Their popular album Light Up the Night was released in March 1980 and got as high as number 5 on the Billboard 200. It was number 46 on the "Top 100 LP's of 1980" list in Rolling Stone Magazine. The subsequent album, Winners, was self-produced by the brothers and released in July 1981, but was less successful, going only as high as number 48 on the Billboard 200.
Among their most popular songs are "I'll Be Good to You" (Hot 100 #3 in 1976), "Strawberry Letter 23" (Hot 100 # 5 in 1977), "Ain't We Funkin' Now" (1978), and "Stomp!" (Hot 100 #7 and Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1 in 1980). Their styles include funk, disco, and R&B ballads. The duo split up in 1982.
Guitarist/vocalist George Johnson and bassist/vocalist Louis Johnson formed the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy and their cousin Alex Weir while attending school in Los Angeles. When they became professionals, the band backed such touring R&B acts as Bobby Womack and the Supremes. George and Louis Johnson later joined Billy Preston's band, and wrote "Music in My Life" and "The Kids and Me" for him before leaving his group in 1973. In 1976, The Brothers covered the Beatles song, "Hey, Jude", for the ephemeral musical documentary All This and World War II.
Quincy Jones hired them to play on his LP Mellow Madness, and recorded four of their songs, including "Is It Love That We're Missing?" and "Just a Taste of Me." Jones took them on a Japanese tour, then produced their dΓ©but LP, Look Out for Number 1, after they signed with A&M, which was also his label at the time (1976). They scored a number-one R&B and number-three pop hit with "I'll Be Good to You," and enjoyed R&B chart toppers in 1977 and 1980 respectively with "Strawberry Letter 23" and "Stomp!," while sustaining a consistent hit presence via such songs as "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" and "Runnin' for Your Lovin." Jones remade "I'll Be Good to You" in 1989 with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan on his Back on the Block release.
The Brothers earned platinum records for Look Out for Number 1 and Right on Time. Jones produced both of these, along with their third and fourth LPs, Blam and Light Up the Night. The group produced its single "The Real Thing" in 1981. It reached number 11 on the R&B charts, and the Brothers had another hit with "Welcome to the Club" in 1982. They started doing separate ventures; Louis Johnson played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller LP and recorded a gospel album, while George Johnson worked with Steve Arrington. Leon Sylvers produced their mid-'80s return LP Out of Control; it didn't equal their past success, but got them another R&B hit with "You Keep Coming Back" in 1984. They recorded Kickin' in 1988, and co-wrote "Tomorrow" with Siedah Garrett for Jones' Back on the Block in 1989.
Strawberry Letter 23
Brothers Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Red magic satin playing near, too
All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind
In the garden, I see
West purple shower bells and tea
Orange birds and river cousins
Dressed in green
Pretty music, I hear
So happy and loud
Blue flowers echo
From a cherry cloud
Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue
Playgrounds will laugh
If you try to ask
"Is it cool?" (is it cool)
If you arrive and don't see me
I'm going to be with my baby
I am free, flying in her arms
Over the sea
Stained window, yellow candy screen
See speakers of kite
With velvet roses diggin'
Freedom flight
A present from you
Strawberry letter twenty-two
The music plays
I sit in for a few
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
A present from you
Strawberry letter 22
The music plays
I sit in for a few
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
The Brothers Johnson's hit song Strawberry Letter 23 is a soulful and poetic love letter. The lyrics are surrealist in nature, depicting an otherworldly place; a magical garden where everything is colorful and joyful, and where the singer's beloved is flying with him over the sea. The song is an expression of the kind of love that transports you to a different place, where you escape the mundane and find bliss.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are steeped in symbolism. Waterfalls, rainbows, and gardens are all symbols of regeneration and renewal. The "red magic satin" is a symbol of passion and romance. The "orange birds and river cousins" are emblematic of wildlife and the natural world, contributing to the overall sense of nature and wonder in the song. Ultimately, the song is about the power of love to transform everything around us, and create a world of our own device.
Overall, Strawberry Letter 23 is a love song that is both poetic and dreamlike. Its lyrics tap into the emotions of feeling free, uninhibited, and transported to another place by the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello my love, I heard a kiss from you
I received a message of love from you and it made me happy.
Red magic satin playing near, too
There is something enchanting happening nearby.
All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine
I am searching for something beautiful even though the world seems dull and gloomy.
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind
There are many colorful and joyful thoughts in my head.
In the garden, I see
I find myself in a beautiful and peaceful garden.
West purple shower bells and tea
I see purple flowers and tea in the garden, which enhances the beauty of the place.
Orange birds and river cousins
I see orange-colored birds and hear the sound of the flowing river.
Dressed in green
The plants and nature around are radiant and full of life, cloaked in shades of green.
Pretty music, I hear
I hear lovely, joyful music around me.
So happy and loud
The music is joyful and loud, which fills me with happiness.
Blue flowers echo
The beauty of the blue flowers echoes in the music.
From a cherry cloud
The source of the music comes from a beautiful, imaginary place in the sky.
Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue
The beauty of the sunshine is reflected in a pink and blue light.
Playgrounds will laugh
Even the playgrounds seem to be happy and full of joy.
If you try to ask
If you were to ask, you would find the world around me to be full of joy and happiness.
"Is it cool?" (is it cool)
People may question the reality of this beautiful world, but it is truly amazing.
If you arrive and don't see me
If you come to look for me, but I am gone.
I'm going to be with my baby
I will be with my loved one and be filled with joy.
I am free, flying in her arms
Being with my loved one makes me feel free and happy.
Over the sea
I am flying over the beautiful and vast sea.
Stained window, yellow candy screen
I see a beautifully stained window and a yellow candy screen which adds to the beauty of my surroundings.
See speakers of kite
I see people flying kites which adds to the beauty of my surroundings.
With velvet roses diggin'
I imagine people digging up beautiful velvet roses.
Freedom flight
Everything around me feels free and full of life.
A present from you
The beautiful world around me feels like a gift sent from my loved one.
Strawberry letter twenty-two
This beautiful world is reminiscent of the joyous feeling associated with a romantic letter between lovers, specifically letter twenty-two.
The music plays
I am constantly surrounded by beautiful music.
I sit in for a few
I stay and enjoy this beautiful world for a little while longer.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
The beauty of this world is overwhelming and indescribable.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Unison Rights S.L., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Shuggie Otis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
:[
[Verse 1]
Hello, my love, I heard a kiss from you
Red magic satin playing near, too
All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind
In the garden, I see, west purple shower bells and tea
Orange birds and river cousins dressed in green
Pretty music, I hear, so happy and loud
Blue flowers echo from a cherry cloud
[Bridge]
Feel sunshine sparkle pink and blue
Playgrounds will laugh
If you tried to ask, "Or is it cool?" (Is it cool?)
If you arrive and don't see me
I'm gonna be with my baby
I'm free, flyin' in her arms
Over the sea
[Verse 2]
Stained window, yellow candy screen
See speakers of kites
With velvet roses digging freedom flight
[Chorus]
A present from you
Strawberry letter twenty-two
The music plays, I sit in for a few
[Interlude and Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
A present from you
Strawberry letter twenty-two
The music plays, I sit in for a few
The Weebinar | NSFW Anime Reviews and Longplays
This song is an absolute masterpiece. Any time, anywhere, and any place I hear this song I will always stop and listen.
Leland Williams
The great Quincy Jones was involved I believe.
Leland Williams
The gre
Becky Taylor
Omg yes!!!! I had the original vinyl record and it was bright red!!!!! ππΌ
maricarmen sanchezjimenez
β@pz3j encontre la voz donde se resume toda la mΓΊsica de los setenta lirismo en su mΓ‘xima expresiΓ³n
Cherish 9
Truly a masterpiece! Magical ππππΉπΉπΉ
lisa evers
Absolute perfection. It's hard to find a trippy, slow jam, but that is also full of FUNK. This song is a DRUG all unto itself.
Ken Perkins
ββ@NotEasy Far out!
NotEasy
Right on man
Ja frost
@bigcheese 212 right? this wasn't created and distributed in a vacuum, music like this was very influential on alot of my favourite artists, and was itself influenced by other artists