One of the most innovative and popular bluegrass groups of the 1960s and 1970s, the band took their music into new directions and gained a large audience. Among their most notable achievements were their pioneering, inventive use of amplification, twin harmony banjos, double-tracked vocals, steel guitars, and drums. They were the first bluegrass group to expand the genre's sonic palette in such a fashion.
In 2005 Sonny Osborne retired, owing to a shoulder injury, and Bobby continued to tour as Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-press.
In addition to "Rocky Top," the brothers' hit records include "Making Plans," "Up This Hill and Down," "Midnight Flyer," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Muddy Bottom," "Tennessee Houndog," "Georgia Pineywoods," "Roll Muddy River," "The Kind of Woman I Got," and "Ruby (Are You Mad At Your Man)."
My Old Kentucky Home
Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've turned the corner an' I'm doin' fine
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin' 'em off with this gun o' mine
Got a fire in my belly and a fire in my head
Going higher and higher till I'm dead
Sister Sue is short and stout, she didn't grow up, she grew out
Papa thinks she's pretty but he's almost blind
Don't let her out much except at night
But I don't care 'cause I'm all right
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Young folks roll on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Brother Gene is big and mean and he don't have much to say
He had a little woman who he whooped each day
But now she's gone away got drunk last night
Kicked momma down the stairs but I'm all right
So I don't care
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
And the young folks are rollin' on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Turpentine and dandelion wine
I've turned the corner an' I'm doin' fine
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin' 'em off with this gun o' mine
Got a fire in my belly and a fire in my head
Goin' higher and higher till I'm dead
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
And the young folks are rollin' on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them hard times away from my door
Keep them hard times away from my door
The lyrics of Osborne Brothers' song "My Old Kentucky Home" depict the life of a young man from Kentucky who seems to be content with his simple way of living. The first verse portrays the singer indulging in the pleasures of life, such as turpentine and dandelion wine. He seems to have turned over a new leaf and is feeling good about himself, as he takes aim at the birds sitting on the telephone line, shooting them down one by one with his gun. He is glowing inside with fire and ambition, which he believes will take him to greater heights, even if it means dying in the process.
The second verse describes the singer's family situation, where his sister is short and stout, not attractive by most standards, but his mother believes that she is only being kind. His father, on the other hand, thinks that she is pretty, even though he is nearly blind. The brother, Gene, is described as a big and mean person who does not talk much; he used to beat his wife until she finally left him. The singer seems to be unfazed by the family problems and only cares about his daily pleasures.
The chorus of the song talks about the sun shining bright on his old Kentucky home, where young people roll on the floor in merriment and the singer wishes that hard times stay away from his door. The song, as a whole, highlights the simple joys of life that the singer revels in, even amidst family problems and challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Turpentine and dandelion wine
I'm using unconventional remedies to cure my ailments
I've turned the corner an' I'm doin' fine
I'm over my struggles and feeling good
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
I'm passing time by hunting birds with my gun
Pickin' 'em off with this gun o' mine
I'm successfully hitting and killing the birds with my gun
Got a fire in my belly and a fire in my head
I have a burning desire to achieve my goals
Going higher and higher till I'm dead
I'll keep striving for success until the end of my life
Sister Sue is short and stout, she didn't grow up, she grew out
My sister is chubby and didn't have a tall stature
Momma says, she's plain but she's just being kind
My mom doesn't think my sister is pretty, but she's too polite to say it
Papa thinks she's pretty but he's almost blind
My dad thinks my sister is attractive, but his eyesight is poor
Don't let her out much except at night
My sister isn't allowed to go out much except at night
But I don't care 'cause I'm all right
I don't worry about my sister's situation because I'm doing fine
Brother Gene is big and mean and he don't have much to say
My brother is large and unfriendly, and he's not talkative
He had a little woman who he whooped each day
My brother used to physically abuse his girlfriend every day
But now she's gone away got drunk last night
His girlfriend left him and got drunk the night before
Kicked momma down the stairs but I'm all right
My brother hurt my mother, but I'm not concerned about it
So I don't care
I don't let my family's issues bother me
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
I'm proud of where I come from
Young folks roll on the floor
The young people in my hometown are carefree and having fun
Keep them hard times away from my door
I don't want any problems to come my way
Keep them hard times away from my door
I'm repeating my desire to avoid any hardships
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HEINZ ROEMHELD, STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind