Pulling from the influences of the blues, outlaw country, roots rock, early American folk, Gypsy and Eastern European music, Brown Bird offers harmonized voices, haunting lyrics and diverse rhythm and instrumentation, which surges in waves that often swell into high-spirited, foot-stomping madness.
Brown Bird began in 2003, as a solo project for David Lamb (guitar/vocals/banjo/percussion), formed in Seattle, Washington and was named after Lamb's dog, who was named "Bird" and was brown. After playing around solo for a few years and moving to Portland, Oregon, the band grew to include Jerusha Robinson (cello/vocals) and her husband, Jeremy Robinson (accordion/banjo), turning the once-solo act into a trio. With the Robinsons, Lamb would go on to record the first two albums: 2006's Tautology and 2007's Such Unrest.
On a solo tour in 2008, promoting The Bottom of the Sea Lamb met MorganEve Swain (fiddle/upright bass/violin/vocals) and Mike Samos (lap steel/dobro) and they were soon added to the lineup.
The Robinsons decided to depart in 2009, choosing to focus on their own project, South China, though they would be featured on some songs for 2009's The Devil Dancing. Samos stuck around for another year but would also depart in 2010, leaving the final lineup for Brown Bird as David Lamb and MorganEve Swain.
The band would tour extensively, as support for fellow folk/bluegrass acts, including Trampled By Turtles, The Devil Makes Three, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Horse Feathers. Lamb and Swain released two albums as a duo, 2011's The Sound of Ghosts EP and full length Salt for Salt and 2013's Fits of Reason.
In early 2013, David Lamb was diagnosed with leukemia, putting the band on hiatus during his recovery. After more than a year of successful recovery and an unfortunate relapse, David Lamb passed away on April 5, 2014.
Past members:
Jeremy Robinson (accordion, banjo)
Jerusha Robinson (cello, vocals)
Mike Samos (lap steel, dobro)
Special guest:
Micah Blue Smaldone (bass)
The Band has released seven albums and one EP to date:
‘Tautology’ (2006)
‘Such Unrest’ (2007)
'The Bottom of the Sea' (2008) (Peapod Recordings)
'The Devil Dancing' (2009) (Peapod Recordings)
'The Sound of Ghosts' (EP; 2011)
'Salt for Salt' (2011)
'Fits of Reason' (2013)
'Axis Mundi' (2015)
Their most recent albums are available for purchase on brownbird.net and Supply&Demand Music.
Thunder & Lightning
Brown Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
struck by your tower today
and though the world wasn’t frightened
you sent the whole world away
and now you cower there alone in your tower of tears
every step and every stone filled with millions of fears
your poison blood and brittle bones
start to clutter and crack
cut down by the cruel and the crass fold
catch hell from the mighty and high
ain’t nowhere left for the good to go
no truth in a world full of lies
our unforgiving fettered foes fumbling stumble around
gather all their greed to go back to their hole in the ground
to wash their hands of all the blood begged borrowed and stole
to keep a good man down
shake the hands of holy ghosts
dance along an ivory coast
share your flesh with passing shadows
on a bed of broken hopes
be sure to breath in deeply every bit of sin
that your lungs can hold
welcome all your bastard actions back home
why do we cry cry our eyes out
in them low lowly graves
mourning all the times
we would’ve could’ve should’ve had our way
we were hard hearted heathens
to their soul saving saints
spilling blood in the same God’s holy name
we were the heathens to their saints
spilling blood in the same God’s holy name
shake the hands of holy ghosts
dance along an ivory coast
share your flesh with passing shadows
on a bed of broken hopes
be sure to breath in deeply every bit of sin
that your lungs can hold
welcome all your bastard actions back home
The lyrics of "Thunder & Lightning" by Brown Bird are hauntingly beautiful and intricate. The song speaks about the consequences of our actions, and how a single decision can change one's entire world. The singer talks about hearing the thunder and lightning, a reference to the storm that is the result of the choice they made. The tower in the song represents the safety and security that one seeks, but the singer realizes that it is a false sense of security.
The world may not be frightened by the storm that occurred, but the choice made has sent away all those who were once near and dear. The singer is now alone in their tower, filled with fear and dread of what they have done. The lyrics describe the tower as being filled with poison blood and brittle bones, which is a metaphor for the guilt and regret that the singer feels. The tower has become a hell of a home, and every step and stone is a constant reminder of their actions.
The song speaks about the unforgiving nature of the world and the consequences that come with our actions. The world is full of lies, and it can be difficult to find the truth. The cruel and the crass can cut one down and the mighty and high can catch hell. The lyrics suggest that there is nowhere left for the good to go. The singer talks about spilling blood in the same God's holy name, which suggests that they may have done something that they believed was right, but nobody else did.
Overall, the song speaks about the consequences of our actions and the guilt and regret that can come with them. The tower in the song represents safety and security, but the singer realizes that it is a false sense of security. The lyrics speak about the unforgiving nature of the world and the consequences that come with our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the thunder and lightning
I became aware of the sound of a powerful storm
struck by your tower today
The storm hit a structure that you're associated with in some way
and though the world wasn’t frightened
The storm didn't frighten most people who were aware of it
you sent the whole world away
Your actions caused people to withdraw or distance themselves from you
and now you cower there alone in your tower of tears
You're hiding in a place that's associated with sadness and isolation
every step and every stone filled with millions of fears
You're overwhelmed with anxiety about every aspect of your surroundings
your poison blood and brittle bones
Your physical and emotional state is fragile and toxic
start to clutter and crack
Your fragile state is starting to break down
beneath your hell of a home
You're living in a place that feels like a personal hell
cut down by the cruel and the crass fold
You've been victimized by people who are harsh and insensitive
catch hell from the mighty and high
You're being punished by powerful people for something you've done
ain’t nowhere left for the good to go
There are no safe or just places left for people who are good
no truth in a world full of lies
It's hard to find honesty or authenticity in a world that's full of deception
our unforgiving fettered foes fumbling stumble around
People who are against us are stumbling around clumsily and mercilessly
gather all their greed to go back to their hole in the ground
Greedy people are returning to their base instincts and desires
to wash their hands of all the blood begged borrowed and stole
They're trying to cleanse themselves of their guilt and wrongdoing
to keep a good man down
Their actions are intended to harm or defeat someone who is good
shake the hands of holy ghosts
Acknowledge or pay tribute to people who have passed away or spiritual beings
dance along an ivory coast
Celebrate beauty or freedom in any way possible
share your flesh with passing shadows
Find comfort in temporary or fleeting things
on a bed of broken hopes
Find rest in a place of shattered dreams or failed ambitions
be sure to breath in deeply every bit of sin
Accept and take responsibility for all the wrong things you've done
that your lungs can hold
Fully embrace and internalize your mistakes and regrets
welcome all your bastard actions back home
Accept and live with the consequences of your poor choices and mistakes
why do we cry cry our eyes out
Why do we feel intense sadness and despair
in them low lowly graves
In the resting places of dead bodies that are forgotten or neglected
mourning all the times
In mourning for all the moments
we would’ve could’ve should’ve had our way
Feeling regretful about the things we didn't achieve or experience
we were hard hearted heathens
We were unfeeling and cruel people
to their soul saving saints
Compared to people who are trying to save their own souls
spilling blood in the same God’s holy name
Committing horrible acts of violence or hatred while claiming to do so in the name of a higher power
Contributed by Sydney R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephanie Lane
on Bilgewater
I love this song I can't express the way it truly makes me feel.