Playing with non-blues acts such as Aerosmith and The Black Crowes broadened Ronnie's influences and is reflected in his playing. Brooks adds elements of soul, hip-hop and funk to a a strong Chicago blues base. Brooks compares this to "how Muddy Waters took the Mississippi blues he heard in his youth and modernized it for his times by making it electric and harder."
He first stepped on stage at nine years old, playing with Lonnie Brooks at Pepper's Lounge in Chicago. Ronnie joined Lonnie's band full-time in 1986 and made his recording debut in 1988 on Lonnie Brooks' Live From Chicago - Bayou Lightning Strikes. He also toured and recorded with Elvin Bishop, Lil' Ed Williams, Katie Webster and Koko Taylor during this period.
Ronnie played his first solo gig in 1992, filling in for his suddenly ill father. He made the jump to permanent solo status after a New Year's Eve, 1998 gig at Buddy Guys Legends club in Chicago.
Since launching his solo career, Brooks has sat in with Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison and Buddy Guy. He has opened for artists including Junior Wells, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Slash, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Keb' Mo'.
In 2008, Brooks was featured in the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue's first album and tour.
His official website is at http://www.ronniebakerbrooks.com/.
Turn a Bad into a Positive
Ronnie Baker Brooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time's gonna get better for me
My momma says gonna be days like this
Keep on living son and you will see
She said count your blessings in the life that you live
And turn a bad into a positive
When it rains it pours
Bad luck seems to follow me
With everything that I do
I gotta count the blessings in the life that I live
And turn a bad into a positive
I got the pressures of a millionair
I got the worries of the poor
When I started drinking my alcohol
My problems fall down like dominos
I gotta change the life in the life that I live
And turn a bad into a positive
My bad ya′ll
The above lyrics to Ronnie Baker Brooks's song "Turn a Bad into a Positive" depicts a personal struggle with bad luck and hardship. Nevertheless, the artist's mother appears to inspire him with words of wisdom, encouraging him to look on the bright side of things, count his blessings, and to turn bad experiences into positive ones. Despite the difficulties he encounters, he is determined to change his life for the better.
The song's chorus expresses a deeply optimistic outlook. The artist sings that time will elevate his situation, and his mother tells him that life will improve if he keeps his head up. The lyrics also mention a saying that Brooks believes to be true, that when it rains, it really does pour. The use of this colloquialism reveals his familiarity with adversity, and his efforts to turn negative events into positive ones.
Additionally, the artist uses examples in the song to illustrate his bad-luck blues. Pressures and worries from all fronts, superimposed with bad habits like alcohol abuse, seem to waver his spirits. However, he appears to find solace in his mother's words, and attempts to turn his life around. Through these lyrics, Brooks shows that despite the challenges he faces, he is determined to make the best of his circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Time's a gonna get better
I have hope that things will improve in the future
My momma says gonna be days like this
My mother assures me that everyone experiences difficult times
Keep on living son and you will see
By continuing to live, I will gain more experience and perspective
She said count your blessings in the life that you live
My mother advises me to focus on the positive aspects of my life
And turn a bad into a positive
I should try to find the good in difficult situations
When it rains it pours
Multiple bad things seem to happen at once
Bad luck seems to follow me
I feel like I am constantly unlucky
With everything that I do
No matter what I try, it seems to go wrong
I gotta count the blessings in the life that I live
I need to focus on what is good in my life
And turn a bad into a positive
I should try to find the good in difficult situations
I got the pressures of a millionair
I feel the weight of expectations and responsibilities
I got the worries of the poor
I still have concerns and fears despite financial success
When I started drinking my alcohol
Alcohol has been a coping mechanism for me
My problems fall down like dominos
One problem seems to lead to another, creating a chain reaction
I gotta change the life in the life that I live
I need to make changes to improve my life
And turn a bad into a positive
I should try to find the good in difficult situations
My bad ya'll
I apologize for my mistakes or shortcomings
Writer(s): Ronnie Baker Brooks
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.