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.
by your side
The Black Crowes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i am found
when you slip
i hold my ground
when i fall
please take a bow
and when you're up
just remember i am down - who's down?
people looking for
fortune and fame
they don't know
that it's all the same
it's like any other game
you know there's a loser
but it's alright
when you feel your heart is breaking
when all your friends are faking
when its giving and no taking
i will be by your side
i've been over the hill and back
survived every kind of attack
it's been a few years at that
as a matter of fact
good luck is just good luck
you don't go hungry if you got pot luck
i've been down
but never on my knees
i see the forest for the trees
The lyrics of The Black Crowes's song By Your Side convey a message of solidarity and support. The singer promises to be there for someone when they are feeling down, and highlights the importance of loyalty and friendship during tough times. The opening lines "when your lost, I am found, when you slip, I hold my ground" set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer expressing a willingness to offer comfort and stability when others are struggling.
The second verse addresses the concept of fortune and fame, suggesting that these things are ultimately trivial and unfulfilling. Despite the temptation to chase success and recognition, the singer recognizes that "it's like any other game," and that there will always be losers. Even so, the overall message is one of resilience and optimism, with the phrase "but it's alright" serving as a mantra for those faced with disappointment or failure.
The chorus of the song is especially powerful, with the singer offering to be there for someone during their darkest moments. The imagery of a broken heart and fake friends highlights the pain and isolation that can come with difficult experiences, but the singer assures that they will be present to offer support and care.
Line by Line Meaning
when your lost
When you feel lost and confused.
i am found
I'll help you find your way when you're lost.
when you slip
When you make a mistake.
i hold my ground
I won't let your mistake shake me.
when i fall
When I make a mistake.
please take a bow
Please acknowledge my mistake so we can move on.
and when you're up
When you're successful and doing well.
just remember i am down - who's down?
Remember that I'm here for you even when you're successful, because I know what it feels like to be down.
people looking for
People who are searching for.
fortune and fame
Wealth and celebrity status.
they don't know
They aren't aware that.
that it's all the same
Wealth and celebrity status are like any other game that has its own set of winners and losers.
it's like any other game
The game of life has its own set of rules, winners, and losers.
you know there's a loser
It's inevitable that someone will lose in this game.
but it's alright
But that's okay, it's not the end of the world.
when you feel your heart is breaking
When you're feeling emotional pain.
when all your friends are faking
When the people you trust are pretending to be something they're not.
when its giving and no taking
When you're giving but not receiving anything in return.
i will be by your side
I promise to support you through difficult times.
i've been over the hill and back
I've faced many challenges and have overcome them.
survived every kind of attack
I've been through various hardships and came out strong.
it's been a few years at that
It's been quite some time since I've overcome those obstacles.
as a matter of fact
In fact,
good luck is just good luck
Luck comes and goes, it's unpredictable.
you don't go hungry if you got pot luck
If you have good luck, you won't go hungry because things will work out for you.
i've been down
I've faced difficult times.
but never on my knees
I've never given up or let hard times defeat me.
i see the forest for the trees
I have a clear perspective and can see the bigger picture.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind