There are three bands under the name The Browns.

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”.

The Outskirts Of Town
The Browns Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Past the fields of his dreams all the cars drove
Ninety to nothin' towards town
He'd wave and he'd watch and he'd wonder
Then the dust would all settle back down
Well ain't nothin' out there but an old drive in screen
Where Elizabeth Taylor was queen
And like the rest she quit comin' around
To the outskirts of town

They say there's so much out there for you
Maybe he never will know
The buses they load up the dreamers
But leavin' was to far to go
Washed in the blood and surrounded
By the land and the love he had known
Now he'll plant his dreams in the ground
On the outskirts of town

[Chorus]
On the outskirts of town he's livin' a dream
Where they weather their storms
Praying down on the their knees
And they hold to each other 'cause they know what they found
On the outskirts of town

He looks past the fields at the sun rise
Watchin' the stars as they fade
He sits on the hood of his pick-up
Thinkin' that he's got it made
Because the prettiest girl that he's ever seen
Lives up the road just a piece
And they're talkin' about settling down
On the outskirts of town

[Chorus]

On the outskirts of town
On the outskirts of town

Overall Meaning

"The Outskirts Of Town" by The Browns is a song that paints a picture of a small-town individual who has chosen to live away from the hustle and bustle of the city, on the outskirts of town. The singer observes the cars driving towards the town, full of excitement and anticipation, while he remains on the outskirts. He nostalgically remembers a time when the drive-in theater was a popular spot, but now it is abandoned. Even Elizabeth Taylor, once a queen of the screen, no longer frequents the place. The song suggests that there is not much happening on the outskirts of town, as most people prefer to be in the heart of the city.

Despite the lack of opportunities and excitement, the singer is content with his life on the outskirts. He has chosen a simple existence, surrounded by familiar landscapes and the love of the land. The song highlights the beauty of finding solace in the simplicity of life and the comfort of having someone by your side. The singer has found love with a woman who is also looking to settle down on the outskirts of town.

The song captures the dichotomy between the allure of the city, with its promises of success and adventure, and the peacefulness and contentment of a quieter life on the outskirts. It celebrates embracing a simpler life and finding joy in the ordinary.

Line by Line Meaning

Past the fields of his dreams all the cars drove
As he gazes at the fields where he once had dreams, he sees the cars rushing past, symbolizing the fast-paced life he left behind.

Ninety to nothin' towards town
The cars are speeding towards town with no regard for anything else, representing the hustle and bustle of city life.

He'd wave and he'd watch and he'd wonder
He would wave at the passing cars, observing their journey and wondering what lies ahead for them, perhaps questioning his own choices.

Then the dust would all settle back down
After the cars pass, the dust stirred up by their speed would eventually settle, symbolizing the transient nature of the city and its distractions.

Well ain't nothin' out there but an old drive in screen
There is nothing of real substance or permanence out there beyond the fields, only an old drive-in movie screen that represents fleeting entertainment and superficiality.

Where Elizabeth Taylor was queen
The drive-in screen may have once showcased movies starring Elizabeth Taylor, a renowned actress who held a position of admiration and royalty in the entertainment world.

And like the rest she quit comin' around
Just like Elizabeth Taylor and others, the drive-in screen lost its appeal and popularity, further emphasizing the transitory nature of fame and glamour.

To the outskirts of town
The drive-in screen, being outside the city limits, represents a place on the edges, distant from the central hub of activity and significance.

They say there's so much out there for you
People often claim that there are numerous opportunities and possibilities waiting in the world beyond, tempting him to consider what he might be missing.

Maybe he never will know
However, he may never truly understand or experience those supposed opportunities, as he has chosen a different path away from the allure of the city.

The buses they load up the dreamers
Buses are used as a metaphor for transporting those who are ambitious and have high hopes, seeking their dreams in the city.

But leavin' was too far to go
However, for him, leaving the outskirts and venturing further into the city was a journey that felt too distant and overwhelming.

Washed in the blood and surrounded
He finds solace and comfort in his faith, feeling cleansed and protected by the spiritual connection he has cultivated.

By the land and the love he had known
The familiar land and the love of his community provide him with a sense of belonging and fulfillment, making him content with his choice to stay.

Now he'll plant his dreams in the ground
Rather than chasing after elusive dreams in the city, he has decided to invest his dreams and aspirations into his own roots, his land, and his close-knit community.

On the outskirts of town
He has found his place of belonging, contentment, and fulfillment on the outskirts of town, away from the distractions of the city.

On the outskirts of town he's livin' a dream
Living on the outskirts of town, he feels like he is living a dream because he has found happiness and fulfillment in his chosen path, despite what others may think.

Where they weather their storms
In their tight-knit community, they support and help each other through difficult times, metaphorically weathering storms together.

Praying down on their knees
They seek strength and guidance through prayer, humbling themselves and relying on their faith to navigate life's challenges.

And they hold to each other 'cause they know what they found
They hold onto one another tightly because they understand the value and significance of the connections and relationships they have formed, contributing to their sense of fulfillment and contentment.

He looks past the fields at the sunrise
As he gazes at the sunrise beyond the fields, he acknowledges the beauty of each new day and appreciates the simplicity and tranquility of his surroundings.

Watchin' the stars as they fade
He spends his nights observing the stars as they disappear, symbolizing the passing of time and the fleeting nature of moments, reminding him of the importance of cherishing the present.

He sits on the hood of his pick-up
He finds peace and contentment sitting on the hood of his pick-up truck, taking a moment to reflect and appreciate the blessings of his life.

Thinkin' that he's got it made
In that moment, he believes that he has achieved happiness and success, feeling grateful for the life he has chosen and the love he has found.

Because the prettiest girl that he's ever seen
The most beautiful girl he has ever encountered, both inwardly and outwardly, has captured his heart and fills his life with joy and love.

Lives up the road just a piece
Coincidentally, this special girl he holds dear lives nearby, making their connection even stronger and enhancing his sense of belonging and contentment.

And they're talkin' about settling down
He and this girl are discussing the idea of building a future together, finding stability and commitment, and creating a lasting love on the outskirts of town.

On the outskirts of town
Their plans for settling down and building a life together will take place in the tranquil and fulfilling environment they both cherish on the outskirts of town.

On the outskirts of town
Repeated once again, emphasizing the significance and importance of the outskirts as the backdrop of their content, happy, and fulfilling life together.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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