Brownie McGhee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. As a child he had polio, which incapacitated his leg. His brother Granville "Sticks" or "Stick" McGhee was nicknamed for pushing young Brownie around in a cart. His father, George McGhee, was a factory worker known around University Avenue for playing guitar and singing. Brownie's uncle made him a guitar from a tin marshmallow box and a piece of board.[4] McGhee spent much of his youth immersed in music, singing with local harmony group the Golden Voices Gospel Quartet and teaching himself to play guitar. A March of Dimes-funded leg operation enabled McGhee to walk.
At age 22, Brownie McGhee became a traveling musician, working in the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and befriending Blind Boy Fuller, whose guitar playing influenced him greatly. After Fuller's death in 1941, J. B. Long of Columbia Records had McGhee adopt his mentor's name, branding him "Blind Boy Fuller No. 2." By that time, McGhee was recording for Columbia's subsidiary Okeh Records in Chicago, but his real success came after he moved to New York in 1942, when he teamed up with Sonny Terry, whom he had known since 1939 when Sonny was Blind Boy Fuller's harmonica player. The pairing was an overnight success; as well as recording, they toured together until around 1980. As a duo, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee did most of their work from 1958 until 1980, spending 11 months of each year touring, and recording dozens of albums.
Despite their later fame as "pure" folk artists playing for white audiences, in the 1940s Terry and McGhee also attempted to be successful black recording performers, fronting a jump blues combo with honking saxophone and rolling piano, variously calling themselves "Brownie McGhee and his Jook House Rockers" or "Sonny Terry and his Buckshot Five," often with Champion Jack Dupree and Big Chief Ellis. They also appeared in the original Broadway productions of Finian's Rainbow and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
During the blues revival of the 1960s, Terry and McGhee were very popular on the concert and music festival circuits, occasionally adding new material but usually remaining faithful to their roots and their audience. With Sonny Terry, he appeared in the 1979 Steve Martin comedy The Jerk. In 1987, McGhee gave a small but memorable performance as ill-fated blues singer Toots Sweet in the supernatural thriller movie, Angel Heart. He appeared in a 1988 episode of "Family Ties" titled "The Blues Brother" in which he played fictional blues musician Eddie Dupre, as well as a 1989 episode of Matlock entitled "The Blues Singer."
Happy Traum, a former guitar student of Brownie's, edited a blues guitar instruction guide and songbook for him. Using a tape recorder, Traum had McGhee instruct and, between lessons, talk about his life and the blues. Guitar Styles of Brownie McGhee was published in New York in 1971. The autobiographical section features Brownie talking about growing up, his musical beginnings, and a history of the early blues period (1930s onward).
One of McGhee's final concert appearances was at the 1995 Chicago Blues Festival.
McGhee died from stomach cancer in February 1996 in Oakland, California at age 80; he missed his planned return trip to Australia.
Down By The Riverside
Brownie McGhee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
Well, I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside (Oh)
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
Well, I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (Where?) down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (A-ha) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
The song "Down By The Riverside" is a traditional gospel song that has been covered by many artists, including Brownie McGhee. The song's lyrics express a desire to lay down the burdens of war and conflict and turn toward peace and unity. The repeated refrain of "I'm gonna study war no more" emphasizes this message.
The first verse sets the scene of the singer feeling burdened and seeking relief. They choose to lay down their burden by the riverside, a symbol of peace and tranquility. The verses that follow describe further actions the singer will take to find peace, including putting on a long white robe, a symbol of purity and innocence, and laying down their sword and shield, symbols of war.
The overall message of the song is a call for peace and a rejection of violence and conflict. It is a powerful reminder that in times of strife, there is still hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
I am going to release myself from the weight of my troubles and leave them behind at the riverside.
I'm gonna study war no more
I have made a decision to not spend any more time and energy learning about, engaging in, or supporting wars.
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I am firmly committed to my decision to not participate in war and will not be persuaded to change my mind.
Well, I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside (Oh)
I will attire myself in a symbol of purity – a long white robe – as I stand at the riverside.
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (Where?) down by the riverside
I will relinquish my weapons – sword and shield – by leaving them behind at the riverside.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, TERRY RENDALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Philo68
One of the richest, warmest voices, with guitar and harp off the scale! I love these blokes.
@alexmcculloch2354
One of the greatest duos in the history of music!...Sonny whoopin and a hollerin, Brownie smooth as silk. Two masters of their instruments, two great voices both individually and in harmony all forged together to create a collection of great songs from two men born with the blues
@jamesa.rodriguez8598
I learned to play the harmonica listening to this. Thanks Sonny n Brownie. And most of all. Thank You, Lord!
@davebeach2343
First heard this in 1976 as a freshman at college. Vietnam war still stirred up the younger people. Made this memorable to this day. Beautiful!
@anje2150
I bought one of their albums in the 60's and this song was on it. I was blown away! Still sounds just as good!
@michaelj7684
Always feels like home when I'm listening to this song ♥️, if that makes sense
@anitamelon3559
I can not get over the melody he can pull off on that harp, this is awesome and I am an avid fan of theirs, thanks bunches Travelerintothe blue
@jfjeter3
My favorite version of this classic song
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@marttisaarelma
Thanks to put this in youtube Sonny Terry is one of my favorite harpist since decades, mara from the moon = Finland
@gaggle57
I learned to play guitar by jamming along to one of my dad's Sonny & Terry albums .