John Prine Joins Todd Snider On The Ryman Auditorium Stage

Screen grab via YouTube – Kimberly Lord

Over the Easter weekend the Jester King of Americana, Todd Snider, surprised his audience at the historic Ryman Auditorium by inviting John Prine , one of his musical mentors, on stage during the encore.

The longtime friends traded verses on the 1971 classic, “Illegal Smile,” an unintentional weed anthem of sorts perfect for the 4/20 revelry.

Of the song Prine sqys “I have to confess, the song was not about smokin’ dope, It was more about how, ever since I was a child, I had this view of the world where I can find myself smiling at stuff nobody else was smiling at. But it was such a good anthem for dope smokers that I didn’t want to stop every time I played it and make a disclaimer.”

Todd Snider with John Prine – “Illegal Smile”