Behind the Meaning of John Prine’s “Pretty Good”

John Prine has many songs that slap the listener in the face with a hard truth. “Pretty Good” is a strong example of that capability. As Prine’s narrator takes stock of his life, he’s left with one unavoidable answer: everything shakes out in the end. Uncover the meaning behind this track, below.

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Behind the Meaning of John Prine’s “Pretty Good”

I got a friend in Fremont, he sells used cars, ya know?
Well, he calls me up twice a year just to ask me. “How’d it go?”
“Pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain
But actually, everything is just about the same”

Like many Prine songs, he presents several characters that help to elucidate the main point. The opening lines concern a friend of Prine’s’s that presents the titular idea: Everything is just about the same.”

While life is full of good moments and bad, Prine believes the ultimate tally is more or less equal.

I met a girl from Venus, her insides were lined in gold
Well, she did what she did, said “How was it, kid?”, she was politely told
“Pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain
But actually, everything is just about the same”

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The second verse centers around “a girl from Venus.” After experiencing a romantic fling, she chocks everything up to Pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain. It’s not exactly a powerful declaration, but it’s a familiar sense of indifference that many of us experience from time to time.

Moonlight makes me dizzy
Sunlight makes me clean
Your light is the sweetest thing
That this boy has ever seen

Songwriters are often romantic about life, but Prine keeps things real. It might not be the most comforting song, but it’s an assuage in the sense that Prine levels with us and sits with us in our apathy. Revisit this track, below.

I heard Allah and Buddha were singing at the Savior’s feast
And up in the sky an Arabian rabbi fed Quaker oats to a priest
Pretty good, not bad, they can’t complain
‘Cause actually, all them gods are just about the same

Moonlight makes me dizzy
Sunlight makes me clean
Your light is the sweetest thing
That this boy has ever seen

(Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)