The coronavirus is not stopping John Gros from going ahead and releasing his new album Central City on April 17, on the original scheduled date. However, his spring tour has been rescheduled for the fall. Ahead of the release Gros has shared his take on John Prine’s “Please Don’t Bury Me.”

“I played twelve years at the Original Tropical Isle, at a little hole-in-the-wall bar one door off Bourbon Street at Toulouse Street.” says Gros. “We played Yacht Rock before it became a genre, lots of Jimmy Buffett, soft rock hits from the ’70s, and assorted, off-the-beaten-path favorites. This is where I was introduced to John Prine’s music and I have been a devoted disciple ever since. I have many favorites, but ‘Please Don’t Bury Me’ was my first love. His storytelling inspired me with its simplistic wordplay, satire and brutal honesty. I often wonder if Randy Newman and Prine are related. The most important reason why I recorded ‘Please Don’t Bury Me’ is I have four friends who have been in need of organ transplants,” Gros says. “One had a successful liver transplant, a second is in recovery from a successful lung transplant, and two friends are struggling on the list waiting for new kidneys. The lyrics in the chorus say it best: ‘Please don’t bury me, down in that cold, cold ground/I’d rather have them cut me up and pass me all around/Throw my brain in a hurricane and the blind can have my eyes/The deaf can take both my ears, if they don’t mind the size.’ If I can use John Prine’s song to bring awareness to donating organs, help my friends live a long happy life, and put smiles on people’s faces, then I’ve done something good. Please donate your organs.” Check out the song here: