The band's onetime stated aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular," although this stance was to alter significantly with time. While never achieving the commercial heights of progressive rock contemporaries such as Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes or Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gentle Giant was considered to be one of the most experimental bands in the genre (as well as one of the most experimental rock bands of the 1970s).
Gentle Giant's music was considered complex even by progressive rock standards, drawing on a broad swathe of music including folk, soul, jazz, and classical music. Unlike many of their progressive rock contemporaries, their "classical" influences ranged beyond the Romantic and incorporated mediaeval, baroque, and modernist chamber music elements. The band also had a taste for broad themes for their lyrics, drawing inspiration not only from personal events but from philosophy and the works of both François Rabelais and R. D. Laing.
Band members:
Members of classic lineup listed in bold.
Derek Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, recorder, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, "Shulberry" (3-string custom electric ukulele) (1970-1980)
Ray Shulman - bass, trumpet, violin, vocals, viola, drums, percussion, recorder, guitar (1970-1980)
Kerry Minnear - keyboards, lead vocals (on recordings only), cello, vibraphone, xylophone, recorder, guitar, bass, drums (1970-1980)
Gary Green - guitar, mandolin, vocals, recorder, bass, drums, xylophone (1970-1980)
John Weathers - drums, percussion, vibraphone, xylophone, vocals, guitar (1972-1980)
Phil Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, recorder, percussion (1970–72)
Martin Smith - drums, percussion (1970–1971)
Malcolm Mortimore - drums, percussion (1971–1972)
Little Brown Bag
Gentle Giant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the little brown bag. If it's all (that) she has to show,
Torn like a rag, Crazy lady she doesn't know,
LOOK IN;
'cause there's nothing inside, Was there anything anytime
Little Brown Bag;
She'll be there in the morning, sitting alone with her world in her hands,
DREAM ON;
In the, little brown bag. Maybe here she's better than you
Torn like a rag, Look away it's good that you do.
MAYBE;
As you're, staring too hard, You could see that somehow it's real
Little Brown Bag.
What did she turn her back on, Was it the nightmare she couldnt face;
Look around, It may tell you, She only puts a good case,
So lady,
HOLD ON......
The song "Little Brown Bag" by Gentle Giant reflects on the life of a woman who carries a torn brown bag, possibly containing all her worldly possessions. The lyrics suggest that the woman is mentally unwell and is probably homeless, roaming the streets of the city. The first stanza hints at her mental state, as she seems unaware of what's inside the bag. The phrase "crazy lady" indicates that she may be suffering from a mental illness, which has disconnected her from reality. However, the city seems to understand her circumstances, which implies that perhaps she is not alone in her struggles.
In the second stanza, the woman is described as sitting alone with her world in her hands, indicating that she has no one to share her life with. The line "Look around, it may tell you, she only puts a good case," suggests that she may have tried to reach out for help, but people have not taken her seriously, perhaps judging her on appearances. The last stanza encourages the woman to hold on to the little brown bag, and the repeated phrase "dream on" may indicate that she must continue dreaming and hoping for a better future, despite her hopeless reality.
Line by Line Meaning
HOLD ON;
This line serves as a call to attention and a request for the listener to pay close attention.
To the little brown bag. If it's all (that) she has to show,
The singer is asking the listener to hold on to the little brown bag, which symbolizes something of little value. The line then questions whether the bag is all the lady has to show for herself.
Torn like a rag, Crazy lady she doesn't know,
The line describes the bag as being torn like a rag, symbolizing the struggles and hardships the lady might be facing. The reference to a crazy lady she doesn't know highlights the singer's lack of knowledge about the lady's situation.
LOOK IN;
The artist is urging the listener to look inside the little brown bag.
'cause there's nothing inside, Was there anything anytime
The line describes the emptiness inside the bag and asks if there was ever anything inside to begin with.
Little Brown Bag;
This line serves as a repetition and emphasis of the bag's significance to the song's theme and message.
She'll be there in the morning, sitting alone with her world in her hands,
The lady referred to in the song is depicted as being alone in the morning, with only the little brown bag - a symbol of her whole world - in her hands.
No goodnight in the evening, The city it understands, the circumstance.
The line describes the lack of a goodnight in the evening, possibly highlighting the lady's loneliness and isolation. The city understanding the circumstance could refer to the struggles and hardships faced by those living in urban areas.
DREAM ON;
This line serves as a continuation of the song's previous message, urging the listener to dream on despite the difficulties and challenges they might be facing.
In the, little brown bag. Maybe here she's better than you
The line suggests that the lady might find solace or a sense of superiority in the little brown bag which, compared to the listener, might mean more to her.
Torn like a rag, Look away it's good that you do.
The repetition of this line symbolizes the struggles and hardships faced by the lady, and the singer advising the listener to look away from the harsh reality.
MAYBE;
This line serves as a continuation of the previous message, questioning whether there is something deeper and more meaningful within the bag.
As you're, staring too hard, You could see that somehow it's real
The line suggests that by looking too hard, the listener might see the reality and authenticity of the lady's struggles and the significance of the little brown bag.
Little Brown Bag.
This line serves as a repetition and emphasis of the bag's significance to the song's theme and message.
What did she turn her back on, Was it the nightmare she couldn't face;
The line questions what the lady might have turned her back on, possibly referring to traumatic experiences or hardships she couldn't face or come to terms with.
Look around, It may tell you, She only puts a good case,
The line urges the listener to look around and observe the lady's situation, suggesting that she might only be presenting a positive front and not revealing the harsh realities of her life.
So lady, HOLD ON......
The song ends with the artist addressing the lady directly and urging her to hold on despite the difficulties she might be facing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEREK SHULMAN, KERRY MINNEAR, RAYMOND SHULMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind