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
ViViD
Greg Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gave me flowers, I'd like to give you something too.
Vivid flowers, raggedy yellow red and blue,
Smell of rain and summer. Vivid, just like you.
You gave me music with the bouquet from your hand,
You gave me a living song, something I could understand.
Let's go walking when the party is through,
You gave me so much, I want to give you something too
The song "Vivid" by Greg Brown is a heartfelt tribute to a loved one who has given the singer so much in their relationship. The opening lines, "You gave me flowers, all wet with dew, You gave me flowers, I'd like to give you something too," sets the tone of appreciation and reciprocity. The singer wants to give back to their partner who has shown them love and kindness. The flowers are described as "vivid" which suggests that the relationship is full of life and color.
The chorus, "Vivid flowers, raggedy yellow red and blue, Smell of rain and summer. Vivid, just like you," is an ode to the partner's liveliness and vibrancy. The flowers are personified as having a strong resemblance to the partner, which further emphasizes the depth of their relationship. The singer is grateful for the life and joy that their partner has brought into their life.
The third verse, "You gave me music with the bouquet from your hand, You gave me a living song, something I could understand," further adds to the appreciation the singer has for their partner. They not only give them tangible gifts like flowers but also gifts of the heart like music. The singer describes the gift of music as "something I could understand," possibly indicating that their partner has helped them navigate life's challenges.
In conclusion, "Vivid" is a touching tribute to a partner who has brought immense joy and love into the singer's life. The use of vivid imagery and personification further intensifies the emotions expressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
You gave me flowers, all wet with dew,
You presented me with flowers that were damp with drops of water,
You gave me flowers, I'd like to give you something too.
You offered me flowers and now I wish to return the favor.
Vivid flowers, raggedy yellow red and blue,
The flowers were bright and filled with bold colors of yellow, red, and blue. They were striking and stood out.
Smell of rain and summer. Vivid, just like you.
The flowers gave off the fragrance of both rain and summer. They were lively and vibrant, much like the person who gave them to me.
You gave me music with the bouquet from your hand,
Along with the bouquet of flowers, you provided me with some music as well.
You gave me a living song, something I could understand.
The music you gave me was alive and full of meaning, and I could comprehend its message.
Let's go walking when the party is through,
Once the celebration gets over, we should take a stroll together.
You gave me so much, I want to give you something too
The flowers and music you gave me meant a lot to me, and I want to reciprocate your kindness.
Contributed by Callie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Freakster1970
This is a Joke- 292 views in a year? This guy is as good as anyone. I don't think you will see him plugging his latest album on some TV show like so many other overrated musicians. He is one of a kind!
John Holland
You are very correct.I believe he is one of the best American songwriters and singers ever
Alex
This is by far my favorite song of all time, and has been for many years. It has helped in many ways, and I can't thank Mr. Brown enough. It's a VERY underrated song and it sucks that most people haven't heard of it. Thank you so much for this piece of heaven.
Archie Tuttle
I'm not a huge Greg Brown fan, with the exception of this song. I feel like I need to create a loop of it, and listen to it for at least a half hour every day. Feels so uplifting.
David Flower
Greg wrote this song for Ani DiFranco, in response to Ani's song "This Bouquet," which she wrote about being too shy to introduce herself to him at a folk festival where they were both playing.
Neytiri
Thank you for info... It's very interesting. :)
7 Worlds
Great song. I heard it years ago, forgot the song title and artist name but never the song itself. Just found it now, love it
April Rains
My man just chose this song to walk me down the aisle to him
Neytiri
Romantic...
John Holland
This is the one I believe he wrote for the amazing Kate Wolf