Lyr Add: Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (Prine)

Subject: Lyr Add: SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS (Prine)
From: Justa Picker
Date: 29 May 01 - 12:26 PM

SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS
Written by John Prine
As recorded by John Prine on “German Afternoons” (1986)

1. You come home late and you come home early.
You come on big when you're feelin' small.
You come home straight and you come home curly.
Sometimes you don't come home at all.

CHORUS: So what in the world's come over you?
And what in heaven's name have you done?
You've broken the speed o' the sound o' loneliness.
You're out there runnin' just to be on the run.

2. Well, I got a heart that burns with a fever,
And I got a worried and a jealous mind.
How can a love that'll last forever
Get left so far behind? CHORUS

3. It's a mighty mean and a dreadful sorrow.
It's crossed the evil line today.
Well, how can you ask about tomorrow?
We ain't got one word to say. CHORUS

You're out there runnin' just to be on the run.
You're out there runnin' just to be on the run.
You're out there runnin' just to be on the run.

Subject: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 11:08 AM

What does: "You've broken the speed of the sound of loneliness" really mean?

Thanks

Paul

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: Fortunato
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 12:14 PM

I think it means 'a great sadness quickly arrived'. A bit literal I suppose, but having lived that song at least once on both sides of the question its rather amazing how the loss of love drops your precipitously into dispair. Clearly John Prine knew.

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 01:06 PM

I think Fortunato has it about pat - I'd say it means:

"I've never gone from being happy to being sad and lonely, quite so quickly"

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: DougR
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 01:31 PM

Sounds good to me, but I'm gonna stay tuned because I'll bet other mudcatters view it differently. If not, Paul, I would think that you have set some kind of record. Posting a question over which there is no disagreement on the Mudcat! :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 02:53 PM

I'd agree - from happy to super sad in a heartbeat -

helping to set a record -

Steve

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST,Macho Pete
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 03:14 PM

Agreed too :-)

I would add "...and it's all your fault!"

Pete

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 03:53 PM

Sounds a bit like something P Simon once wrote about silence and noise.

That was about communication and isn't loneliness also.

Coolieless Bob

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 04:34 PM

Where you from then Bob not having a "coolie"
*BG* KJ

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: Bob P
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 04:47 PM

From the land of lousytypers - that's what you get when you check out the mudcat while you're supposed to be doing hard labor.

Most humble apologies - I'm wise to the wrath wreaked upon wandering word wizards sporting shadowy silouettes 'round these parts.

Bob P

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 07:07 PM

Nanci Griffith does a good version of this song.john

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: 53
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 09:04 PM

Two more 'Catters here agree with the meaning already well stated by Fortunato and Guest and others.

Really setting a record.

Glenda and Bob

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: rangeroger
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 09:56 PM

At the tail end of Nanci Griffith's video "Other Rooms,Other Voices" she does "Speed of the sound of Loneliness" in duet with John Prine.

She is dressed all in white with angel wings and he is dressed all in black with black angel wings.

It is a really impressive piece of video work.

And I agreee with the answers so far for the meaning.John Prine has an amazing ability to use words.

rr

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: Clifton53
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 03:36 AM

John Prine has always been a favorite of mine, and has also befuddled me with his lyrics at times. He had been married to a girl named Rachel Peer and even recorded with her singing along with him. He also brought her on stage, good lord, I don't know what year it was, mid or early 80's maybe, when he appeared at The Garden State Arts Center with Bonnie Raitt.

I'm not real positive on this but I don't think the marriage lasted more than 5 years or so. Anyone else know?

Anyway, he's always had a great gift for language that, how can I phrase this , somehow, you get the feeling right away but need to go back later and find how he did it? That's what I feel about this line.

Clifton

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: open mike
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 02:34 AM

for more john prine info (flag decal, illegal smile, Paradise and all those wonderful tunea and more go to John Prine Shrine and/or Oh Boy records.....sites-- blue clicky anyone?

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GMT
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 03:29 AM

Does anyone know if the Nanci Griffith 'Other Rooms, Other Voices' video is available in Britain ?

I'd love to get hold of a copy.

Cheers
Gary

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST,Magz
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 07:01 AM

Does anyone have the notes tabbed for speed of the sound of loneliness please? I've hunted high and low but so far can only find chords. 😀

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 12:33 PM

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness tabs

I prefer Nanci Griffiths and John Prine singing this

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness song

I think lonely has a sound... it can be deafening. I also think sometimes you need to outrun it and survive the pain it can bring. Back in 2010 I wrote a poem about it...

Lonely is a lonely word

Lonely is a lonely word: I hate it when it calls on me
A hole inside me opens up: It takes away what once was free.
I try to seek a place to go, to fill the hole that lonely brings,
Inside my heart, inside my mind, an echo echoes as it rings.

I seek a solace somewhere close, the quiet waters calm me down,
I watch the moon and stars dance by, seeking bedtime on their own
They step below that far off line as I can see the horizon clear,
But lonely haunts me, brings me down, taking calm by bringing fear.

I look within myself for strength, to take away the pain I feel,
And realise it's beating me, eating on me like a meal.
Oh lonely is as lonely does, perpetuating great despair,
I cannot let it get a grip with my emotions lying there.

But then I see a distant light: In my minds eye it grows and grows
What is it made of? Whence it come? My spirit lifts and starts to flow
For Lonely sometimes is a switch that when turned off there is no fright,
Allowing you to feel again all life's wonder: life's delight.

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST,Magz
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 04:56 AM

Thank you mauvepink I have the chords but it's the tab for the actual melody Notes..... Or the sheet music that I am after so I can play the melody, I can't find it anywhere. Cheers 😃

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 07:52 PM

I should have correctly read what you asked for! :)

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: Janie
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 08:49 PM

Thank you mauvepink.

Subject: RE: John Prine - Speed of the sound...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Sep 15 - 06:53 AM

Like many a good song you can read it several ways, according to how it's sung.

The obvious way is it's by someone to a straying partner, bit equally it can be it's addressed to the singer - the "you" means "me" and "i". Self awareness.