They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck's manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, "Greenfields," released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, "The Green Leaves of Summer," from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, "Hootenanny Saturday Night," in 1963.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four's early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The band attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But the band was unable to release it because of licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 47 years in the business, the group is still active today (2004).
Blue Water Line
The Brothers Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To burn the home town depot down and build a factory
To take that stretch of history and tear it off the map
To take melt old engine number nine and turn it into scrap
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
If you can't afford a quarter then you ought to give a dime
Oh, I could tell you stories of the glories of that train
Of the 49'er miners and the time old Jesse James
Stole a thousand golden nuggets in that 'Great Train Robbery'
And when old Abe Lincoln rode with Tad upon his knee
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
If you can't afford a quarter then you ought to give a dime
If everybody gave then we could save the Blue Water Line
Just twenty thousand quarters and just forty thousand dimes
And we'll ride again to glory on the old Blue Water Line
We'll have William Jennings Bryant stokin' coal on number nine
So dig inside your pockets for the old Blue Water Line
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
If you can't afford a quarter then you ought to give a dime
If everybody gave then we could save the Blue Water Line
If everybody gave then we could save the Blue Water Line
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
The Brothers Four's song "Blue Water Line" is a powerful commentary on the loss of historical landmarks due to industrialization and economic development. The song is about a decision made by the City Council to tear down the hometown depot and build a factory instead. The history of that stretch of land will be wiped off the map and the old engine number nine will be turned into scrap.
The lyrics of the song evoke a nostalgic sentimentality of the glory days of the Blue Water Line. The Blue Water Line is a metaphor for the history of the area, the railway system that transported miners and goods. The song tells stories of the heroes and villains who travelled on the train, including the legendary Jesse James and the great President Abraham Lincoln.
However, the message of the song is not just about the past, it is also urging people to take action to preserve the Blue Water Line. The chorus encourages listeners to contribute whatever they can: "If you can't afford a quarter then you ought to give a dime, if everybody gave then we could save the Blue Water Line." It is a call to action to save one’s cultural heritage, to make a tangible effort to preserve one's history.
Line by Line Meaning
The City Council met last week, the vote was four to three
At a recent City Council meeting, a vote was taken with four members in favor of burning down the hometown depot and building a factory, and three members opposed.
To burn the home town depot down and build a factory
The City Council voted in favor of destroying the hometown depot and constructing a factory in its place.
To take that stretch of history and tear it off the map
The decision to destroy the hometown depot was made despite its historical significance, and it will be completely removed from the area.
To take melt old engine number nine and turn it into scrap
The Council also plans to melt down the historical engine number nine to turn it into scrap metal.
Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line
This is the chorus of the song, with the repeated phrase of Blue Water Line representing the train that once traveled through the area.
If you can't afford a quarter then you ought to give a dime
The singer suggests that even small donations toward saving the Blue Water Line can make a difference, and encourages everyone to give what they can.
Oh, I could tell you stories of the glories of that train
The singer reflects on the history of the Blue Water Line train, and the various notable figures and events associated with it.
Of the 49'er miners and the time old Jesse James
The singer references the 49ers, a group of gold prospectors, and the famous outlaw Jesse James, both of whom are associated with the Blue Water Line.
Stole a thousand golden nuggets in that 'Great Train Robbery'
The 'Great Train Robbery' was a famous heist committed on the Blue Water Line, where a thousand golden nuggets were stolen.
And when old Abe Lincoln rode with Tad upon his knee
The singer also mentions that President Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad once rode on the Blue Water Line train.
Just twenty thousand quarters and just forty thousand dimes
The singer suggests that with only twenty thousand quarters and forty thousand dimes, the Blue Water Line train can be saved.
And we'll ride again to glory on the old Blue Water Line
If the train is saved, the singer imagines that riders will once again experience the glory of traveling on the Blue Water Line.
We'll have William Jennings Bryant stokin' coal on number nine
The singer mentions William Jennings Bryant, a famous orator from the turn of the 20th century, and imagines him stoking the fire on engine number nine if the train is saved.
So dig inside your pockets for the old Blue Water Line
The singer encourages listeners to donate what they can to save the Blue Water Line train.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: D. GRAF, M. SELIGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kimkochel8157
I have my parents(that are 88 now)Brothers Four album. I will always treasure their music as well as my parents album and my parents. Married 68 years. From a proud Canadian 🇨🇦🇨🇦🙏🦋🌈🌹✌
@brockschul3221
Haven't heard this song for 23 years
@cliffordyawn2938
I was stationed at Kessler Air Force Base in the 1960's when I heard a friend sing this song. I had never heard it before but I liked it.
@joeroth1124
The most singalongable song of all time
@ericseal8670
Excellent folk song! I just love it!!
@edwardwade3933
I not only liked their music but had the opportunity to be on a bowling lane next to two of the group when I was 12 living in Seattle, Washington. They were great people! ce wade
@jesusessenorjuan3166
watching a cavalry division video I've heard this.pretty song and I just want to heart it. Amazing wooow this type of músic reminds my childhood in California
@lathanhudson252
One of my Folk Music Favorites...Who don't like Folk Music?
@briantrueman4266
One of my favourite folk songs. Sort of a history tune, but there never was a "Blue water line" Nostalgia at it's finest.
@northerntraveller3180
Sorry, but that was the slogan for a railroad in the Detroit area.