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.
Dead Man's Curve
Brothers Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
County fair called her queen
High school called her cum laude
Most likely to succeed
Her daddy's back wood crazy
She's got two six-foot-four brothers
You take one step onto that front porch
And you one crazy motherfucker
Her chase'll leave you breathless
Every back road in this town
She'll love you like a Sunday drive
And she'll take your poor heart down
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
No redemption, no return
Good God almighty, gonna crash and burn down dead man's curve
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
Country boys ain't never gonna learn
Nobody ever makes it through that turn
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
Whoa
Every man's been tempted
Greater men have tried
At best you'll wind up dented
If you're lucky enough to survive
Now, she's the finger that you're wrapped around
She's what every country song's about
She's the trouble that you're looking for
She gonna take you down and leave you coming back for more
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
Good God almighty, gonna crash and burn down dead man's curve
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
Country boys ain't never gonna learn
Nobody ever makes it through that turn
Dead man's curve (dead man's curve)
What you doing wilding up here?
You a dead man
Yeah (yeah)
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
No redemption, no return
Nobody ever makes it through that turn
Dead man's curve
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
Country boys ain't never gonna learn
Nobody ever makes it through that turn
Dead man's curve (dead man's curve)
Dead man's curve
Oh
You're coming in way too hot
You done hit the wrong turn, boy
You're a dead man
The song "Dead Man's Curve" by Brothers Osborne is a cautionary tale about a dangerous woman who can lead men to their demise. The lyrics describe a woman who is revered in different ways by different people - her grandfather sees her as a princess, the county fair sees her as a queen, and in high school, she was intelligent and likely to succeed. However, her father is known to be unpredictable and she has two intimidating brothers. The song warns that anyone who approaches her is in for a wild and potentially destructive ride.
The chorus emphasizes the danger of getting involved with this woman. The reference to "Dead Man's Curve" is a metaphor for a treacherous bend in the road that has caused many accidents and fatalities. It signifies that entering into a relationship with her is risky and there is no chance for redemption or turning back. The lyrics suggest that even the most tempted and capable men have fallen victim to her allure, and those who do survive are only left with scars.
Overall, "Dead Man's Curve" serves as a warning against getting involved with someone who is known for causing trouble and heartbreak. The song portrays the woman as irresistibly captivating but ultimately destructive, leading the singer to conclude that country boys will never learn to avoid the perils of her love.
Line by Line Meaning
Granddaddy called her princess
Her grandfather affectionately referred to her as a princess
County fair called her queen
She was crowned as the queen of the county fair
High school called her cum laude
She graduated high school with honors
Most likely to succeed
She was predicted to have the highest chances of success
Her daddy's back wood crazy
Her father is eccentric and unpredictable
She's got two six-foot-four brothers
She has two tall and protective brothers
You take one step onto that front porch
If you approach her house, you better be prepared
And you one crazy motherfucker
You must be daring and adventurous to pursue her
Her chase'll leave you breathless
Her pursuit will exhilarate and exhaust you
Every back road in this town
She knows every hidden path and secret route in the area
She'll love you like a Sunday drive
Her love will be smooth and enjoyable like a leisurely Sunday drive
And she'll take your poor heart down
She will capture and break your vulnerable heart
Dead man's curve, dead man's curve
A treacherous path with no hope for redemption or chance to turn back
No redemption, no return
There is no way to save yourself or go back once you enter this dangerous situation
Good God almighty, gonna crash and burn down dead man's curve
It's inevitable to experience a catastrophic failure and destruction at dead man's curve
Country boys ain't never gonna learn
Individuals from the countryside will never learn their lesson
Nobody ever makes it through that turn
No one has successfully navigated through that perilous turn
Whoa
Expressing surprise or awe at the situation
Every man's been tempted
Every man has faced temptation
Greater men have tried
Even those who are more accomplished have made attempts
At best you'll wind up dented
If you're lucky, you'll only end up with minor damage
If you're lucky enough to survive
Surviving the encounter is considered fortunate
Now, she's the finger that you're wrapped around
She has a controlling influence over you
She's what every country song's about
She embodies the essence of what country songs depict
She's the trouble that you're looking for
She is the exciting and dangerous adventure you seek
She gonna take you down and leave you coming back for more
She will lead you into destruction but still leave you longing for her
What you doing wilding up here?
Why are you taking such bold risks in this situation?
You a dead man
You are destined to meet your demise
Nobody ever makes it through that turn
No one has successfully navigated through that perilous turn
You're coming in way too hot
You are approaching the situation with excessive intensity
You done hit the wrong turn, boy
You have made a mistake by choosing the incorrect path
You're a dead man
You are doomed and will meet your end
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Osborne, Lee Miller, Thomas Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Big_RandyTM
One of the greatest country songs ever made. Hands down.
@brooklynboy1000
Saw them in the Grammys tonight. Finally something that sounds like music that wasn’t pulled out of someone’s ass in five minutes. You can tell they have honed their shit in the woodshed
@tomp3981
The whole CD is damm awesome. Been playing it all week back and forth to work.still not sick of it. 👍🤘👏
@C130Eolddude
Y’all nailed it again! Every man in the south gets this dual meaning lol!
@aidankhan6194
Explain your secrets sire.
@gingerlavigne4515
Louisiana gets it!! Lol 😅🤣😂
@darlenenorris9641
LOVE THEM, THEY NAIL IT EVERY TIME
@michaeltregler5308
I wanna know!
@Batman-rq5jm
Excuse me, but could you please explain what the dual meaning is? I'd really like to know.
@michaeltregler5308
The timing, pace, and speed of this song is like nothing else out there right now. It's so good