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.
Hatin' Somebody
Brothers Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You may never like mine
We may never be all cheers drinkin' beers
Arm in arm singin' Auld Lang Syne
But maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle
Like strings 'tween a fiddle and a bow
You need a paddle on the left, a paddle on the right
'Cause we're all in the same damn boat
Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere
It's a bad seed to sow, it's a dead end road when you go there
Makin' any headway that way ain't got no prayer, no prayer
Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere
We're all going somewhere
When we ain't here no more
We're all going somewhere
And we're all going through the same door
Now wakin' up and puttin' that smile on
Beats the hell out of wakin' up dead
That ain't how grandpa always was
But it is what he always said, now
Stick a stubborn hillbilly in the middle of the city
Gotta learn how not to throw stones
He didn't live long enough to hear this song
But he lived long enough to know, no, no
Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere
It's a bad seed to sow, it's a dead end road when you go there
Makin' any headway that way ain't got no prayer, no prayer
Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere
No, no, nowhere
It's a bad seed to sow, it's a dead end road when you go there
Makin' any headway that way ain't got no prayer, no prayer
Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere
We're all going somewhere
When we ain't here no more
We're all going somewhere
And we're all going through the same door
We're all going somewhere
When we ain't here no more
We're all going somewhere
And we're all going through the same door
The song "Hatin' Somebody" by Brothers Osborne highlights the importance of accepting and respecting people despite their differences. The opening lyrics suggest that the characters in the song may not have much in common, but they can still find common ground somewhere in the middle. This is symbolized by the analogy of a fiddle and a bow, where the midpoint between the two strings produces the best sound. The song acknowledges that everyone has different tastes and opinions, but these differences don't have to lead to hate or disrespect.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the message that hating somebody is ultimately pointless and won't get anyone anywhere. The repetition of the line "Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere" reinforces this theme of unity and acceptance. The final section of the song highlights the fact that eventually, we will all end up in the same place, regardless of our differences. Therefore, it's important to focus on our similarities and treat each other with kindness and respect.
Overall, "Hatin' Somebody" is a powerful reminder that despite our differences, we are all human and deserving of love and respect. The message of the song is particularly relevant in today's divisive society, where it can be easy to fall into the trap of hate and intolerance.
Line by Line Meaning
I may never like your shoes
I might not appreciate your style choices
You may never like mine
You may not appreciate my style choices
We may never be all cheers drinkin' beers
We may not be the best of friends
Arm in arm singin' Auld Lang Syne
Celebrating together like old friends
But maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle
Perhaps we can find common ground
Like strings 'tween a fiddle and a bow
Like the connection between the fiddle and bow while playing music
You need a paddle on the left, a paddle on the right
We all need to work together
'Cause we're all in the same damn boat
We're all in the same situation, we're in this together
Hatin' somebody ain't never got nobody nowhere
Disliking someone never helped anyone achieve anything
It's a bad seed to sow, it's a dead end road when you go there
It's a negative influence and leads to nowhere
Makin' any headway that way ain't got no prayer, no prayer
Trying to accomplish anything through hate won't work
We're all going somewhere
We all have a destination
When we ain't here no more
After we die
Now wakin' up and puttin' that smile on
Starting the day with a positive attitude
Beats the hell out of wakin' up dead
It's better than having a negative mentality
That ain't how grandpa always was
Grandpa wasn't always positive
But it is what he always said, now
Even though he wasn't always positive, he believed in having a positive attitude
Stick a stubborn hillbilly in the middle of the city
An individual who disagrees with different views
Gotta learn how not to throw stones
They need to learn to live in harmony with others
He didn't live long enough to hear this song
He passed away before this message could be heard
But he lived long enough to know, no, no
He understood the importance of getting rid of hate
We're all going somewhere
We all have a destination
And we're all going through the same door
We'll all die eventually
No, no, nowhere
It won't lead anywhere
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Casey Beathard, John Osborne, Thomas J. Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hsmith6785
These guys channel pure musical Divinity and liberate us all with their raw, unapologetic honesty. Damn grateful. Continuously inspired thanks to them.
@MotorCitySol
Your grandfathers listening to this up in Heaven and smiling down on you! Keep up the great work and God Bless
@itallia666
I think the Brothers should do a song with the sisters that are
Larkin Poe! The voices would be so complementary & since one of the sisters plays slide guitar &
The vocal sister has a lush deep voice..it would be a brilliant performance!
@featheredcoyote5477
Ewwww....now that would be a damn good collaboration!! Love it
@heathermatheny8947
Sgree
@alexanderprice5305
I really am loving this new album.
@nancybrown2668
Great song, guys!!!!
@susanscott6604
Makes ya wanna dance!
@aprildunne9943
I can't wait for them to come back to NY. I miss see'em live. My first time was in Huntington. It was an awesome introduction. Come back soon please. Promise I'll wear a mask. 😉😘
@richsegall6723
Love Brothers Osborne and this track!!