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.
You can't judge a book
Brothers Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you can't judge honey by lookin' at the bee
And you can't judge a daughter by lookin' at the mother
You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover
No, can't you see
How you've misjudged me?
I may look like a farmer, but I'm a lover
No, no, no
You can't judge sugar by lookin' at the cane
No, you can't judge a woman just by lookin' at the name
Oh, you can't judge one by lookin' at the other
You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover
Oh, can't you see
Just how you've misjudged me?
I may look like a farmer, but I'm a lover
You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover, no
You can't judge a fish by lookin' at the pond
You can't judge right from lookin' at the wrong
And you can't judge a sister by lookin' at the brother
You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover
No, can't you see
How you've misjudged me?
I may look like a farmer, but I'm a lover
And you can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover
Oh, can't you see
Oh, how you've misjudged me?
Hey, I may look like a farmer, but, yeah, I'm a lover
And you can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover, no
Ooh
The lyrics of Brothers Osborne's song "You Can't Judge a Book" convey the message of not making assumptions based solely on appearances or superficial characteristics. The opening lines emphasize this idea by comparing the inability to judge an apple by looking at the tree or honey by looking at the bee. This sets the stage for the overarching theme of the song, which is challenging the act of judging others based on outward appearances or stereotypes.
As the song progresses, the lyrics discuss various scenarios where individuals are wrongly judged based on superficial observations. Whether it's comparing a daughter to her mother, judging sugar by the cane it comes from, or assuming someone's personality based on their occupation, the song emphasizes the importance of looking beyond initial impressions. The repeated refrain of "you can't judge a book by looking at the cover" serves as a powerful reminder of the complexity and depth that lies beneath the surface.
The bridge of the song further explores the theme of misjudgment, highlighting that appearances can be deceiving and that one should not jump to conclusions based on limited information. The analogy of not being able to judge a fish by the pond or determining right from wrong simply by appearance underscores the idea that true understanding requires a deeper level of insight and empathy.
In the final verse, the lyrics reinforce the message that appearances can be misleading and that true character cannot be accurately assessed by outward appearances alone. The repetition of "how you've misjudged me" underscores the impact of preconceived notions and bias. The song concludes with a plea for understanding and acceptance, emphasizing that one's true essence cannot be discerned by simply looking at the surface. Overall, "You Can't Judge a Book" serves as a poignant reminder to look beyond the cover and appreciate the complexities and nuances that make up individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't judge an apple by lookin' at the tree
Don't make assumptions based on appearances alone
And you can't judge honey by lookin' at the bee
Don't judge something based on its source
And you can't judge a daughter by lookin' at the mother
Each person is unique and should not be judged based on family
You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover
True qualities are found beyond surface appearances
No, can't you see
Do you not understand?
How you've misjudged me?
You have made incorrect assumptions about me
I may look like a farmer, but I'm a lover
Don't let initial impressions deceive you
No, no, no
Clearly, you are mistaken
You can't judge sugar by lookin' at the cane
Don't assume the nature of something by its raw form
No, you can't judge a woman just by lookin' at the name
Names do not reveal a person's true character
Oh, you can't judge one by lookin' at the other
Make judgments based on the whole, not just parts
You can't judge a fish by lookin' at the pond
Environment doesn't define a living being
You can't judge right from lookin' at the wrong
Actions may not always reflect intentions
And you can't judge a sister by lookin' at the brother
Siblings are individuals with unique qualities
Oh, can't you see
Why can't you understand?
Just how you've misjudged me?
You have made incorrect assumptions about me
Hey, I may look like a farmer, but, yeah, I'm a lover
External appearances don't fully represent someone's identity
Oh, how you've misjudged me?
Your assumptions about me are inaccurate
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Virginia Markewych
on 21 Summer
what's high tide thunder?????Mont St. MIchel???????