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.
Old Man's Boots
Brothers Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ripped up rawhide leather
Seams splitin' like the Red Sea
So duct tape held 'em together
They worn more tread than a Firestone
Underneath a '65 Fastback Ford
Size twelve wide, spent Saturday nights
Cuttin' rug on a bar room floor
They weren't built for speed
They weren't built for comfort
But you can bet that they were buildin' somethin'
Might not look like much to you
But there wasn't really much they couldn't walk through
They weren't flashy, they weren't classy
But they made him workin' class happy
And I'd be lucky
I'd be lucky to walk a mile in my old man's boots
They didn't bring home a fortune
But we were fortunate doin' just fine
Sun rised a bit
They kept us fed and the lights on most the time
Some out of joint drips on the laces
Scuffed up and scared from heal to toe
Looked twice their age on a good day
Broken in don't even come close
They weren't built for speed
They weren't built for comfort
But you can bet that they were buildin' somethin'
Might not look like much to you
But there wasn't really much they couldn't walk through
But they made him workin' class happy
And I'd be lucky
I'd be lucky to walk a mile in my old man's boots
They didn't bring home a fortune
But we were fortunate for doing just fine
They weren't built for speed
They weren't built for comfort
But you can bet that they were buildin' somethin'
They might not look like much to you
But there wasn't really much they couldn't walk through
They weren't flashy, they weren't classy
But they made him workin' class happy
And I'd be lucky
I'd be lucky to walk a mile in my old man's boots
My old man's boots
The lyrics of "Old Man's Boots" by Brothers Osborne depict the sentimental value and significance of a father's old worn-out boots. The singer reminisces about their father, whose shoes were steel-toed boots made of torn and patched-up rawhide leather, held together by duct tape. These boots symbolize the hardworking, blue-collar nature of their father's life.
The first verse describes the physical condition of the boots, emphasizing their durability and well-worn appearance. The imagery of the seams splitting like the Red Sea and the worn-out treads create a vivid picture of these boots that have seen years of use. The mention of size twelve wide shoes and Saturday nights spent dancing in a bar room evokes a sense of familiarity and nostalgia.
In the chorus, the singer reflects on the boots' qualities that were not built for speed or comfort. However, they were still capable of building something meaningful. The boots may not impress others with their appearance, but they have walked through various challenges and obstacles. The boots made the working-class father happy, and the singer considers themselves lucky to have the opportunity to walk a mile in their old man's boots, symbolizing the importance of understanding their father's journey and hardships.
Overall, "Old Man's Boots" pays tribute to a father's hard work, resilience, and the unspoken lessons he imparted through his worn-out boots.
Line by Line Meaning
My old man's shoes were steel toed boots
My father's footwear consisted of sturdy steel-toed boots
Ripped up rawhide leather
The leather on the boots was torn and damaged
Seams splitin' like the Red Sea
The seams of the boots were torn apart, resembling the parting of the Red Sea
So duct tape held 'em together
Duct tape was used to keep the boots intact
They worn more tread than a Firestone
The boots had worn out soles, comparable to the worn treads on a Firestone tire
Underneath a '65 Fastback Ford
They were often worn while working on or under a 1965 Fastback Ford car
Size twelve wide, spent Saturday nights
The boots were size twelve with a wide fit, and my father would wear them while enjoying Saturday nights
Cuttin' rug on a bar room floor
He would dance energetically on the floor of a bar
They weren't built for speed
The boots were not designed for fast movement
They weren't built for comfort
Comfort was not a priority in the design of these boots
But you can bet that they were buildin' somethin'
Despite their limitations, they were instrumental in constructing something meaningful
Might not look like much to you
To an observer, they may not appear impressive
But there wasn't really much they couldn't walk through
However, there were very few obstacles they couldn't overcome
They weren't flashy, they weren't classy
The boots lacked stylish or elegant attributes
But they made him workin' class happy
Yet, they brought contentment and satisfaction to the blue-collar worker
And I'd be lucky
I would consider myself fortunate
I'd be lucky to walk a mile in my old man's boots
I would highly value the experience of walking in my father's worn-out boots
They didn't bring home a fortune
The boots didn't generate a great deal of wealth
But we were fortunate doin' just fine
However, we were fortunate and lived comfortably
Sun rised a bit
Earnings were modest
They kept us fed and the lights on most the time
Yet, they provided enough to sustain our family and keep the lights on
Some out of joint drips on the laces
There were minor spills or stains on the boot laces
Scuffed up and scared from heal to toe
The boots had numerous scuff marks and scratches throughout
Looked twice their age on a good day
Even on a relatively good day, the boots appeared much older than they actually were
Broken in don't even come close
The boots were far beyond being merely 'broken in', they were significantly worn and aged
And I'd be lucky
I would consider myself fortunate
I'd be lucky to walk a mile in my old man's boots
I would highly value the experience of walking in my father's worn-out boots
They didn't bring home a fortune
The boots didn't generate a great deal of wealth
But we were fortunate for doing just fine
However, we were fortunate and lived comfortably
They weren't flashy, they weren't classy
The boots lacked stylish or elegant attributes
But they made him workin' class happy
Yet, they brought contentment and satisfaction to the blue-collar worker
And I'd be lucky
I would consider myself fortunate
I'd be lucky to walk a mile in my old man's boots
I would highly value the experience of walking in my father's worn-out boots
My old man's boots
Referring to the boots worn by my father
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lleroy8929
These cats can sing, and ol John Osborn can strum the guitar.. Pure voices, no auto tune or that type of crap.. just pure and clear voices..
@blairholly6698
'They weren't flashy, they weren't classy but they made him working class happy' ...that one sticks! so good.
@KROOTZ91
This song really grabs a guy by the heartstrings, can't listen to it without thinking of my dad and my grandfathers. Great song, great album.
@samanthaenrico5246
This actually gives me all the feels about my Mom who worked 3 jobs to keep a roof over our heads, our bellies fed and the lights on <3
@BeccaTheBoring
Just shy of 3 years since my dad pass away, and thing song fit him to a T. He was a former Marine, a former oilfield cementer, and drove truck for years after his body couldn’t handle oilfield work. He was my hero.
@beourguesttours7408
Come back to New England!!!! We need you guys desperately around here! xoxo
@writerj9129
I sure miss my granddad ❤
@TheWolfmun
Love it..them moonwalking boots crack me up ..🤣
@debbiesmitherman9295
Damn good song here guys. Love it and love y'all.
@coltdonnelly9443
Beautiful