Big Head Todd and The Monsters – singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist-singer Rob Squires, drummer-singer Brian Nevin and keyboardist-guitarist-singer Jeremy Lawton -- could have begun resting on their laurels back in 1993, when their Top 10 singles “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Circle” and “It’s Alright” pushed the album Sister Sweetly to platinum certification. However, Mohr says, “I’ve fought throughout our career not to be a one-trick pony, to be the kind of band that has depth and diversity in its catalogue. I’m a fan of this band, and I’m constantly looking forward to what comes next.”
The essence of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock ’n’ roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting – has been winning fans since Mohr, Rob Squires and Brian Nevin started playing together in high school (Jeremy Lawton joined in 2004). Needless to say, the three never expected to be in the same band at this late date, but, as Mohr points out, “It was a really fortunate combination of musical personalities, and we’re still partners in every sense of the word.”
The band spent seven years developing their chemistry and amassing a following, boosted significantly by the independent releases Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990), before being “discovered” by the listening public at large with 1993’s Sister Sweetly. After a major-label stint (Sister Sweetly, 1994’s Stratagem, 1997’s Beautiful World), during which the trio increasingly found itself frustrated artistically, they reclaimed their independent status (2001’s Riviera, 2004’s Crimes of Passion). “If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago,” Mohr allows.
Brother John
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Children give up don't you ever.
Remember that the devil's clever.
Brother John, where are you sleeping?
Take the light into your room.
Cast a candle on your doom.
Your master his is coming home soon.
May your awakening be near,
Heaven could be any place, Why not here?
Brother John, why are you sleeping?
The lyrics to Big Head Todd and the Monsters' song Brother John touch on themes of redemption, faith and temptation. The singer urges Brother John, who is presumably struggling with some sort of temptation or darkness, to turn around and strive for a better path. The line "Children give up don't you ever" reinforces the idea that perseverance is key in the face of adversity, specifically the devil who is often portrayed as tempting people away from goodness and into a life of sin.
The singer recognizes that the devil is clever, and that it's easy to fall into his traps. However, there is still hope for those like Brother John who are struggling; "Take the light into your room. Cast a candle on your doom" suggests that there is always a way to bring light into darkness and hope into despair. The chorus repeats the question "Brother John, where are you sleeping?" in order to emphasize the sense of urgency in the situation.
Overall, the lyrics of Brother John encourage listeners to stay strong in the face of temptation, to strive for a better path, and to look to higher powers for guidance and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn around for something better.
Don't give up on something just because it's difficult. Keep trying and you might find something better around the corner.
Children give up don't you ever.
Don't let failure discourage you. Keep pushing forward and trying your best.
Remember that the devil's clever.
Be aware that evil can often present itself in cunning and unexpected ways.
Brother John, where are you sleeping?
Brother John, are you aware of what's going on around you?
Take the light into your room.
Bring positivity and hope into your life, and don't let darkness consume you.
Cast a candle on your doom.
Use the light of hope to overcome the negative aspects of your life and avoid a grim fate.
Your master his is coming home soon.
Be prepared for a reckoning or judgment from a higher power, as it could be closer than you think.
Brother John, how are you sleeping?
Brother John, are you at peace with yourself and the world around you? Or are you troubled and restless?
May your awakening be near,
May you soon find clarity and understanding in your life, and be enlightened to new ideas and perspectives.
Heaven could be any place, Why not here?
Heaven isn't necessarily a physical place, and can be found within yourself or in the world around you. So why not strive to create a positive environment and find inner peace wherever you are?
Brother John, why are you sleeping?
Brother John, are you ignoring important issues or challenges in your life? Wake up and face them head on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TODD PARK MOHR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williemammoth11
Was (and still am!) such a big fan of this entire album, and this, just wonderful. Saw you with Blues Traveler at Jones Beach in 1991(?), really imprinted upon me as a nascent drummer. Thank you!
@_creighton
My Son graduates this year and turns 18 in February. I'm endeavoring to learn this song on the guitar so I can sing it to he and my wife on his birthday as a surprise and hopefully a share to the piercing message this song embodies for me.
The message on not sleeping through one's life. With all we have to managein any given day, in any given life, for me, it's been so simple to fall into a trance like state of simply looking forward to the next 'thing' to be accomplished and thus, not engaging in full presence with the glowing potential and reality of all that goes on about me in the moment.
I've gone months, even years in the sleep of 'what's next' only to have awareness pierce the veil and 'awaken' me on occasion to great realization and heart opening.
Wish me luck. I want nothing more for those around me than to awaken to the potent joy, power and bouyancy of an awakened presence.
i wish this for you too, whomever may be encountering these words in the now.
love you hug
@jonaschamp9894
I Love that, sir. Let us know how it goes!
It’s hard to encapsulate a feeling that a song gives to you and share it with others and expect the same feeling to translate to them. It’s hard to teach the young. And I am one LOL.
I am 28.
All the songs my parents used to play outside on the deck I grew up liking and still listening to- but only now do I realize what some of these songs were talking about.
Take “Surrender” by cheap Trick for instance.
I just now got the meaning of that song about 6 months ago.
I had always been listening without really heating. The message comes to you in all due time- when you’re ready.
Much love ❤️
@jonaschamp9894
My parents played Tom Petty, Concrete Blonde, Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam and Counting Crows to name a few.
What a great time to be a little boy.
I feel like “Whose better than me?”
It rocks.
It all rocks.
Present moment is Key 🔑
You are absolutely right.
@milesaugust4413
Noice!
@gregdaniel8404
greatness.... What took so long to post this????
@bobdabolina5389
Greg dan,