Ben Morrison and Alex Morrison are brothers. They have been making music together from birth. Ben's first word was 'front-man' and Alex's was 'moustache' (see band photo). Joe Pacini and Gio Benedetti met Ben and Alex in high school. They shared many a living room jam session, many a raucous music party, many a front-stoop hoedown, but there was no band.
After years of studying, vision quests in far off lands, moving about, relocating, and the occasional intermittent music party, the young and now much hairier fellows found themselves in San Francisco with Alex, Ben and Joe living in a vibe-steeped flat on Haight Street, playing music (Ben on guitar, Alex on Banjo - both of them singing - and Joe on mandolin and cigarette breaks) at parties and open mics across the fair city. They needed a bassist. Gio happened to be a bassist. He also happened to live nearby.
The, now, quartet continued their tradition of stoop-and-living-room-esque performances, but moved them public. The dive bars of San Francisco became inspired, momentary homes, as friends, fans and music lovers rallied around the snug honesty of the band's barroom shows. All they lacked was a brilliant fiddler with tremendous soloing skills, and with feet and soul firmly planted in the legacy of Old-Time, Bluegrass musics. Oh where, oh where could such a person be?
Philip Brezina - graduate student in classical violin at the nearby Conservatory and recent transplant from Pennsylvania - knew good roots music, knew how to play it and, best of all, knew how to play it on the fiddle. He wandered into the quartet (answering an ad posted in the Conservatory halls), and the long lost Brother Comatose was found.
Doors began opening. Performances at such legendary places as San Francisco's Fillmore Poster Room, the Great American Music Hall, and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival followed, supporting such acts as The Devil Makes Three, Justin Townes Earl, Hillstomp, Greensky Bluegrass, John Doe and the Sadies, Yonder Mountain String Band and others.
Now touring in support of their recent debut full-length, Songs From The Stoop, The Brothers Comatose aim at converting the entire West Coast into their Living Room Music Party. Their shows exude a foot-stomping, shout-along, drink-along ease that was once a staple in every music-playing, front-stoop-possessing home in the land. Their shows can't help but remind folk that music is collective, is for dancing, is for sharing, and for whatever else you might do with friends and family in your own living room.
City Painted Gold
The Brothers Comatose Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making my way back to San Francisco
I said ooohhh
Ooohhh
It's been so long that I've been gone
(Going down to find my home)
Ain't no better place I know
I said ooohhh
Oooohhhhh
Headed to a city painted gold
Different colour than I used to know
There's no place for me here no more
Upon my return what did see
(Going down to find my home)
Whole different city staring back at me
(Going down to find my home)
I said ooohhh
Oooohhhhh
Well all my friends are leaving town
(Going down to find my home)
Where someone like me go down
(Going down to find my home)
I said ooohhhh
Oooohhhh
Headed to a city painted gold
Different colour than I used to know
There's no place for me here no more
Do I follow my heart, do I follow the sun
Do I pack my bags, do I get up and run
Headed to a city painted gold
(Painted gold)
Different colour than I used to know
(Used to know)
There's no place for me here no more
The Brothers Comatose's song "City Painted Gold" is a reflection on the changes that occur in San Francisco over time. The lyrics tell the story of someone returning to the city after a long absence, only to find that it is not the same place they once knew. The song's opening lines describe the singer walking down the side of the road, trying to make their way back to San Francisco. The repeated "oooohhh" creates a sense of longing, one that is reinforced by the song's melancholy arrangement.
As the lyrics continue, the singer realizes just how much the city has changed since they were last there. The line "Whole different city staring back at me" is particularly poignant, emphasizing the sense of displacement that they feel. The chorus emphasizes this feeling, with the repeated refrain "There's no place for me here no more" driving home the sense of loss.
Despite this, the song remains hopeful. The final lines suggest that there may be a new path forward, one that involves "follow[ing] the sun" or "pack[ing] [their] bags" and starting anew. Ultimately, "City Painted Gold" is a song about the complexities of change and what it takes to find a new way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking on down by the side of the road
Strolling near the road's edge
Making my way back to San Francisco
Returning to my old haunt, San Francisco
I said ooohhh
Expressing a feeling of awe
It's been so long that I've been gone
It's been too long since I left
(Going down to find my home)
Venturing to rediscover my home
Ain't no better place I know
There's no better place in my memory
(Going down to find my home)
Embarking on a journey to rediscover my home
I said ooohhh
Expressing a feeling of awe
Headed to a city painted gold
Going to a remarkable place
Different colour than I used to know
Different from how I remember
There's no place for me here no more
It's no longer my place
(Going down to find my home)
Traveling to my original abode
Whole different city staring back at me
Different city seems to stare at me
(Going down to find my home)
Searching for my original homeland
I said ooohhh
Expressing a feeling of awe
Well all my friends are leaving town
All my pals are departing
(Going down to find my home)
Looking for my place of origin
Where someone like me go down
Where can someone like me go?
I said ooohhhh
Expressing a feeling of awe
Do I follow my heart, do I follow the sun
Should I follow my instincts or the sun's path
Do I pack my bags, do I get up and run
Should I depart abruptly, or should I prepare
Headed to a city painted gold
Traveling to a wonderful city
(Painted gold)
Enchanting golden hues adorn it
Different colour than I used to know
Different from how I remember
(Used to know)
In the past, it was different
There's no place for me here no more
It's no longer my place
Writer(s): Benjamin Michael Morrison
Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FAST///M3
Wow this is so cool. Love the whole family jamming out. 🤗🤗🤗 First time hearing your music. I'm in Los Angeles. Keep it coming
Peter Roschmann
This has me smiling so much my face hurts!!
Armchair Astrologer
T Sisters and babies!!! Love it đź’š
Half Full
Excellent! Fun, you guys got it squared away! Thank you!
Anthony Brooks
Much love from Ga. keep it coming guys, y’all are one of our favorite bands to cover!
Michael Couros
Not sure how this got on my feed, but absolutely brilliant. Well done
b2b
Saw you guys at the Hocking hills music festival, you guys were awesome.
Melissa Moore
Look at this East coast love in the comments! Bro Co. spreading the love from the West coast to the East coast. F. Yeah! Like Wavy Gravy said, we are all shaking hands with ourselves. Gorgeous performance you lovely people. Thank you for painting our cities gold, different color than the tone you told.
Bar Chrome
Probably the most honest thing I have seen in years.🥰
cindy reseck
A favorite...love this