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.
Lighten Up
Brothers Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the sun goes down
We'll be rollin' up
About the time to lighten' up (lighten up)
To kick off the foot on the right foot
Top bar, pass it around
So keep the windows up
'Cause we'll be lightin' up
Our brother Jimbo ain't a late night toker
Never been one to roll with the holy rollers
Justa puts a little somethin' in his cup
When he wants to lighten up
Lighten up
Maybe, everybody could lighten up
When the goin' gets a little tough
Give a little love
And put your lighters in the air
And light 'em up
Lately, everybody's done had enough
Got to get it back to the good stuff
Justa lit it up and when the world goes dark
We'll be lightin' up
Back porch picking from a six string
Sipping from a fill it up cup, uh
They ain't gonna turn it down, nah
Only gonna crank it up, crank it up
(Lighten up)
Redneck hickers and girls from the cities
All gettin' along
Long hales on a country song
Maybe, everybody could lighten up
When the goin' gets a little tough
Give a little love
And put your lighters in the air
And light 'em up
Lately, everybody's done had enough
Got to get it back to the good stuff
Justa lit it up and when the world goes dark
We'll be lightin' up
Yeah, maybe, everybody could lighten up
When the goin' gets a little tough
Give a little love
And put your lighters in the air
And light 'em up
Lately, everybody's done had enough
Got to get it back to the good stuff
Justa lit it up and when the world goes dark
We'll be lightin' up
Lighten up (lighten up)
Lighten up (lighten up)
(Lighten up, lighten up)
The lyrics to "Lighten Up" by Brothers Osborne convey a message of finding comfort and joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially during difficult times. The song describes a roadside bar with a neon sign, where people gather after the sun goes down to relax and let loose. The phrase "lighten up" is used as both a literal and metaphorical expression, suggesting the act of brightening a space by lighting up physical objects, such as lighters, and also the idea of finding emotional release and happiness.
The song introduces a character named Jimbo, who is described as not conforming to societal norms or expectations. He is not a "late night toker" or someone who follows strict religious beliefs. Instead, he finds his own way to "lighten up" by putting something in his cup when he wants to relax and enjoy himself. This serves as a reminder that everyone has their own methods of finding joy, and it's important to respect and embrace individuality.
The lyrics speak of unity and bringing people together. It mentions people from different backgrounds, including "redneck hickers and girls from the cities," all coming together in the spirit of camaraderie and shared experiences. The song encourages everyone to "lighten up" when times get tough, to give a little love and support, and to find solace in music and the connections it creates.
Overall, "Lighten Up" is a feel-good anthem that encourages listeners to let go of their worries, appreciate the small things in life, and find solace and light in moments of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a roadside bar with a neon sign
In this small town, there is a bar on the side of the road, noticeable with its bright neon sign.
When the sun goes down
As the day turns into night
We'll be rollin' up
We will be arriving at the bar
About the time to lighten' up (lighten up)
Now is the moment to relax and have a good time
To kick off the foot on the right foot
To start things in a positive and enjoyable way
Top bar, pass it around
Raise your glasses and share the drinks
So keep the windows up
Make sure to keep the volume high and the party inside
'Cause we'll be lightin' up
Because we will be having a great time
Our brother Jimbo ain't a late-night toker
Our friend Jimbo isn't into staying up late and smoking marijuana
Never been one to roll with the holy rollers
He doesn't associate with overly religious individuals
Justa puts a little somethin' in his cup
He simply adds a little something to his drink
When he wants to lighten up
When he wants to relax and have a good time
Lighten up
Relax and enjoy
Maybe, everybody could lighten up
Perhaps, everyone could let loose and enjoy themselves
When the goin' gets a little tough
During challenging times
Give a little love
Show kindness and compassion
And put your lighters in the air
Raise your lighters as a symbolic act of unity and celebration
And light 'em up
Ignite the lighters to create an uplifting atmosphere
Lately, everybody's done had enough
Recently, everyone has reached their limit
Got to get it back to the good stuff
We need to return to the enjoyable aspects of life
Justa lit it up and when the world goes dark
Simply brightened the atmosphere, and even when everything seems grim
We'll be lightin' up
We will continue to find joy and positivity
Back porch picking from a six string
Playing a guitar on the back porch
Sipping from a fill it up cup, uh
Drinking from a cup filled to the brim
They ain't gonna turn it down, nah
They won't lower the volume or intensity
Only gonna crank it up, crank it up
Instead, they will increase the volume and elevate the energy
Redneck hickers and girls from the cities
People from rural areas and urban dwellers alike
All gettin' along
Everyone is enjoying each other's company
Long hales on a country song
Singing along passionately to a country music tune
Lighten up
Relax and enjoy
Yeah, maybe, everybody could lighten up
Yes, perhaps, everyone could let loose and enjoy themselves
Justa lit it up and when the world goes dark
Simply brightened the atmosphere, and even when everything seems grim
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, John Osborne, Tj Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patriciakimbrell5688
Love the Music of the Brothers Osborne ♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️🎸♥️♥️🎸
@debbiesmitherman9295
Hey, Guys y'all are really nailing the new music. I'm getting this album for sure. I love the beat and sound to this song. Y'all are the best.
@vanesahubbard133
Driving with the windows down, blasting this song, taking a toke...best day ever.
@dragonmusher
Oh boys..this is hot. Everything about this song has fire written all over ...seriously🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@lisaparrish9169
Brothers Osborne, I have loved your music from the first song. You two are awesome together!! No matter what kind of day a person has had, if you put on your music you are all of a sudden forgetting your troubles, cranking up the volume and singing along to your songs!!
@housekeepingsundale1942
Best Band alert!!! Y’all are amazing 👏👏
@badpapaband
Very cool tune
@ItsRandomL52
Guitar at the start is a masterpiece
@brittanyanno9029
This one and old man's boots.. 👌👏👏👏
@hsmith6785
These guys give us pure musical Divinity and liberate us all with their integrity and unapologetic honesty. Damn grateful. Continuously inspired thanks to them.