Brown was born in Orlando, Florida, and graduated from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College. In 1934, Brown performed at the first National Folk Festival in St. Louis, Missouri. He was musically discovered by folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. She enlisted Alan Lomax who, in June 1935, recorded Brown for the Library of Congress.
Similar to Ralph Willis, Alec Seward and Brownie McGhee, Brown then relocated from the Southern United States to New York City. Hurston gave Brown a part in her light opera, Polk County. In 1935 Brown started a four year tenure with the Federal Arts Theatre, initially under Orson Welles' direction. By the late 1930s, Brown appeared as a singer on Cincinnati radio, and took part in the show, St. Louis Woman. He found employment with the civil service, working for the Army Signal Corps in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Brown had Joe Davis as his record producer on his first full recording session in 1943. In 1945 Brown sang, "I can't have no luck at all, the jinx is on me. Brown and Davis worked together until Brown's final sessions in 1952.
Several of Brown's recordings were not released during his lifetime, and some of those that were issued were not always promoted tastefully, or accurately. In the late 1940s, various tracks were licensed to Coral Records. Eventually Davis worked in A&R for MGM Records, and Brown followed him to that label, where he was promoted as a pop singer. Later compilation albums were released on record labels such as Flyright.
Brown's death from drowning in Florida in 1972, occurred following a boating accident
Careless Love
Gabriel Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've fly through my head like wine
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love, oh love, oh careless love
In your clutches of desire
You've made me break a many true vow
Love, oh love, oh careless love
All my happiness bereft
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Trusted you now, it's too late
You've made me throw my old friend down
That's why I sing this song of hate
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Night and day, I weep and moan
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The song "Careless Love" by Gabriel Brown speaks about the destructive nature of love when one becomes too consumed by it. The first stanza talks about how love can take over a person's mind and cause them to act recklessly. The singer laments that love has ruined the lives of many poor girls and nearly ruined his own life as well. The second stanza speaks to the intensity of desire and how it can make one break promises and become consumed by passion. The third stanza is a reflection on how love has taken away the singer's happiness and filled his heart with sadness, causing him to feel lonely and isolated. The fourth stanza is a realization that it's too late to turn back from love's grasp, the singer has lost a dear friend and feels guilty for singing a song of hate. The last stanza speaks about the singer's sadness and lamentation about the fate of his life, regretting that he didn't resist love's temptation.
"Careless Love" has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Ray Charles, and Janis Joplin. The song originated in America in the early 20th century and was sung by African American blues musicians. In 1925, the song was recorded by Bessie Smith and became a hit, with over a million copies sold.
Another version of the song, titled "Loveless Love," was recorded by W.C. Handy in 1921, which is believed to be the original version before it was adapted and transformed by different musicians.
The song's lyrics vary slightly depending on the version, but the overall theme remains the same. The song has been adapted for different genres, including blues, jazz, and rock, and has been covered by artists outside the United States, including French singer Édith Piaf.
The song has appeared in several films and TV shows, including "The Sting" and "Boardwalk Empire." The song's lyrics were also referenced in the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The chords for "Careless Love" are often simplified and can vary depending on the musician or arrangement, but a common progression is G, E7, A7, and D7.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, oh love, oh careless love
The idea of love is reckless and irresponsible. It can bring pain and turmoil to our lives.
You've fly through my head like wine
Love's influence on our emotions can be intoxicating, altering our thought process.
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
Love can have destructive consequences on those involved – especially the more vulnerable.
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
The extent to which love can cause damage is limitless. It barely missed destroying me completely.
In your clutches of desire
Love makes us feel trapped, held captive in its irresistible grasp.
You've made me break a many true vow
Love can make us do things that go against our own morals and beliefs.
Then you set my very soul on fire
Love can awaken intense emotional feelings within us, both good and bad.
All my happiness bereft
Love can bring immense joy, but it can also take it all away in an instant.
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Love can cause a deep sadness that seems unshakeable, leaving us feeling empty and alone.
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love can drive us mad, causing us to talk or act in ways that seem irrational to others.
Trusted you now, it's too late
We often give in to love despite knowing the risks, and once we do, there's no going back.
You've made me throw my old friend down
Love can cause us to lose sight of what's truly important, to the point of abandoning our friendships and priorities.
That's why I sing this song of hate
Despite the many ways love has wronged us, we can't help but feel a deep sense of anger towards it, even if it's irrational.
Night and day, I weep and moan
Love can cause us to be in a constant state of despair, both physically and emotionally.
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
Love can lead us to make choices that don't serve us in the end, putting us in the wrong place with the wrong people.
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
Love can make us feel guilty for our choices, and we may pay for them in some way or another, for better or for worse.
Lyrics © HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC.
Written by: TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind