Gregory Porter was born in Sacramento and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, he received a "full-ride" (tuition, books, medical coverage, and living expenses) athletic scholarship as a football lineman to San Diego State University (SDSU Aztecs), but a shoulder injury during his junior year cut short his football career.[3] At the age of 21, Porter lost his mother to cancer, but only after she entreated him from her death bed: "Sing, baby, sing!"
Porter moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 2004, along with his brother Lloyd. He worked as a chef at Lloyd's restaurant Bread-Stuy (now defunct), where he also performed. Porter performed at other neighborhood venues including Sista's Place and Solomon's Porch, and moved on to Harlem club St. Nick's Pub, where he maintained a weekly residency. Out of this residency evolved what would become Porter's touring band.[4]
Porter released two albums on the Motéma label together with Membran Entertainment Group, 2010's Water and 2012's Be Good, before signing with Blue Note Records (under Universal Music Group) on May 17, 2013. His third album, Liquid Spirit, was released on September 2, 2013, in Europe and on September 17, 2013, in the US.[5] The album was produced by Brian Bacchus.[6] The album won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[7]
Liquid Spirit enjoyed commercial success rarely achieved by albums in the jazz genre, reaching the top 10 on the UK album charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, selling over 100,000 units in the UK.[8]
In August 2014 Porter released "The 'In' Crowd" as a single.[9] On May 9, 2015 Porter participated in VE Day 70: A Party to Remember, a televised commemorative concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, singing "As Time Goes By".[10]
His fourth album, Take Me to the Alley, was released on May 6, 2016.[11] In UK's The Guardian it was Alexis Petridis's album of the week.[12]
On June 26, 2016, Porter performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2016. Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said, "The portly middle-aged jazzer may be the oddest pop star on the planet but he is a refreshing testament to the notion that the most important organ for musical appreciation should always be our ears. And Porter has one of the most easy-on-the-ear voices in popular music, a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth across a rich gateaux of juicy melody. It's a voice that makes you want to lick your lips and dive right in."[13]
In September 2016 Porter performed at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park from Hyde Park, London. He would go on to perform in the annual BBC Children in Need show in November, a night dedicated to Sir Terry Wogan, who hosted it in previous years and was a fan of Porter.[14]
In January 2017 Porter performed the song "Holding On" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show.[15] In September 2017 he performed as part of the Later... with Jools Holland: Later 25 concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[16]
In October 2017 he performed the song "Mona Lisa" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show with Jeff Goldblum on piano.[17]
Brown Grass
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the other side nothing but brown grass
Now I'm open wide
To the truth I left behind
Her loves so hard to find
Now I find myself
Falling down on brown grass
Brown grass
On the other side nothing but brown grass
Now I made a mess
Of the life I had with you
In search of something new
Now I find myself falling down on brown grass
Now I find myself rolling 'round on brown grass
Why didn't I know that she was a essential part of me
I thought that I needed to find me and I needed to be free
Why didn't I know that she was all that I would ever need
I looked at the distant view and thought it was for me
But now I know
It was just brown grass
On the other side nothing but brown grass
Now I'm open wide
To the truth I left behind
Her loves so hard to find
Now I find myself falling down on brown grass
Now I find myself rolling 'round on brown grass
Why didn't I know that she was a essential part of me
I thought that I needed to find me and I needed to be free
Why didn't I know that she was all that I would ever need
I looked at the distant view and thought it was for me
But now I know
It was just brown grass
On the other side nothing but brown grass
Now I'm open wide
To the truth I left behind
Her loves so hard to find
Now I find myself falling down on brown grass
Now I find myself rolling 'round on brown grass
Now I find myself falling down on brown grass
The lyrics to Gregory Porter's song "Brown Grass" are a reflection upon the mistake of leaving something or someone behind in search of something that seemed better at the time. The song's repeated refrain of "brown grass on the other side" underscores this message. At the beginning of the song, the singer finds himself surrounded by brown grass after leaving a previous relationship behind in search of something new. As the song progresses, he realizes that what he was searching for wasn't as fulfilling as the love he had left behind.
The singer's regret and self-reflection are further emphasized by the lines "Why didn't I know that she was an essential part of me? / I thought that I needed to find me and I needed to be free." This suggests that the singer may have taken for granted the love he had and was too focused on finding something that he thought would make him happier. However, by the end of the song, he acknowledges that what he had left behind was more valuable than what he thought he wanted.
"Brown Grass" is a heartfelt and introspective song that acknowledges a common human experience: the tendency to take for granted what one already has in search of something that seems better. The song powerfully conveys the idea that sometimes we don't realize how much we need something until it's gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Brown grass
He sees the brown grass, which represents the emptiness he feels.
On the other side nothing but brown grass
There is nothing else on the other side, just the same emptiness.
Now I'm open wide
He is now receptive to the truth.
To the truth I left behind
He realizes that he has been ignoring the truth about his situation.
Her loves so hard to find
It is difficult to find a love like hers, which he left behind.
Now I find myself
He has come to a realization about himself.
Falling down on brown grass
He is now experiencing the consequences of his choices and actions.
Now I find myself rolling 'round on brown grass
He is now trapped in the emptiness he was seeking to escape.
Now I made a mess
He has created problems for himself.
Of the life I had with you
He has messed up the relationship he had with his partner.
In search of something new
He felt the need to explore and find something beyond what he already had.
Why didn't I know that she was a essential part of me
He now realizes that his partner was an essential and irreplaceable part of his life.
I thought that I needed to find me and I needed to be free
He believed that he needed to be independent and find himself, but it only led to false ideals of freedom.
Why didn't I know that she was all that I would ever need
He understands now that his partner was what he truly needed all along.
I looked at the distant view and thought it was for me
He saw a great distance and thought it was what he wanted when it was actually an illusion.
But now I know
He has finally realized the truth.
Now I'm open wide
He is now receptive to the truth.
To the truth I left behind
He realizes that he has been ignoring the truth about his situation.
Her loves so hard to find
It is difficult to find a love like hers, which he left behind.
Now I find myself falling down on brown grass
He is now experiencing the consequences of his choices and actions.
Now I find myself rolling 'round on brown grass
He is now trapped in the emptiness he was seeking to escape.
Now I find myself falling down on brown grass
He is struggling with his situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GREGORY PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind