this one from after hearing it in the Main Mix, or on my own looking at his RP tracks, or what, though it came up in my Favorites today and I am glad I rated it whenever I did because this song is just so cool and mellow, perfect for a Friday morning of working from home.  

Long Live RP and all the mixes BnR provide us!! 
Posted 2 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
 stevendejong wrote:
This came up when I pressed the PSD button on one of those horrible talk-sing songs. Needless to say, I pressed PSD again. Terrible, just terrible.
 
Them's fightin words!  One of the best singer songwriters of our time.  Hopefully, you've come to your senses in the last 7 years!  His voice is now silent due to COVID-19.  Thank you, Mr. John Prine.
Posted 4 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
RIP John
Posted 4 years ago by surfnetter1    [ Reply ]
Sweet groove. 8.
Posted 4 years ago by Piranga    [ Reply ]
This came up when I pressed the PSD button on one of those horrible talk-sing songs. Needless to say, I pressed PSD again. Terrible, just terrible.
Posted 12 years ago by stevendejong    [ Reply ]
I think it's well PAST time to hear this one again...
Posted 17 years ago by Porgie_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
Pffiioooouuuuuuuuuuuu... NEXT, PLEASE!!!
Posted 17 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
nice, but easy to improve
Posted 17 years ago by bichomalo    [ Reply ]
cattgirl813 wrote:
While I appreciate the lyrics to this one, the truth is his singing(?) style is hurting me right now.
I completely agree... This song is driving me nuts...
Posted 17 years ago by DianaL    [ Reply ]
don't know if it's country or not (maybe new american or stuff like that) but it's nice to me
Posted 17 years ago by Megabuss    [ Reply ]
More Prine, different tunes though, please!
Posted 18 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
While I appreciate the lyrics to this one, the truth is his singing(?) style is hurting me right now.
Posted 18 years ago by cattgirl813    [ Reply ]
MooterWholesale wrote:
Country BLOWS ........................... Somebody throw some gas on this fire, get it up another few centimeters
? Saying this is like country is like saying Chrysler makes a decent vehicle.
Posted 18 years ago by SmilinJimmy    [ Reply ]
This is a great record, beginning to end. Prine is such a great storyteller and observer of life. Love this tune. The ultimate laid back Prine.
Posted 18 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
Recently discovered that John Prine is living in my home town of Kinvara on the west coast of Ireland! It's quite the area for musicians (active and inactive) and they've been drawing some serious creative energy from this part of the World. I think UltanJohn are the most active of the lot in this next of the woods.... Kinvara (click here) UltanJohn (click here)
Posted 18 years ago by Tayto    [ Reply ]
looks like a Simpsons kind of cover.
Posted 18 years ago by Sobient    [ Reply ]
mxdcec wrote:
July 15, 2005 Hats off to these 3 GREAT artists of American music: 1. John Prine 2. Ms. Bonnie Raitt 3. Arlo Gutherie I'm thinking about great times growing up in the Midwest (Cincinnati, Ohio) listening to my older brother's John Prine and Arlo Gutherie albums.
I was a little too young for Prine & Guthrie, so didn't discover them until the CD age. I did listen to LPs, though, and recall having to carefully set the needle down to catch the start of particular track. I'm reminded of that now, as I do the same with my computer mouse, trying to replay this track on my RealPlayer!
Posted 18 years ago by cmrump    [ Reply ]
Great Prine song. I'd love to hear him more often. Maybe some of his new stuff. Thanks Bill and Rebecca
Posted 18 years ago by KevH    [ Reply ]
HOW did this song just grow on me so much? At the beginning I almost turned the volume off, but by the end of it I was very much a fan. Hmm. It's just too clever to dislike.
Posted 18 years ago by penguinja    [ Reply ]
Well done! It's been too long since I've heard this gem. Thanks RP!
Posted 18 years ago by BGGA    [ Reply ]
i love mr. prine,, never heard this song,, but still intrigues you to sing along!! gotta love the man, i need to see him live!!
Posted 19 years ago by lukinman    [ Reply ]
July 15, 2005 Hats off to these 3 GREAT artists of American music: 1. John Prine 2. Ms. Bonnie Raitt 3. Arlo Gutherie Hopefully one of these Thanksgiving's they will all play Carnegie Hall together. (You remember Alice??) I will meet you all there when they do! We'll grab a sandwhich at The Carnegie Deli after the show. I'm in the Middle East now, but I'm dreaming 'bout America. I'm thinking about great times growing up in the Midwest (Cincinnati, Ohio) listening to my older brother's John Prine and Arlo Gutherie albums. Did I ever suspect those simple times would one day seem so rich?....God, if I could step back-I'd tell you guys this time....I'd tell ya how much one day you'd mean to me, I'm sorry, I didn't realize it then. You have never been so far from home as to be all alone on Christmas Day in a Muslim country. I hope John Prine reads this and writes a song about it. "Have a Merry Muslim Christmas." Hoping you all find peace when you find your dreams. With warm regards, Mark X. Davis PS. Sue, I think I really loved ya then. Thuy, you don't deserve it, but I will always love ya, and unfortunately will never forget ya. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming : Wow! What a ride!
Posted 19 years ago by mxdcec    [ Reply ]
Not my favorite Sinatra; I would agree that songs like "Summer Wind" and some of the stuff with Nelson Riddle are vastly superior. But that's...
Posted 19 years ago by lostindetroit    [ Reply ]
Who is/was Lucky LaRue? - doesn't the character Wolf call somebody that name in Pulp Fiction?
Posted 19 years ago by jbtidwell    [ Reply ]
Country BLOWS ........................... Somebody throw some gas on this fire, get it up another few centimeters
Posted 19 years ago by MooterWholesale    [ Reply ]
very nice
Posted 19 years ago by Opus_two    [ Reply ]
Yup, he's got a STYLE all his ...it's ALL good. A 9. btw, writing this from MAYWOOD. IL, where he was a Mailman.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
I like Prine, but this one is boring. Meh
Posted 19 years ago by pdhski    [ Reply ]
Please Mr G, please allow the "rate song" choice go to 11 for this song. PLEASE!!!
Posted 19 years ago by Steve    [ Reply ]
At first it reminded me of the lead singer of Flash and the Pan. What a fun song! Also reminds me of the great work that Stan Ridgway has put out over the years. Very similar story telling approach. Need to keep my eye on Mr. Prine.
Posted 20 years ago by RobGraham    [ Reply ]
definitely different and likeable
Posted 20 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
I love this guys music! Play MORE MORE MORE!!!!!
Posted 20 years ago by bajafisher    [ Reply ]
natsthename wrote:
I'm a-walkin' down the street, like Lucky LaRue. Got my hand in my pocket, thinkin' 'bout you: I ain't hurtin' nobody; I ain't a-hurtin' no-one. Gotta love those lyrics!
We inherited a cat (wife said we were watching it for a few weeks for a friend) and his name was lucky. I thought that boring so I started calling him Lucky LaRue. He's just LaRue now.
Posted 20 years ago by red5_bc    [ Reply ]
I ain't a' hurtin' nobody.... I ain't a' hurtin' no one.... Where's that turkey-necking emoticon when you need it?
Posted 20 years ago by Patrick    [ Reply ]
sharkartist wrote:
Man could Prine have come up with a better melody and groove for the topic of this tune? Roosters layin' chickens and chickens layin' eggs! Gotta love it!
Don't forget the next line: Farm machinery eatin' peoples arms and legs
Posted 20 years ago by Freebish    [ Reply ]
:headache.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Just saw him last fall (5th row). 2hrs 45 min of pure bliss. Man, this guy is funny. As for this ditty....killer. Love it.
Posted 20 years ago by Geed    [ Reply ]
sharkartist wrote:
Man could Prine have come up with a better melody and groove for the topic of this tune? Roosters layin' chickens and chickens layin' eggs! Gotta love it!
Oh yeah - couldn't agree more. Total groovocity ....simply groovacious! :D/
Posted 20 years ago by ciscochasbro    [ Reply ]
Man could Prine have come up with a better melody and groove for the topic of this tune? Roosters layin' chickens and chickens layin' eggs! Gotta love it!
Posted 20 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
"That girl's been grinning since the day she was born." The group of festers we camp with at the Philadelphia Folk Festival are called The Lost Dogs after this excellent album. I still remember chewing through his discography when I first discovered him at 18 or so.
Posted 20 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
So glad to see this song active on the playlist again. It is one of my favorite songs of anyone!! "Quit Hollerin' at Me" is another awesome cut off the same album... he is also great in concert!
Posted 20 years ago by birdboy    [ Reply ]
Excellent tune. Hard to believe that I saw him some years back, and had no idea who he was. I just worked at the venue. Now, I wanna see him again.
Posted 20 years ago by Lockjaw    [ Reply ]
Prime Prine
Posted 20 years ago by LEFTY6    [ Reply ]
gstark33 wrote:
This is by far the best Prine album in my opinion. Every song is absolutely top notch!
Absolutely right. Unlike most of his other albums, there's not a weak track on it. I highly recommend the anthology Great Days.
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
Woohoo! The first John Prine song I've heard on RP! More, more, more...
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
I've held a long time belief that John Prine is the greatest American lyricist of all time.
Posted 21 years ago by geotrash    [ Reply ]
Pee Wee Herman should adopt this as his theme song.
Posted 21 years ago by sergeant_x    [ Reply ]
I'm a-walkin' down the street, like Lucky LaRue. Got my hand in my pocket, thinkin' 'bout you: I ain't hurtin' nobody; I ain't a-hurtin' no-one. Gotta love those lyrics!
Posted 21 years ago by natsthename    [ Reply ]
This is by far the best Prine album in my opinion. Every song is absolutely top notch! birdboy wrote:
I was thinking of posting this song and see that it is already there. Why has it not been played in so long? This song is a John Prine masterpiece!!!
Posted 21 years ago by gstark33    [ Reply ]
Just played this song at a party Saturday. I couldn't believe I remembered the words. We need more Prine on RP.
Posted 21 years ago by Spliff    [ Reply ]
I was thinking of posting this song and see that it is already there. Why has it not been played in so long? This song is a John Prine masterpiece!!!
Posted 21 years ago by birdboy    [ Reply ]