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).
Four Strong Winds
The Brothers Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seven seas that run high,
All those things that don't change,
Come what may.
But our good times are all gone,
And I'm bound for movin' on.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
The weather's good there in the fall.
I've got some friends that I can go to workin' for.
Still I wish you'd change your mind,
If I asked you one more time
But we've been through that a hundred times or more.
If I get there before the snow flies,
And if things are goin' good.
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare,
But by then it would be winter, nothin' much for you to do.
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there.
Four strong winds that blow lonely,
Seven seas that run high,
All those things that don't change,
Come what may.
But our good times are all gone,
And I'm bound for moving on.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way...
The song Four Strong Winds by The Brothers Four is a ballad that speaks about a man who is packing his bags to move out of town. The opening verse speaks about the strong winds and high seas that do not change, no matter what happens. These winds and seas provide a backdrop to the "good times" that the singer has gone through with his loved one. Sadly, those good times have passed, and he is "bound for movin' on." The singer acknowledges that he will look for his lover if he ever comes back that way.
In the second verse, the singer mentions that he is planning to move to Alberta because the weather is good there in the fall, and he has some friends and job opportunities there. He expresses his wish that his lover changes her mind and comes along, but he knows that it is a futile effort. The refrain talks about the winds and seas again, emphasizing that the world is unchanging and indifferent to what happens in our lives.
The song is a poignant reminder that sometimes, it is necessary to move on from people and places that we love. While those memories stay with us, life goes on, and we must continue to make our way in the world. The Brothers Four sang this song with a tenderness that complements the bittersweet tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Four strong winds that blow lonely,
There are powerful and constant winds that create a sense of isolation and sadness.
Seven seas that run high,
The vast oceans are unsettled and unpredictable, adding to the unstable nature of the situation.
All those things that don't change,
Despite all of the environmental and emotional changes, some things remain constant.
Come what may.
Regardless of the circumstances, the artist is committed to their choices.
But our good times are all gone,
The past is behind us and better days have come to an end.
And I'm bound for movin' on.
The singer is determined to move forward and make a change for the better.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
If the singer returns, they hope to reconnect with the person to whom they are speaking.
I think I'll go out to Alberta,
The artist is considering a move to a specific location for new opportunities.
The weather's good there in the fall.
The artist believes the climate will be more conducive to success in the autumn months.
I've got some friends that I can go to workin' for.
Their social network will help them find employment in the new location.
Still I wish you'd change your mind,
Despite their commitment to the move, the singer still wishes that the other person would reconsider their decision.
If I asked you one more time
The artist acknowledges that they have repeatedly asked the other person to stay or go with them.
But we've been through that a hundred times or more.
The two people have been through this argument many times with no resolution.
If I get there before the snow flies,
The singer hopes to arrive before winter, which would make the transition more difficult.
And if things are goin' good.
If everything goes according to plan, the singer hopes to make a successful new start.
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare,
If the other person changes their mind, they could join the artist by plane or train.
But by then it would be winter, nothin' much for you to do.
If the other person arrives too late, it will be too cold and challenging to start over.
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there.
The winds in the new location can make the situation even harsher and more difficult.
Four strong winds that blow lonely,
The refrain is repeated to emphasize the power and persistence of the winds and the feeling of loneliness they bring.
Seven seas that run high,
Again, the unpredictable and changing nature of the seas is highlighted as a symbol of the challenges that come with change.
All those things that don't change,
The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that some things remain the same despite all the changes that occur in life.
Come what may.
The artist remains committed to their choices, even though they recognize the difficulties involved.
But our good times are all gone,
The good times are in the past, and the singer is ready to move on to new experiences.
And I'm bound for moving on.
The artist is determined to make a new start in a new place.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way...
Despite the changes that are coming, the singer hopes to reconnect with the other person in the future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Alastair Topham
Such a great song and beautifully sung. This is definitely the best version of this beautiful song. The harmonies are great and the lead singer has such a beautiful voice.
JellyrollHorton
@Willem van Frankenhuysen Different time, different place.
Willem van Frankenhuysen
Oh no....Neil's version brings it to the next level !
John E
These guys always deliver with top-notch harmony.
Lynn Lobliner
While I'm listening to Dick Foley and this wonderful rendition, I look at the students in the audience and wonder what happened to them? They are just a couple of years older than I. How many boys ended up in Viet Nam and how many didn't make it home? How many were taken by drugs? How did the women with their degrees fare? How many are still with us (they are all in their mid to late 70s now). How did their lives pan out - as they dreamed or better or worse?
Gary Langenwalter
I was wondering the same thing. I could have been in that audience
ElledieWildAndFree
I love this song, that was a beautiful rendition
Pocatello Cowboy
These guys had to have the best version there was of this song.
rumble fish
i've heard over a dozen covers of this song, but i keep going back to brothers four.
patrick ryan
Ian Tyson could not only write them, but sang them oh so well.