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.
Sister Luck
The Black Crowes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To rest my head I'd take a life
Outside the girls are dancing
'Cause when you're down it just don't seem right
Feeling second fiddle to a dead man
Up to my neck with your disregard
Like a beat dog that's walking on the broadway
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
A flip of a coin
Might make a head turn
No surprise, who sleeps
Held my hand over a candle
Flame burnin' but I never weep
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
Sister luck is screaming out
Somebody else's name
What a shame
(Repeat 2nd Chorus)
The lyrics to The Black Crowes' "Sister Luck" explore the theme of feeling neglected and forgotten. The singer in the song is struggling with anxiety and the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are so worried and anxious that their eyes hurt, and they contemplate taking their own life as a way to escape their troubles. In contrast, outside the windows, the girls are dancing, and everything seems light-hearted and carefree - a stark contrast to the singer's inner turmoil.
The next lines of the song talk about feeling like "second fiddle to a dead man," implying that someone they knew who is now dead receives more attention, respect, or care than they do. The line "Like a beat dog that's walking on the Broadway, no one wants to hear you when you're down" is a powerful metaphor for how the singer feels, that they feel beaten down like a dog that has been abused, and that no one wants to listen or care about their struggles.
The chorus of the song, "Sister luck is screaming out somebody else's name," could be interpreted as a resentment towards people who have it "better" than the singer, that "luck" or "fortune" has abandoned them and found someone else instead. The feeling of being left behind and forgotten is further reinforced by the line "What a shame."
Overall, "Sister Luck" is a deeply emotional song that touches on themes of anxiety, neglect, and resentment. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is struggling with life and feels like an outsider in their own world.
Line by Line Meaning
Worried sick my eyes are hurting
I am feeling very anxious and upset, as if I am ill and my eyes are causing me pain.
To rest my head I'd take a life
I am so desperate to find rest and a sense of relief from my troubles that I would even consider ending my own life.
Outside the girls are dancing
Despite my difficulties and unhappiness, other people around me are still able to find joy and happiness, even if I cannot.
'Cause when you're down it just don't seem right
Being in a difficult and unhappy situation feels wrong and out of place, especially when others around you are enjoying themselves.
Feeling second fiddle to a dead man
I feel like I am in competition with a person who is no longer alive, and that I cannot measure up or win against them.
Up to my neck with your disregard
I am exhausted and fed up with the way that you are ignoring or overlooking my struggles and needs.
Like a beat dog that's walking on the broadway
I feel as if I have been beaten and worn down like a dog, and that my struggles are on display for everyone to see.
No one wants to hear you when you're down
When you are struggling and in need of help, it can feel as if nobody wants to listen or be there for you.
Sister luck is screaming out
Despite my own struggles, I am aware that others around me may be facing their own challenges and difficulties.
Somebody else's name
Their struggles may not be the same as mine, and may require different solutions or forms of support.
A flip of a coin
Life can feel very uncertain and unpredictable, like the flip of a coin that could result in either good luck or bad luck.
Might make a head turn
Small or random events can have a big impact on our lives and perspectives.
No surprise, who sleeps
Nobody is completely immune to misfortune or unhappiness, even when they seem to be doing well or be successful.
Held my hand over a candle
I am able to face and withstand pain and discomfort, without necessarily crying or showing my emotions outwardly.
Flame burnin' but I never weep
Even when I am experiencing intense pain or stress, I am able to persevere and avoid breaking down emotionally.
What a shame
Despite my own struggle and capacity for strength, it is still a shame that I, or anyone else, has to face such difficulties and challenges in life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind