I haven't read all of the contributions to this thread, so pardon me if I'm returning to already explored territory. However...

I wonder if anybody besides me has heard Andrew Calhoun's song "Goin' Down to See John Prine." It's on his 2003 album Tiger Tattoo (on Calhoun's Waterbug label) and can also be found on YouTube.

Calhoun is a Chicago folk singer -- his most recent release, Rhymer's Tower, surveys very old ballads -- and songwriter. The Prine song is, shall we say, less than celebratory. After reading the Rolling Stone profile, I suspect that the mature Prine would likely plead guilty to the crimes of the young Prine here outlined.