Lucky LaRue Too

Now the Mythical Monkey has won a prize or two, and I am happy that he has. He's a writer's writer and he also actually, whaddaycallit, writes. I'm more of a 'worrying about maybe writing something someday' kind of guy. It's a gift I have and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

And meanwhile, like the Myth, Mr. Muleboy has been named Blogger of the Universe by the Gunslinger, but also just last week asked to join the band. I'm glad he accepted, because the Gunslinger, always great, just got amazing on account of now they've got a rocker and a photographer playing bass over there.

But all that said, the simple truth is, no brag just fact, there is only one No. 1 when you Google "Lucky Larue." That's not a threat, that's not a boast, that's just the way it's going to be. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

I found this out precisely … lessee ... 35 minutes ago while reading a really fine J.P. interview over at the J.P. Shrine, & I realized I was still bugged by the mystery of which I made note in my original post of I Ain't Hurtin' Nobody, to wit, who the hell is Lucky LaRue? Where'd that amazingly perfect name come from? It's a name that's too good to make up, right? I mean, yes, somebody had to make it up originally, I take your point, but I mean it's such a great and memorable & evocative name for a character that surely John wasn't the first to utter it?

Here's what John had to say about it in the Official JPShrine Q&A Reprint:

I returned to L.A. from my first Australian tour. It was March of '93. I had no new songs. Just a bunch of ideas and the studio booked at two the next afternoon. At about four a.m. the previous evening I wrote "I Ain't Hurtin' Nobody" -- a song about a fellow, Lucky LaRue, who was walking down the street thinking about his sweetheart. Not making the world a better place, but certainly not screwin' it up. "He ain't hurtin' nobody, He ain't hurtin' no one." When I reached the bridge of the song, I looked out my window at Los Angeles at about 5:30 a.m. and figured about six million seven hundred thousand and thirty three lights were on. That's when I knew we were on our way to a new album."

So I Googled the name once again and instead of zilch I got ... ME ... Radiant.

Freshly emboldened with this first-ever claim to fame, I wrote Josh Talley, Al Bunetta Management's bookings & publicity guy, the following, not too creepy i hope, note:

Dear Mr. Talley,

I write a small, OK microscopic, mostly music anonymous blog at http://www.whoamusanyway.blogspot.com/

And the thing is, it turns out that even though I have but 4's of readers, I am the No. 1 (worldwide!) destination for John Prine fans who Google the name "Lucky Larue," the character invoked in John's scary-good "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody."

Basically, what happened is i posted a Youtube copy of Aint Hurtin' Nobody (please don't do a copyright block on it) & mentioned that I've always wondered who Lucky LaRue was. Among other things I got the coolest comment ever left in the history of my blog:

"Anonymous said...
just posting this so that you know another person was out there listening to 'ain't hurtin nobody' and then was compelled to search google for information regarding one 'lucky larue' character."

So the next thing I know, I'm the King of the World -- that is, if you don't include "john prine" in your Google search but just plain "Lucky LaRue," you'll get my blog.

Anyway on account of my notoriety I was hoping Mr. Prine might be willing to say a word to me and my legions about when or how or even just why or where or who the name Lucky LaRue occurred to him. Failing that, that maybe you might be willing to run the question past him the next time you see him and let us know his reply, or if no reply, his facial expression or body language (impressed, amused, annoyed, baffled, frightened, etc.)

Thanks for your consideration, Mr. Talley -- and I actually do not mean the last to sound ironic or snotty although it probably does.

Sincerely,

Welp, if I hear anything back I'll let you all know because don't worry I won't forget the little people now that I've hit the big time.