1) The Browns were … Read Full Bio ↴There are three bands under the name The Browns.
1) The Browns were an American family singing group from Pine Bluff, Arkansas made up of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters, Maxine Brown and Bonnie Brown.
Country music singers, they sang individually at rural venues until 1954 when Maxine Brown, and younger brother Jim Ed, signed a record contract as a singing duo. Eighteen-year-old Bonnie joined the group in 1955, and the following year they were signed by Chet Atkins, RCA Victor Records producer in Nashville, Tennessee. The family trio recorded several songs that met with only modest success until 1959, when their 45 rpm folk single called "The Three Bells" was a no. 1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 pop music and country music charts. Based on a song called "Les trois cloches," the song was originally a hit in France for both the group Les Compagnons de la chanson and Édith Piaf.
The Browns followed up the success of "The Three Bells" with "Scarlet Ribbons" and "The Old Lamplighter," recordings that also did very well on both the pop and country music charts. With an international following, The Browns toured Europe extensively and recorded further moderate successes on the country music charts. In 1963, they became part of the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1965, Jim Ed Brown began working on a solo career, and in 1967 the trio formally disbanded. Jim Ed continued to record for RCA and had a number of country hits starting in 1965 while still with The Browns. In 1967, he released his first solo top 10 with "Pop A Top" which became his signature song. In 1970, he gained a crossover hit with "Morning" which went to number 4 on the country charts and number 47 on the pop charts. Other hits for Jim Ed included "Angel's Sunday"(1971), "Southern Loving"(1973), "Sometime Sunshine"(1974) and "It's That Time Of Night"(1974). In 1976, he released a string of major duet hits with Helen Cornelius starting with the #1 hit "I Don't Wanna Have To Marry You". Other hits for the duo included "Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye"(1977), "Born Believer"(1977), "I'll Never Be Free"(1978), "If The World Ran Out Of Love Tonight"(1978), "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"(1979), "Lying In Love With You"(1979), "Fools"(1979), "Morning Comes Too Early"(1980), and "Don't Bother To Knock"(1981).
Jim Ed has also hosted the syndicated country shows Jim Ed Brown's Country Place, and Nashville On The Road. On The Nashville Network he hosted the talent show You Can Be A Star, and the travel show Going Our Way which featured his wife, Becky, where they went traveling to different places in an RV.
Maxine Brown briefly had a solo career during the late 1960's releasing an album and single for Chart Records titled "Sugar Cane Country".
In 2006, the Browns reunited to perform "The Old Lamplighter" and "The Three Bells" for the PBS special, Country Pop Legends.
2) A horror-themed punk band. Formed in 1998, they played consistently for a year and a half around Western Canada, opening for The New Bomb Turks, Nashville Pussy, AFI, and Good Riddance. In the spring of 1998 the band self-released their first album "Getting Jiggy with The Browns". At this time, the line up was much different; Charlie - Guitar & Vocals, Emmett - Guitar, Leroy - Bass, Freddy - Drums and Lucy - Keyboards.
During the summer of 1998 Lucy and Emmet left the band, Freddy moved to Guitar and a new drummer named ODB began performing live shows, a new keyboard player was not sought out. Also around this time Charlie gave up his guitar duties and focused solely on lead vocals.
In 1999 Meter Records (Canada) released "Greatest Hits Volume One." Shortly after the release The Motherfucking Browns played what they said was their "final" show (summer of 1999) much to the dismay of both Meter Records and the Western Canadian music scene.
In 2000 Middle Man Records (USA) released a split 7" record with The Motherfucking Browns and John Q. Public. The Motherfucking Browns contributed a song from their 1999 album; "Lady, Stay Dead!" alongside a cover of "Bullet" a cover by the influential horror-rock band The Misfits.
2003 saw the release of Tony Hawk's Underground, video game for all major gaming platforms. Alongside bands like Kiss and Social Distortion, The Motherfucking Browns contributed a censored version of their song: "American Werewolf in Calgary". Tony Hawk's Underground went on to win several awards as a groundbreaking video game in 2003.
With the success of Tony Hawk's Underground a new website for the band was announced as well as a new myspace site. Both sites confirmed The Motherfucking Browns were performing with a new line-up: Charlie - Vocals, Eddie - Guitar, James - Bass, Joe - Drums.
2004 saw the release of "And Now the Screaming Starts!" on Meter Records (Canada). After much publicity, and several live shows in the Mid West USA, Horror High Records released their single "The Scream on Halloween" on their "Prom Queen Massacre" compilation, featuring other horror-rock bands such as Blitzkid and Calabrese.
After nearly three years of no activity Meter Records reported that The Motherfucking Browns have returned with the original line up that played on "Greatest Hits Volume One" (except ODB who had since passed away, and replaced by Chow Yun). In the fall of 2007 The Motherfucking Browns played a triumphant "comeback" show in their hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Performing alongside fellow horror rockers Forbidden Dimension. In an interview with Beatroute Magazine a new album for 2008 was announced.
The band is known for their abrasive stage shows, wearing Balaclava ski masks on stage, and songs primarily about horror movies. Charlie Brown is also a contributing writer for horror website www.killerfilm.com
"The best band in the fucking world, you fuckers!"
3) The Browns, a gospel-influenced band, exude excitement on the stage and offer a life-changing experience to all who hear them. The Browns deliver the powerful message of the gospel through word and song that engage audiences of all ages.
The Browns have been touring across the United States since the group began its full-time ministry nine years ago. The heralded group began on the local and state level and has expanded and grown into a national touring group.
This year The Browns received the prestigious honor of Top 10 Mixed Group of the Year for the second year in a row. The Browns will be attending the Singing News Magazine fan awards at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. “It started out with the Singing News magazine fans voting for the top ten,” Michaela said. “We had no idea we were up for this ward until we got an e-mail to tell us. We were up with some wonderful groups. This honor is very rewarding coming from the fans and knowing that we’ve touched their hearts or ministered to them in some way.” Previously The Browns had been awarded the Top Horizon Group of the Year for 3 consecutive years.
The group has finished their newest recording at the Sound Kitchen and Daywind Studios in Nashville, TN with Grammy award winning producer, Bubba Smith. ”A New Day” will be the Browns 10th national CD release. The newest single on the album has just climbed to #25 on the national radio charts. It is written by group member Jessica, and her fiance, Nick Trammell intitled “It’s A God Thing”.
In The Pines
The Browns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the sun never shines,
And you shiver when the cold winds blow.
Little girl, little girl,
What have I done to make you feel this way?
You caused me to weep, you caused me to moan,
You caused me to leave my home.
In the pines, in the pines,
Where the sun never shines,
And you shiver when the cold winds blow.
The longest train I ever saw, was on this railroad line.
The engine passed at 8 o'clock., the caboose went by at 9.
Oh me, oh my
What makes me weep so
In the pines, in the pines...
The Browns's song "In The Pines" is a haunting folk ballad that paints a picture of loss and heartbreak set against a desolate backdrop. The singer sings of being in the pines, where the sun never shines and cold winds blow. He addresses a little girl who has caused him to weep and moan, leading him to leave his home. The repeated refrain of "in the pines" reinforces the sense of being stuck in a bleak and oppressive place, both physically and emotionally.
It's interesting to note that the origins of this song are somewhat murky, with various versions and adaptations existing across different genres and time periods. The earliest known recording is from the 1920s, performed by blues musician Lead Belly. The song has been covered by numerous artists throughout the years, including Nirvana, who famously included a rendition of "In The Pines" on their MTV Unplugged album.
One of the most striking elements of the song is the reference to a train passing by, adding a sense of movement and urgency. The singer notes that it's the longest train he's ever seen, but the specific timing of the engine and caboose passing an hour apart adds an eerie note of ambiguity. Is the train a symbol of hope or escape, or simply a reminder of the unstoppable march of time and change?
Overall, "In The Pines" is a powerful and evocative song that taps into universal feelings of loss and longing. Its haunting melody and vivid imagery have ensured its enduring relevance across generations and genres.
Line by Line Meaning
In the pines, in the pines,
The singer is referring to a dark and lonely place that represents despair and sadness.
Where the sun never shines,
This line represents the darkness and gloominess that prevails in the pines, which symbolizes the singer's sadness.
And you shiver when the cold winds blow.
The singer associates the cold winds blowing in the pines with the feeling of fear and dread that leaves the person feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Little girl, little girl,
A direct appeal to a woman, who the artist is trying to talk to.
What have I done to make you feel this way?
The artist asks for an explanation, trying to understand what they did wrong to make the woman unhappy.
You caused me to weep, you caused me to moan,
The singer blames the woman for causing him pain and suffering.
You caused me to leave my home.
The woman's actions led the singer to leave his home, which demonstrates how important she was in his life.
The longest train I ever saw, was on this railroad line.
The artist is recalling a memory of a long train that they saw on a specific rail line, perhaps to symbolize the journey of life.
The engine passed at 8 o'clock., the caboose went by at 9.
The time reference creates a sense of order and sequence in the story, perhaps implying that time heals all wounds.
Oh me, oh my
An exclamation of deep sadness and despair, representing the artist's emotions.
What makes me weep so
The singer is questioning why they are so sad and what is causing their pain.
In the pines, in the pines...
The song comes full circle, repeating the first verse and emphasizing the theme of sadness and despair in the pines.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Dunn
The Three Browns. None better. I like this rendition.
Bill Brown
Love this song none better