About the song
John Prine, a beloved folk singer and songwriter, penned “Bruised Orange” as a poignant reflection on loss, grief, and the enduring power of the human spirit. This introspective ballad, released in 1971, became a popular addition to Prine’s live performances and a beloved song among his dedicated fanbase.
With his distinctive voice and heartfelt lyrics, Prine explores the universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Through emotive vocals and evocative imagery, listeners are invited to reflect on their own experiences and emotions, finding solace and hope in the face of adversity.
The opening lines, “I’m a bruised orange, a faded flower,” set the stage for a song that explores the fragility and impermanence of life. Prine references the natural world to illustrate his own feelings of loss and pain. The song’s refrain, “I’m a bruised orange, but I’m still here,” conveys a sense of resilience and a determination to persevere.
Throughout the song, Prine uses vivid imagery and relatable anecdotes to illustrate his experiences with loss. He references the “empty chairs” and “silent rooms” that remind him of loved ones who have passed away. The lyrics evoke a sense of sadness and longing, while also highlighting the importance of memory and the enduring power of love.
“Bruised Orange” is more than just a sad song; it is a testament to the human spirit and the ability to find hope even in the darkest of times. Prine’s heartfelt lyrics and soulful performance resonate with listeners of all ages, reminding us of the importance of love, resilience, and the enduring power of the human spirit. This timeless classic continues to inspire and uplift audiences worldwide, serving as a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is always hope for healing and renewal.
Video
Lyrics
I used to work at this Episcopal Church
When I was like thirteen years old
I was saving money for a guitar
And I’d go in on weekends and dust the pews up
‘Cause round about then, a lot of people started going to church
So the pews would get real dusty
And I’d wax the cross up, vacuum the carpet
And clean up the cup they put the wine in
Religion kind of lost its magic for me
I was a roadie for god
In the wintertime they used to call me up early on Sunday morning
To come get the snow out, off the walk in front of the church
‘Cause if one of the congregation fell and busted their ass
They’d sue the church for all the money they’d given it
All those years
And I used to have to go in pretty early
About five thirty, six o’clock on Sunday morning
To take care of the snow, I always thought it was a real
Strange time of the day, particularly on a Sunday morning
You normally see people are out late from Saturday night
Or else people really had a job on Sunday morning
Like a newsboy or altar boy or a bunch of people like that
I seen, I was going over one Sunday morning
And this kid who was going over to a Catholic church
This altar boy, he got hit by a train
He was just kind of screwing around, walking down the track
Looking at his shoes and
He got hit, he was a pretty bad mess
And there was about six or seven mothers around the scene of the accident
They didn’t know where their sons were at the time
They didn’t know who had gotten hit
And it took about fifteen, twenty minutes to identify him
I always remember, like, the look on one mother’s, on the other mother’s faces
Not the ones that, the others had a big sigh of relief
And they tried to comfort the other one but they were too relieved
To be very comforting
My heart’s in the ice house, come hill or come valley
Like a long ago Sunday when I walked through the alley
On a cold winter’s morning to a church house
Just to shovel some snow
I heard sirens on the train tracks, howl naked, gettin’ nuder
“An altar boy’s been hit by a local commuter”
Just from walking with his back turned
To the train that was coming so slow
You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say, “What does it matter?”
But it don’t do no good to get angry
So help me, I know
For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow
I been brought down to zero, pulled out and put back there
I sat on a park bench, I kissed the girl with the black hair
And my head shouted down to my heart
“You better look out below!”
Hey, it ain’t such a long drop, don’t stammer, don’t stutter
From the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter
And you’ll carry those bruises to remind you wherever you go
You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say, “What does it matter?”
But it don’t do no good to get angry
So help me, I know
For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow
My heart’s in the ice house, come hill or come valley
Like a long ago Sunday when I walked through the alley
On a cold winter’s morning to a church house
Just to shovel some snow
I heard sirens on the train tracks, howl naked, gettin’ nuder
“An altar boy’s been hit by a local commuter”
Just from walking with his back turned
To the train that was coming so slow
You can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder
Throw your hands in the air, say, “What does it matter?”
But it don’t do no good to get angry
So help me, I know
For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow
We sing this like nine times, I don’t remember