During the 1980s, his reputation was established through frequent touring and recurring performances on A Prairie Home Companion. Subsequently, his work has been nominated for Grammy awards. He also founded his own record label and named it Red House Records after a home he lived in in Iowa. Red House Records is an independent record label specializing in folk music, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Well known folk artists have signed with Red House Records over the years include Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Tom Paxton and Loudin Wainwright III. A Red House Records compilation, A Nod to Bob, was said to be a tribute from a Minnesota label to a favorite native son - guess who?
On November 21, 2002 he married the singer-songwriter Iris DeMent. His daughters (from a previous marriage) are also musicians.
From: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Brown_%28folk_musician%29
So Hard
Greg Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard,
To love, love,
Really love somebody,
Love somebody?
You can talk about it.
Sit up all night,
And talk about it.
Yeah but it's so hard,
It's so hard, to love somebody,
Love somebody.
And it's so easy,
It's so easy,
It's just so easy,
To do the goat dance.
Yeah, but it's so hard,
It's so hard, to love somebody,
Really love somebody.
Papa rock the baby.
Mama rock the baby.
Hold the little baby,
Make him happy little baby.
Maybe then it won't be so hard,
To love somebody,
Love somebody.
Oh it's so hard.
Why it is so hard?
Why is it so hard,
To love, really love,
Really love somebody,
Love somebody. Ummm.
It's so hard. Hard.
Why is it so hard?
Why is it so hard?
Why?
The song "So Hard" by Greg Brown is a poignant reflection on the difficulties and complexities surrounding love. Throughout the song, the repetition of the phrase "Why is it so hard?" serves as a reminder of the struggles involved in truly loving someone. Brown presents two contrasting ideas: the ease with which we can engage in superficial activities (such as doing the goat dance) versus the difficulty of truly loving someone. The repeated questioning of why love is so hard suggests that the singer is searching for a solution or answer to this age-old problem.
Brown also speaks to the idea that simply talking about love is not enough. He acknowledges that we can discuss love all we want, but in the end, it is the actions we take that matter. The soothing image of rocking a baby suggests that perhaps loving somebody is easier if we start with the most innocent and pure form of love - that of a parent for a child. By "making the baby happy," the hope is that this love will spread and make it easier to love somebody else.
Overall, "So Hard" is a powerful and relatable song that captures the struggles we all face when it comes to love. Brown's lyrics offer a reflective and insightful commentary on this universal human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Why is it so hard?
Wondering why it is difficult to love someone.
Why is it so hard?
Repeating the initial question to convey a sense of frustration and confusion.
Why is it so hard?
Asking the same question for the third time to emphasize the difficulty of the situation.
Why is it so hard,
Questioning the reasons behind the challenge of loving someone.
To love, love,
Referring to the concept of love, which is often seen as an emotion that is irrational and difficult to control.
Really love somebody,
Expressing the desire to love someone wholeheartedly and genuinely.
Love somebody?
Asking a rhetorical question to convey doubt and uncertainty about the possibility of finding true love.
You can talk about it.
Acknowledging that love is a common topic of discussion and debate.
You can talk about it.
Repeating the previous line to highlight the limited value of discussing love when it comes to actually experiencing it.
Sit up all night,
Describing the act of staying awake for an extended period to discuss love and its complexities.
And talk about it.
Concluding the previous line with the idea that talking about love does not necessarily help in experiencing it.
Yeah but it's so hard,
Contrasting the ease of talking about love with the difficulty of actually loving someone.
It's so hard, to love somebody,
Reiterating the main theme of the song, which is the challenge of finding true love.
And it's so easy,
Contrasting the previous line with the observation that some things in life are actually easy to do.
It's so easy,
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the point that some things in life are straightforward and effortless.
It's just so easy,
Expanding on the previous line to suggest that certain actions, such as performing a dance, are simple and natural.
To do the goat dance.
Providing an example of a simple and lighthearted activity that is easy to perform.
Yeah, but it's so hard,
Echoing an earlier line to reiterate the difficulty of loving someone.
It's so hard, to love somebody,
Stating the main theme of the song again for emphasis.
Really love somebody.
Emphasizing the desire to love someone genuinely and without reservation.
Papa rock the baby.
Suggesting the act of soothing and caring for a child, which is often seen as a symbol of unconditional love.
Mama rock the baby.
Repeating the previous line with a different perspective, which highlights the role of a mother in nurturing a child and showing love.
Hold the little baby,
Describing the act of embracing a child, which is often seen as a way to show affection and love.
Make him happy little baby.
Describing the result of caring for a child, which is often seen as a source of joy and fulfillment.
Maybe then it won't be so hard,
Suggesting that the act of loving and caring for someone might actually make it easier to form a genuine connection with them.
To love somebody,
Reiterating the main theme of the song, which is the desire to find true love and connection with someone.
Love somebody.
Echoing an earlier line to express the hope and longing for a deep and meaningful connection with another person.
Oh it's so hard. Hard.
Repeating an earlier line to convey the difficulty and frustration of trying to love someone.
Why it is so hard?
Asking the same question from the beginning of the song, suggesting a lack of resolution or understanding regarding the challenge of finding true love.
Why is it so hard?
Repeating the initial question again, as if to emphasize the central problem of the song and the difficulty of finding a solution.
Why?
Summing up the song with a simple and poignant question that reflects on the universal struggle of trying to find love and connection with other people.
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.