Based on the new animated music video for "Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln, Nebraska 1967 (Crazy Bone)," Americana godfather John Prine runs a similar syndicate in the cartoon world. Created by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard for Neighborhoods Apart Productions, the South Park-style animation adds a new level of surrealism to this recent example of Prine's lyrical world-building.
The Pat McLaughlin co-write follows a young troublemaker with Prine's sense of humor all the way to the nursing home. It's in line with two types of stories Prine brings to folk-inspired country music — surreal takes on the mundane and lamentations about our bodies' tendencies to break down as we grow old.
Read More: See John Prine and Friends Tour Music City in New Video For 'Knockin' On Your Screen Door'
It's off The Tree of Forgiveness, the latest release by Prine's own Oh Boy Records. The collection of new music pairs one of Nashville's greatest living talents with several of his young admirers. Dave Cobb produced the album, which features guest appearances by Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires and Brandi Carlile. Also, there's no overstating how much several young talents not on the album, namely Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson and Margo Price, adore the sharp mind and weathered voice behind this and other fantastic new songs.
"Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln, Nebraska 1967 (Crazy Bone)" Lyrics
If you like your apples sweet
And your streets are not concrete
You'll be in your bed by nine every night
Take your hand-spanked, corn-fed gal
And your best friend's four-eyed pal
To a treat right down the street that's dynamite
Let your conscience be your guide
If you put your foot inside
You wish you left your well-enough alone
When you got hell to pay
Put the truth on layaway
And blame it on that old crazy bone
Crazy bone (crazy bone)
Crazy bone (crazy bone)
Well you wish you'd left your well-enough alone
When you got hell to pay
Put the truth on layaway
And blame it on the ole' crazy bone
Don't be stuck up in Alaska
When you should be in Nebraska
On a Thursday when it's Egg & Daughter Nite
When the farmers come to town
And they spread them eggs around
And they drop their daughters down at the roller rink
Well you're prob'ly standin' there
With your slicked-back, Brylcreem hair
Your Lucky's and your daddy's fine-tooth comb
If they knew what you were thinkin'
They'd run you out of Lincoln
Just blame it on that ole' crazy bone
Crazy bone (crazy bone)
Crazy bone (crazy bone)
Well you must have left your wisdom tooth at home
If they knew what you were thinkin'
They'd run you out of Lincoln
Blame it on the old crazy bone
When the grandkids all are grown
And they put you in a home
And eternity is approachin' fast
Yeah you're half out of your head
And you prob'ly pissed the bed
You can't see a thing to save your ass
And far across the prairie (prairie)
In the local cemetery ('tery)
They already got your name carved out in stone
When all them nurses say, "Grandpa why you walk that way?"
Just blame it on that old crazy bone
Yeah blame it on that old ...
Crazy bone (crazy bone)
Crazy bone (crazy bone)
And everybody in that old folks' home
If they knew what you were thinkin'
They'd run you out of Lincoln
Just blame it on that old crazy bone
And everybody in that old folks' home
Yeah blame it on that old crazy bone
