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.
Oh Well
The Black Crowes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to
Oh well
When I talked to God, I knew he'd understand
He said stick by me and I'll be your guiding hand
I might not give the answer that you want me to
Oh well
The Black Crowes’ “Oh Well” is a song that embodies self-deprecation, yet a sense of freedom in one's self-acceptance. From its opening line, “Can’t help about the shape I’m in,” the song clearly describes a narrator who is not confident in their own physical appearance or vocal ability. However, instead of letting these insecurities consume them, the singer acknowledges their weaknesses and embraces their individuality. This can be seen in the line “I can’t sing, I ain’t pretty and my legs are thin,” which shows that the singer is comfortable in their own skin despite societal pressures to be conventionally attractive.
The chorus of the song, “But don’t ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to, oh well,” is a warning to those who may judge or underestimate the singer. The use of “oh well” in both the chorus and title of the song shows that the singer is unapologetic for who they are and what they represent. In the second verse, the singer seeks guidance from a higher power and finds solace in the idea that if they continue to stay true to themselves, they will always have a path to follow that is uniquely their own. The line “He said stick by me and I’ll be your guiding hand,” suggests that through faith and determination, anyone can find their way in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't help about the shape I'm in
I am unable to control the current state of my physical appearance and health.
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
I lack the ability to sing, I am not physically attractive, and I have small legs.
But don't ask me what I think of you
I do not want to share my opinion of you.
I might not give the answer that you want me to
If I were to answer your question about my opinion of you, it may not be the response you were expecting or hoping for.
Oh well
Regardless of the situation and its outcomes or consequences, I accept it and will move on.
When I talked to God, I knew he'd understand
I confided in my faith in God and believed he would comprehend my situation.
He said stick by me and I'll be your guiding hand
God promised to be a support system for me through my struggles.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrDiddyDee
Peter Green's original version of 'Oh, well' with Fleetwood Mac, was the initial inspiration for Led Zeppelin's 'Black dog' with it's pauses for the lead vocals. So it's interesting to see Jimmy Page play this classic track.
@daveburr6173
Just throw in ONE TRIPLET john henry Bonham
@daveburr6173
Come on jimmy, I always thought it was “overdubbed
@diverdrag
I love Green, I adore Page, who is the most prolific guitarist, and he pays tribute to Green.
@cod1111
one of the greatest songs in rock music
@joeybilbo2911
happy 70th birthday jimmy. my ultimate guitar hero,
@edvella6685
Holy fuck! There's the Jimmy Page we all know and love.
@MrBlueSkyMrNight
My reaction: HOLY SHIT!!!! HOW DID I MISS THIS CONCERT!!!!!!!!
@jfiddude
I had 7th row seats but they cancelled the last part of the tour!
@N-wordScissorhands
I got to see them in Detroit in June 2000.