Page type: lyric reference
Artist: John Prine
Canonical path: /prine-john/unwed-fathers
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
Unwed Fathers
Read Unwed Fathers lyrics by John Prine on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Unwed Fathers
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
In an Appalachian, Greyhound station
She sits there waiting, in a family way
"Goodbye brother, Tell Mom I love her
Tell all the others, I'll write someday"
Chorus:
From an teenage lover, to an unwed mother
Kept undercover, like some bad dream
While unwed fathers, they can't be bothered
They run like water, through a mountain stream
In a cold and gray town, a nurse say's "Lay down"
'This ain't no playground, and this ain't home'
Someone's children, out having children
In a gray stone building, all alone
On somewhere else bound, Smokey Mountain Greyhound
She bows her head down, hummin' lullabies
'Your daddy never, meant to hurt you ever'
'He just don't live here, but you've got his eyes'
Repeat Chorus:
Well, they run like water,
Through a mountain stream
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Unwed Fathers"?
John Prine performs "Unwed Fathers", and this lyric page sits inside the John Prine catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Unwed Fathers"?
Yes. The related section below points to 'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose and Aimless Love with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by John Prine?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through John Prine's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Unwed Fathers yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.