In the midst of the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history, John Prine and his label, Oh Boy Records, performed an act of kindness for TSA workers in the Nashville airport by buying them lunch. The legendary Americana performer explained on Twitter on Friday (Jan. 18) that, in fact, his good deed was simply a thank you to the TSA workers who have treated him well during the substantial time he has spent in airports over the course of his career.

"The Nashville airport is my second home and everyone there always takes care of me," Prine explained. "It's nice to be able to do something small for them today."

For their part, the airport expressed appreciation for Prine's actions: "John Prine, ladies and gentlemen," the Nashville International Airport wrote on Facebook, quoting lyrics from Prine's 1972 release, "Billy the Bum," to show their gratitude -- and fandom. "What a gesture of appreciation to BNA's hardworking Transportation Security Administration staff. Hope to see you again soon at BNA, where we 'prove we can run twice as fast as the sun by losing our shadow at night.'"

Over the course of the month-long shutdown, which began on Dec. 22, more and more TSA officers and airport workers across the country are facing financial difficulty, as they are not being paid during furlough. Prine is not alone in his decision to help airport workers with essentials such as food as they work without pay: Airports throughout the U.S. have seen donations of pizza, gift cards, non-perishable food and more.