The Brobdingnagian Bards perform coast-to-coast, and in a given month might be at a Lord of the Rings Oscar Party, a Celtic festival, or a Science Fiction Convention. However, they are an absolute favorite at Renaissance Faires where they add high-energy and wit to make every show a memorable experience.
Marc Gunn, formerly of Austin Texas' alternative rock bands Skander and Breastfed, released a solo album (Geography) featuring himself on autoharp and Andrew McKee on recorder in 1998. This initial collaboration lead to the official formation of the Brobdingnagian Bards in 1999.
The group's name is derived from the kingdom of coarse giants described in Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels. The band is currently made up of its original two members, Marc Gunn (autoharp, vocals), and Andrew McKee (recorder, mandolin).
The Brobdingnagian Bards musical style is best described as a mixture of both Irish and Scottish folk songs. Despite performing in what is considered a "niche" genre, this duo was ranked as one of the top 20 bands on the original MP3.com. Over time, the Bards have also honed their act into live entertainment by adding comedy, with McKee being the "straight-man" to Gunn's antics. As a result, they have also become a familiar and popular act on both the renaissance faire and geek-show circuits.
The Bards had the honor of being headliners at the Oscar party for the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. They have also received an Austin Music Award for Best Novelty Band, and were the first Celtic band to ever win such an accolade. In addition to the many conventions, faires and music festivals the group performs at around the Austin area, they also have toured coast to coast, and developed a following of devoted listeners, referred to as "Nagians."
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Brobdingnagian Bards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...always look on the bright side of life...
If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.
And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...
For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.
So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath
Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the right side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...
The song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by the Brobdingnagian Bards is a humorous yet profound take on the ups and downs of life. It begins by acknowledging that some things in life can make us angry or upset, but instead of dwelling on those negative feelings, we should try to find something positive to focus on. The chorus reinforces this idea, encouraging us to always look on the bright side of life.
The second verse takes it a step further by suggesting that when we're feeling down, the best thing we can do is laugh, smile, dance and sing. Life can be absurd and death is inevitable, so we should enjoy the time we have and make the most of it. The final verse brings it all full circle, reminding us that life is a show and we should make the most of it while we can, because in the end, the joke's on us.
Overall, the song is a reminder to look for the positive in life, even when things aren't going well. It's a call to embrace our imperfections, find joy in the absurdity, and make the most of the time we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Some things in life are bad
There are certain things that aren't positive in life
They can really make you mad
These things can get under your skin and frustrate you
Other things just make you swear and curse.
Other times, you might even want to use profanity
When you're chewing on life's gristle
When things are tough and unpleasant
Don't grumble, give a whistle
Don't complain, instead use a positive approach
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
Having a positive attitude can lead to the best outcomes
And...always look on the bright side of life...
Stay optimistic and focus on the positive aspects of life
Always look on the light side of life...
Maintain a positive outlook and attitude
If life seems jolly rotten
When things seem really bad in life
There's something you've forgotten
You might have forgotten a way to feel better
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
One way to feel better is to be happy and enjoy life
When you're feeling in the dumps
When you're feeling down and sad
Don't be silly chumps
Don't act foolishly
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.
Instead, try to be positive and whistle as a form of release
For life is quite absurd
Life can be strange and unpredictable
And death's the final word
Eventually we all will die
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
We must acknowledge the end of life with dignity and gratitude
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Don't worry about your faults, instead try to make others happy
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.
Make the most of life since we only have one chance
So always look on the bright side of death
Even at the end, try to stay positive
Just before you draw your terminal breath
Right before passing away
Life's a piece of shit
Life is often unpleasant
When you look at it
When you consider it closely
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
Life might not be serious and death might be funny, that's reality
You'll see it's all a show
Life is like a performance
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Keep others happy as you live your life
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
Remember that life is short and you want to leave it on a positive note
Always look on the bright side of life...
Stay optimistic and focus on the positive aspects of life
Always look on the right side of life...
Maintain a positive outlook and attitude
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Encouragement to stay positive
(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
Things could be worse, look on the bright side
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
No harm in being positive, it might even pay off
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
We all have humble beginnings and we all end up in the same place
What have you lost? Nothing!)
There's nothing to lose by being optimistic
Always look on the right side of life...
Maintain a positive outlook and attitude
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eric Idle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind