The Osborne siblings strummed their first chords during those jam sessions. From the very start, TJ Osborne was the brother with the voice. He sang in a thick, low baritone, crooning like Johnny Cash long before he was even old enough to drive. Older brother John, on the other hand, was the family’s guitar shredder, his fingers capable of down-home bluegrass licks, arena-worthy rock riffs, country twang, and everything in between. Combined, the two Osbornes could play everything from traditional country music to rock & roll, creating a broad, full-bodied sound that would eventually fill the 11 songs on their major-label debut, Pawn Shop.
Like its title suggests, Pawn Shop offers a little bit of everything. There’s bluesy slide guitar, country duets, southern rock solos, harmonies, and plenty of groove. The hooks are big, the guitars are loud, and the songs — every last one of them co-written by the Osbornes, who reached out to award-winning songwriters like Shane McAnally and Ross Copperman for help — introduce a duo whose music bridges the gap between the mainstream and the alternative world. Some songs were written at home in Nashville, while others came together on the road, where the guys spent several years headlining their own club shows, touring the country with Darius Rucker, and playing some of the biggest arenas in America with fellow rule-breaker Eric Church.
“Most duos are built on singing,” says TJ “But John is an incredible guitar player, and this band is built on me singing and John playing guitar. It gives us two parallels that work nicely together.”
“It’s like an old-school rock approach,” adds John, who cites classic bands like Aerosmith and the Allman Brothers as influences on the duo’s dynamic. “Groups like that always had the lead singer as well as the sideman guitar player. That’s what we’re going for, too. We’re carving our own path in country music.”
That unique path has already led the band toward the upper half of the country charts. “Rum” got them there first, mixing the feel-good sunshine of a beach tune with a far more realistic storyline. There’s no actual beach in “Rum,” after all. Instead, Brothers Osborne turn the song into a tribute to the simple pleasures that their Maryland hometown offers: friends, good weather, and the occasional drink. They even filmed the song’s music video in Deale, filling the clip with footage of friends, relatives, and locals.
“Most people we grew up with don’t go to these beautiful beaches,” says TJ. “They can’t afford to do it. They don’t have the time for it. What we’re most familiar with is people going to the local bars and hanging out with each other.” John adds, “We tried to have the biggest time possible with what little we had. ‘Rum’ explains that.” The brothers agree, “We had to say it from our own perspective.”
A similar theme runs throughout “Dirt Rich” and “Pawn Shop,” two songs that stress the importance of appreciating what you’ve got. Pawn Shop dishes up plenty of love songs, too, from “Loving Me Back” — an old-school country duet featuring vocals from Lee Ann Womack — to “Stay a Little Longer,” the band’s biggest hit to date. While a three-minute guitar solo brings “Stay a Little Longer” to an epic, anthemic close, Brothers Osborne also devote time to more laid-back songs, from the nostalgic California country of “21 Summer” to the 420-friendly “Greener Pastures.”
Brothers Osborne, who co-produced the album with Jay Joyce (the award-winning producer behind Little Big Town’s Painkiller, Eric Church’s The Outsiders, and Carrie Underwood’s Storyteller), recorded most of Pawn Shop during breaks in their busy touring schedule, using members of their own touring band rather than session musicians from the Nashville community. The result is an album that’s stamped with the unmistakable mark of a band. It doesn’t sound like two singers, flanked by anonymous players. Instead, it sounds like a group of road warriors who’ve spent years sharing bus seats and hotel rooms, creating the sort of chemistry that can’t be faked. Pawn Shop is both raw and real, and Brothers Osborne — who, years after those household jam sessions in Deale, now have a handful of nationwide tours under their belts, songs on the charts, and a career on the rise — are no longer a family secret.
Back on the Bottle
Brothers Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
But that was back before you came along
You told me that you loved and I was crazy
And darlin', you weren't wrong
It was good while it lasted
But I guess you thought it lasted too long
At first my heart was sinking
And then I got to thinkingAll my reasons for not drinking are gone
Hallelujah
Good Lord, amen
Break out the bourbon
Long necks and gin
Open the bar room
Call up my old friends
'Cause, I'm back (I'm back)
Back on the bottle again
It's funny just a week ago
'Bout now, I'd be callin' it a night
Instead of asking for permission
Now I'm asking some angel for a light
Just because I shut her down
Don't mean that I can't start it up again, mmhm
Hello, hangover
It was strange being sober
But now that that's all over
Yeah, I'm back on the bottle again
(One-two-three)
Hallelujah
Good Lord, amen
Break out the bourbon
Open the bar room
Call up my old friends
'Cause, I'm back (woo hoo)
Back on the bottle again
Hallelujah
Good Lord, amen
Break out the bourbon
Long necks and gin
Open the bar room
Call up my old friends
'Cause, I'm back (who's back?)
Yeah, I'm back (he's back)
I'm back (you know I'm back)
Back on the bottle again
The lyrics of Brothers Osborne's song "Back on the Bottle" delve into a narrative of personal struggle, self-awareness, and the complexities of addiction. The singer reflects on a past where they used to drown their sorrows in whiskey until a significant other came into their life. This person made them feel loved and cherished, prompting them to reconsider their destructive drinking habits. The realization that their reasons for not drinking no longer hold weight highlights the transformative impact of love on their life.
The chorus of the song captures a mix of resignation and acceptance as the singer embraces their return to alcohol. Saturated with religious imagery, the mention of "Hallelujah," "Good Lord, amen," and the call to "break out the bourbon, long necks, and gin" conveys a sense of surrender to their old ways. The act of opening the bar room and rekindling connections with old friends signifies a return to a familiar yet potentially damaging environment where alcohol is at the forefront.
The lyrics continue to explore the singer's conflicting emotions as they acknowledge the sudden shift in their behavior. The mention of seeking permission from an angel for a cigarette juxtaposed with the defiance of shutting someone down suggests a struggle between newfound sobriety and the appeal of reverting to their old habits. The reference to the hangover highlights the consequences of their choices, but ultimately, the pull of alcohol proves stronger as they declare their return to drinking with a mix of relief and resignation.
The repetition of the chorus with slight variations emphasizes the cyclical nature of addiction and the difficulty of breaking free from its grasp. The singer's acknowledgment of being "back on the bottle again" reflects a sense of inevitability and perhaps even a form of resignation to their fate. Overall, the song paints a poignant picture of inner turmoil, vulnerability, and the enduring struggle to find solace and escape in familiar vices despite the fleeting moments of clarity and self-reflection.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hayes Carll, John Osborne, Thomas Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@musicfriekje
Yoooo, this is fantastic!! Glad I discovered Brothers Osborne 🙏
@nunyabidness6934
Wow...reminds me of some of that good, old outlaw country from back in the day. Waylon, Hank Jr., David Allen Coe...
Keep it up guys...keep doing it the way you do it. So much more talent and originality than most of the popular country stuff today...especially all the "bro country" garbage.
@dragonmusher
I feel like I can see Waylon, Merl, Hank Sr all rockin around behind y'all. Johnny and June join in for the chorus..:) Dang boys...I just cannot get enough of this album.
@bamabelle73rolltide62
Whew! The Brothers have made another great album.❤
@carriemahoney5873
Brothers Osborne never disappoint as far as their music and live shows are concerned
@brandonjodrey2319
Cheers to You Guys
@christinawillhelm6755
You can't help but smile and raise a glass !
@curtisyost5247
Absolutely Amen
@aprilkicinski2132
Great song guys!!! 🥰❤🥰
@MVRSTATION101
Waylon Jennings would smile to this 👉🇺🇲🥃