Gregory Alan Isakov (born in 1979 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South… Read Full Bio ↴Gregory Alan Isakov (born in 1979 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South Africa-born American singer-songwriter. He released his first album, Rust Colored Stones, in 2003.

Isakov has been described by Boulder Weekly, "Strong, subtle, a lyrical genius" and has been compared to his influences; Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine and Gillian Welch. Isakov's humble presence and his overwhelming voice and guitar style has been treasured by an ever-growing and captivated fan base.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Isakov immigrated to the States with his family and grew up in the Philadelphia area. He started touring at the age of 16 with his first band. In 1999 he sought out his solo acoustic roots and moved to Colorado where he now resides.

Isakov has been taking on the folk music scene with his 2003 release "Rust Colored Stones" LP and his 2005 release "Songs For October". Isakov's song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, and his live performance has been known to quiet and shake the biggest rooms.

Isakov has shared the stage with numerous touring artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Murdoch, and Fiona Apple. He has performed throughout the United States, playing numerous music festivals such as Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest and Southpark Music Festival. Isakov has toured solo and with his band "The Freight".

In 2007, Gregory was named "Best Male Singer-Songwriter" by Westword Magazine.

Subsequent albums have included That Sea, The Gambler (2007), This Empty Northern Hemisphere (2009), The Weatherman (2013), Evening Machines (2018).

john brown's body
Gregory Alan Isakov Lyrics

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There's always the creaks and the strangest sounds
John brown's body was never found
But the locals see him walkin' round

There's a 'for sale' sign on the old farm roads
There's a silo empty and done for
The place just ain't the same no more

Now its shinin' all them different ways, crimson blues and yellow shades
There's snow up in the way
And those clouds still full of rain

There's work in town or so they say
Just blessed to fill our hands today
God knows if it will ever pay

And we fill our hands with wood and steel
And grace is a woman we all long to feel
You know someday we will...you know someday we will

There's always the creaks and the strangest sounds
John brown's body's up and walkin' round
Countin' all the riches that he's found

And he throws it all in that wishing well

Made it home in the morning hail there's snow up in the way
And those clouds still full a rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Brown's Body are filled with imagery of decay, loss, and unfulfilled desires. The first verse describes an eerie setting, with strange sounds and the elusive presence of John Brown's body. The abandoned farm and silo indicate a sense of abandonment and loss. The fact that Brown's body was never found adds to the mystery and the supernatural aura of the song. The next verse refers to the changing times, with the farm being disused and the sky filled with different colors. The snow and rain symbolize a sense of longing and sadness, as if the world is mourning the loss of something.

The last verse talks about the present lives of the people in the town. They work hard, but their future is uncertain. The line "grace is a woman we all long to feel" indicates that the people are seeking some kind of spiritual fulfillment or meaning in their lives. The chorus repeats the idea of John Brown's body walking around, as if the past is still haunting the present. The final lines suggest that despite everything, there is a glimmer of hope that someday things will be better.

Overall, the lyrics of John Brown's Body are poetic and evocative, painting a picture of a world that is both beautiful and tragic, full of longing and loss.

Line by Line Meaning

There's always the creaks and the strangest sounds
The farm is old and rundown, and there are always eerie noises and strange sounds coming from it.

John brown's body was never found
The former owner of the farm, John Brown, has disappeared without a trace.

But the locals see him walkin' round
Despite his disappearance, some people claim to see John Brown walking around the farm.

There's a 'for sale' sign on the old farm roads
The farm is being sold to new owners.

There's a silo empty and done for
One of the farm's silos is now empty and useless.

The place just ain't the same no more
The farm has changed a lot and lost its former charm.

Now its shinin' all them different ways, crimson blues and yellow shades
The scenery around the farm has changed due to various factors such as the sun, changing seasons, etc.

There's snow up in the way
It has snowed and the snow is blocking the way for travel.

And those clouds still full of rain
It looks like it might rain again soon.

There's work in town or so they say
There are rumors of available jobs in the nearby town.

Just blessed to fill our hands today
The people of the farm are content with their daily work and blessings despite the uncertainties.

God knows if it will ever pay
They are uncertain if their hard work will translate into financial success or stability.

And we fill our hands with wood and steel
The people of the farm use their hands to work with wood and steel in their daily tasks.

And grace is a woman we all long to feel
The people of the farm seek grace, or the feeling of being blessed, in their work and daily lives.

You know someday we will...you know someday we will
Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the present, the people of the farm believe that someday they will achieve success and stability.

John brown's body's up and walkin' round
The supposedly missing former owner of the farm, John Brown, is now seen walking around often and appears to be counting his newfound riches.

Countin' all the riches that he's found
John Brown appears to have found wealth that was unknown in the past.

And he throws it all in that wishing well
John Brown is so wealthy that he throws some of his riches into a wishing well for good luck and prosperity.

Made it home in the morning hail there's snow up in the way
Despite the weather and potential obstacles, John Brown has made it home.

And those clouds still full a rain
The weather still looks uncertain and like it might rain.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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