1) A blues and R&B sing… Read Full Bio ↴Buster Brown is a name of at least two acts:
1) A blues and R&B singer (b. 15 Aug 1911, Cordele, GA, USA - d. 31 Jan 1976, New York), best known for his hit, Fannie Mae (aka Fanny Mae). Album releases include: "The New King of the Blues".
In the 1930s and 1940s he played harmonica at local clubs and made a few non-commercial recordings. These included "I'm Gonna Make You Happy" (1943), which was recorded when he played at the folk festival at Fort Valley (GA) State Teachers College and was recorded by the Library of Congress' Folk Music Archive. He moved to New York in 1956, where he was discovered by Fire Records owner Bobby Robinson.
In 1959 at almost fifty years of age, he recorded the rustic blues, "Fannie Mae", which featured Brown's harmonica playing and whoops - this went to #38, in the U.S. Top 40 and #1 on the R&B chart, in April 1960. His remake of Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five's "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?", Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?, reached #81 on the pop charts later in 1960. Sugar Babe was his only other 1962 hit, reaching #19 on the R&B chart and #99 on the pop chart.
In later years he recorded for Checker Records and for numerous small record labels. He also co-wrote the song Doctor Brown (with John Thomas Brown, aka J.T. Brown), which was covered by Fleetwood Mac, "Mr. Wonderful" (1968).
Sites: Discogs and Wikipedia
2) An Australian rock band, with Gary Anderson (aka Angry Anderson) and Phillip Hugh Rudd (aka Phil Rudd). A root of Rose Tattoo, AC/DC and much that's good about working class Aussie rock.
Buster Brown was an Australian rock and roll band, which featured vocalist Angry Anderson and drummer Phil Rudd, that was formed in Melbourne in 1973. Their sound was hard rock mixed with blues rock influences. Their first album, Something to Say was produced by Lobby Loyde and released in 1974. Rudd left to join an early version of AC/DC while Anderson continued with new line-ups and eventually disbanded the group in November 1975. Anderson joined Rose Tattoo which later included former Buster Brown band mates, Geordie Leach on bass guitar and Dallas 'Digger' Royall on drums.
Buster Brown was formed in Melbourne in 1973 with Gary 'Angry' Anderson on lead vocals (ex-Peace Power and Purity), John Moon on guitar, Paul Grant on guitar, Phil Rudd on drums, Ian Ryan on bass guitar (ex-Ash, Chook) and Chris Wilson on keyboards.[1][2] They enjoyed local notoriety and played at the 1974 Sunbury Festival in January.[3] Later that year, Mushroom Records released a Various Artists live album, Highlights of Sunbury '74 Part 1 which included the group's tracks "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Buster Brown".[1] Early in the year, Geordie Leach replaced Ryan on bass guitar. Along with Coloured Balls, Billy Thorpe, Madder Lake and Chain, they were supported by suburban-based sharpie gangs.[4]
The band's first single, "Buster Brown" was issued in July 1974 by Mushroom Records. Veteran rocker, Lobby Loyde (lead guitarist of Coloured Balls) produced their debut album, Something to Say which was also released in December but by the end of the year the group had split with Rudd joining an early version of AC/DC.[1] A second single, "Something to Say" was subsequently in January 1975. From April to June 1975 the line-up resumed as Anderson, Leach and Wilson with Dennis Miller on guitar and Trevor Young on drums (ex-Coloured Balls).[1][2] In July, Anderson formed a third version of the band with Ken Firth on bass guitar (ex-Tully), Billy Miller on guitar and vocals, Dave Springfield on guitar and drummer Dallas 'Digger' Royal (ex-Band of Talabene).[1][2]
The group disbanded in November 1975, Anderson initially tried to form a band with Loyde.[1] Firth, Miller and Springfield regrouped as The Ferrets.[5] In late 1976 Anderson joined Sydney-based rockers Rose Tattoo which later included former Buster Brown band mates, Geordie Leach on bass guitar and Dallas 'Digger' Royall on drums.[6][7][8] According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, Buster Brown were "one of the most notorious streetlevel/ boogie outfits of its day ... [they] built up a solid following around the pubs, and among the skinheads on the suburban dance circuit".[1] In 2005, Aztec Music remastered Something to Say on CD with six bonus tracks.[2]
Members
Angry Anderson – vocals (1973–1975)
Ken Firth – bass guitar (1975)
Paul Grant – guitar (1973–1974)
Geordie Leach – bass guitar (1973–1975)
Tony Lunt – drums (1974)
Dennis Millar – guitar (1975)
Billy Miller – guitar, vocals (1975)
John Moon – guitar (1973–1974)
Dallas Royal – drums (1975)
Phil Rudd – drums (1973–1974)
Ian Ryan – bass guitar (1973)
Dave Springfield – guitar (1975)
Chris Wilson – keyboards (1973–1975)
Trevor Young – drums (1975)
Sites: Discogs
John Henry
Buster Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Johnny told his old Captain
'Man, a-when you go downtown
Bring me back the nine pounds hammer'
I got to drive this steel on down
I got to drive this steel on down
You see, Johnny's hammer
The hammer caught on fire
Now, the last word I heard
The poor boy say
'I want a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
'Yeah, a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
Yeah, Johnny's wife
She heard that Johnny was dead
And she couldn't have stayed in bed
Oh, now Monday mornin'
Caught the eastbound train
She said, I'm g'wine where my man fell dead
'Yeah! I'm goin' where my man fell dead'
('Look out!')
(harmonica & instrumental)
Woo-ha! Woo-ha! Woo!
Woo! Woo!
(Woo! Lord, have mercy, too)
(Ease your mind)
(Yeah!)
Johnny's wife, she wore
A brand new dress (say)
And it was trimmed in blue
(Pretty thing)
Yeah, the last were the words
Said to him, oh Lord, now
'Honey, I been good to you'
'Yeah, honey I been good to you'
Well, they carried Little John
To the graveyard (boys, listen)
They looked at him good and long
Now, the last were the words
If you hear me, oh Lord
'Oh my husband, he is dead and gone'
That's what she said
She said, 'My husband, he is dead and gone'
'Yeah, my husband he is dead and gone'
Yeah, when John Henry was a baby
You could hold him in the paddles of your hand
When everytime they'd rock him, cried
(They say 'He sho' gonna be a little man')
('Yeah, he sho' gon' be a little man')
Yeah, who gonna buy yo' pretty shoes then?
And who gonna roll yo' cheek?
FADES-
She said, 'My daddy gonna buy my pretty lil'
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
(That what it said)
A-John Henry gonna roll my cheek.
~
The song "John Henry" by Buster Brown tells the story of the famous African American folk hero John Henry, a railroad worker who became known for his strength and his ability to drive steel faster than any machine. In the song, Johnny asks his captain to bring him the nine-pound hammer so he can drive the steel down. As he works, his hammer catches on fire and he cries out for a cool drink of water. When he dies, his wife hears the news and sets out to see where her man fell dead. The song finishes with a tribute to John as a baby, predicting that he would become a great man one day.
The lyrics of "John Henry" are simple and easy to follow, but they paint a vivid picture of the hardships and sacrifices that railroad workers faced in the 19th century. The song is a tribute to John Henry, a symbol of African American pride, strength, and endurance. The story of John Henry represents the struggle against a changing world, with machinery replacing muscle, and the importance of holding onto one's roots and traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny told his old Captain
Johnny spoke to his former boss
'Man, a-when you go downtown
Hey, when you head to the city
Bring me back the nine pounds hammer'
Get me that heavy tool
I got to drive this steel on down
I have to pound this metal into the ground
You see, Johnny's hammer
That hammer Johnny had
Hit the mighty boiler
Struck the powerful machine
The hammer caught on fire
The tool became engulfed in flames
Now, the last word I heard
The final phrase I recall
The poor boy say
Was from the poor boy's mouth
'I want a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
'I need a drink of water before I pass away'
'Yeah, a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
'Yes, water before I go'
Yeah, Johnny's wife
Yes, Johnny's spouse
She heard that Johnny was dead
Learned of Johnny's passing
And she couldn't have stayed in bed
Couldn't just lie there
Oh, now Monday mornin'
So come Monday morning
Caught the eastbound train
Took a ride towards the sunrise
She said, I'm g'wine where my man fell dead
Going to the spot he passed away
'Yeah! I'm goin' where my man fell dead'
'Yes! To the place of his death'
Johnny's wife, she wore
Johnny's lady, dressing
A brand new dress (say)
A stunning garment
And it was trimmed in blue
Decorated with that hue
(Pretty thing)
(Very attractive)
Yeah, the last were the words
The final thing said
Said to him, oh Lord, now
Directed to him, dad gum it
'Honey, I been good to you'
'I've treated you kindly'
'Yeah, honey I been good to you'
'Yes, dear, I have treated you well'
Well, they carried Little John
They took Young John
To the graveyard (boys, listen)
To the cemetery (pay heed, fellas)
They looked at him good and long
Observed him quite a bit
If you hear me, oh Lord
Oh God almighty, hear me
'Oh my husband, he is dead and gone'
'My husband has passed away'
That's what she said
Those were her words
'My husband, he is dead and gone'
'My spouse has passed on'
Yeah, when John Henry was a baby
Back when John Henry was an infant
You could hold him in the paddles of your hand
He was so small, you could grasp him in your palms
When everytime they'd rock him, cried
Whenever they cradled him, he'd wail
(They say 'He sho' gonna be a little man')
(It was said 'He surely will grow up to be quite a fellow')
('Yeah, he sho' gon' be a little man')
('Indeed, he will become a person of note')
Yeah, who gonna buy yo' pretty shoes then?
Who will purchase your magnificent shoes?
And who gonna roll yo' cheek?
Who will fondle your face?
She said, 'My daddy gonna buy my pretty lil'
She replied, 'My father will obtain my lovely'
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
And John Henry will caress my face
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
And John Henry shall stroke my mug
(That what it said)
(That's the situation)
A-John Henry gonna roll my cheek.
Oh, John Henry will be doing cheek-rolling
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HYLO BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
III
Fantastic John Henry rock, THANKS ALOT. chris
Jarski J.
My pleasure :)
juha vesanen
On kyllä tällä äijällä vaan aivan mahtava ääni ja tapa laulaa...!