Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A haunting narrative folk song weaving tales of a lake's origin, youthful romance, and a dark crime scene, delivered in Prine's signature storytelling style.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: contemplative, melancholy, nostalgic, reflective
Traditions: country, folk
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 4/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: spoken word.
Where this sits in John Prine's catalog
We have 22 songs from John Prine in the library. Of those, 21 are rated Safe, 1 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 4/10 sits above the artist average of 3.9, making it the #13 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1995 context
Released in 1995. We have 329 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1990s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Lake Marie"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Lake Marie" by John Prine?
"Lake Marie" by John Prine rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 4/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Lake Marie" — what is its dynamic range?
"Lake Marie" has a dynamic range of 4/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Lake Marie" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Lake Marie" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Lake Marie" best for?
In our library "Lake Marie" is recommended for: deep listening, focus, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Lake Marie" released?
"Lake Marie" is from 1995, on the album "Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings". It appears in our 1990s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Lake Marie"?
We tag "Lake Marie" as contemplative, melancholy, nostalgic, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Lake Marie"?
The vocal style is spoken word.
Should I listen to "Lake Marie"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Lake Marie" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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