At the time of their 1990 debut, the kind of rock & roll the Black Crowes specialize in was out of style. Only Guns N' Roses came close to approximating a vintage Stones-style raunch, but they were too angry and jagged to pull it off completely. The Black Crowes replicated that Stonesy swagger and Faces boogie perfectly. Vocalist Chris Robinson appropriated the sound and style of vintage Rod Stewart while guitarist Rich Robinson fused Keith Richards' lean attack with Ron Wood's messy rhythmic sense. At their best, the Black Crowes echo classic rock without slavishly imitating their influences.
The Robinson brothers originally formed the Black Crowes in Georgia in 1984. By the time of their 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker, the group comprised Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitar), Johnny Colt (bass), Jeff Cease (guitar), and Steve Gorman (drums). "Jealous Again," the first single from Shake Your Money Maker, was a moderate hit but it was the band's cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" that made the group a multi-platinum success. "Hard to Handle" climbed its way into the Top 40, propelling the album into the Top Ten. The acoustic ballad "She Talks to Angels" became the band's second Top 40 hit in the spring of 1991. Shake Your Money Maker would eventually sell over three million copies.
The Black Crowes delivered their second album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, in the spring of 1992, adding new lead guitarist Marc Ford and keyboardist Eddie Harsch. It entered the charts at number one, but it didn't have as many hit singles as the debut; none of the singles cracked the Top 40 and only "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride" made the Top 100. Nevertheless, the band established themselves as a popular concert attraction that summer, selling out theaters across America. The Black Crowes' third album, Amorica, arrived in late 1994. Amorica debuted in the Top Ten, but none of the singles from the album made the charts; even though the record went gold, it slipped off the charts in early 1995.
Three Snakes & One Charm, the group's fourth album, was released in July of 1996. The album entered the charts at number 15, but it quickly slipped out of the Top 50. Nevertheless, the album received the best reviews of any Crowes album since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Guitarist Marc Ford was fired from the Black Crowes in August, 1997; two years later, the group returned with By Your Side. In mid-2000, the band collaborated with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page on the double-disc Live at the Greek, an eclectic mix of newly recorded Zeppelin covers and additional classic blues cuts. A Tribute to a Work in Progress: Greatest Hits 1990-1999, a 16-track best-of compilation was also released in mid-2000. The Don Was-produced Lions appeared in spring 2001, and a summer tour with Oasis -- the Tour of Brotherly Love -- followed in June. But all was apparently not well with the group, in January of 2002 the band announced that they were on hiatus. Drummer Steve Gorman was fired from the band, and Chris Robinson announced his intentions for a solo career.
The Black Crowes have since reunited. All members circa 1992 are back, with the addition of one of their previous bassists, Sven Pipien, and harmony singers Mona Lisa Young and Charity White. They are enjoying a renaissance within the group as well as with their longtime fan base and have been consistently touring since formally reuniting in March 2005. In November of 2007, it was announced that North Mississippi Allstar guitarist Luther Dickinson formally joined the band, replacing Paul Stacey. He appears throughout the Crowes' album Warpaint, which was released in March of 2008.
In late 2019, during an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Chris and Rich Robinson announced that they had resolved their differences (the brothers hadn't spoken in the years since the band's 2015 split). Besides the Robinson brothers, the reunited lineup featured an entirely new backing band including guitarist Isiah Mitchell (from the bands Earthless and Golden Void), bassist Tim Lefebvre (formerly of the Tedeschi Trucks Band), keyboardist Joel Robinow, and drummer Raj Ojha. This line-up premiered at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City on November 11, 2019 where they played the entire Shake Your Money Maker album.
Evergreen
The Black Crowes Lyrics
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Let me kiss your rose pedals for you and golden van
Let me point out the birds that fly only for you
And I will do anything that you want me to
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
Come and steer away with me by the moonlight
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
Come and play in my garden, come and dance in my rain
Come make love in the sunshine, come let's share our pain
Come fly through this darkness to be right by my side
And let's walk right through the door just to see what's inside
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
Come and steer away with me by the moonlight
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
Come and steer away with me by the moonlight
Show me the way
With the words that you say
With the light of love
In the light of your love
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
Come and steer away with me by the moonlight
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
Come and steer away with me by the moonlight
Evergreen, evergreen
Evergreen, evergreen
Evergreen, evergreen
Evergreen, evergreen
The lyrics to The Black Crowes's song "Evergreen" seem to be a love song about wanting to offer comfort and companionship to someone who is feeling lonely or in pain. The singer offers to be there for them through whatever darkness they may be experiencing and to be a source of light and beauty in their life. The metaphor of the evergreen tree is used as a symbol of constancy and endurance, as well as natural beauty that does not fade.
The first verse sets the tone of the song, with the singer offering their hand and a gentle kiss as signs of solace. The next verse expands on this theme by urging the listener to come and find joy in their company, whether it be dancing in the rain or making love in the sunshine. The chorus reaffirms the singer's attraction to the listener, describing them as the prettiest thing they've ever seen and inviting them to take a journey together in the moonlight.
The bridge of the song seems to be the singer's plea for the listener to guide them through life with the light of their love, as they promise to be a steady presence for them. The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces the idea that the singer is offering themselves as a refuge for the listener.
Overall, "Evergreen" is a lovely and evocative song about the power of human connection and the desire to be a source of light for someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
A song ease your lonely, let my words take your hand
Let my music comfort you when you feel alone and lost, I'll be with you through my words.
Let me kiss your rose pedals for you and golden van
I want to show my affection by taking care of you, like kissing a rose and showering you with care.
Let me point out the birds that fly only for you
I want to make you feel cherished and special, like the world is yours and everything is for your enjoyment.
And I will do anything that you want me to
I am here for you, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy and fulfilled.
Come and play in my garden, come and dance in my rain
Let's have fun together, even when life gets messy, we can still find beauty and joy in each other's company.
Come make love in the sunshine, come let's share our pain
Let's experience passion and intimacy, and also support each other through difficult times and share in each other's struggles.
Come fly through this darkness to be right by my side
Let me be your light in the dark, guiding you and being there for you, no matter what.
And let's walk right through the door just to see what's inside
Let's be adventurous and open to exploring new things and taking risks, together.
Show me the way
Help me find direction and purpose, guide me to where we need to be.
With the words that you say
Your words have power, and they can change everything, including our future.
With the light of love
Love is the guiding force that illuminates our path, and helps us navigate through even the darkest moments.
In the light of your love
Your love shines bright like a beacon, and it is what keeps me going, no matter what happens.
Evergreen, evergreen, prettiest thing I'd ever seen
You are forever beautiful to me, like an evergreen tree that never fades or loses its allure.
Come and steer away with me by the moonlight
Let's escape from reality and be together under the light of the moon, where anything is possible.
Evergreen, evergreen
You are the constant in my life, the one thing that never changes and is always there for me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind