The first known public appearance of the Osborne Brothers was in 1951. They joined the cast at WCYB Bristol, Virginia, to perform on a program called "Farm and Fun Time", along with other Bluegrass bands, such as, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Carl Story and his Rambling Mountainers. Other members of "Farm and Fun Time" included, Jim & Jesse, Little Robert Van Winkle, Curly King and the Tennessee Hilltoppers, and country recording artist Red Kirk. The live program aired five days a week, Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on WCYB Radio, and covered five states.
Upon their breakout into the bluegrass scene, the Osborne Brothers quickly became noted for their virtuosic instrumentation and tight, melodic vocal harmonies. Their first country chart appearance was "Once More", a 1958 trio with Red Allen, with a then-novel inverted stacked harmony: Bobby singing the lead line highest, then Sonny singing baritone, and finally the third singer (in this case Red Allen) singing the tenor as the lowest part. This placed Bobby's distinctive voice as the lead, and made the third voice a somewhat interchangeable part. As a result, the brothers could hire a series of guitarist/singers without changing their overall sound. This "high lead" vocal trio became their signature sound, used to great effect in the country market, with songs like "Blame Me", "Sweethearts Again", and a remake of the Carter Family's "Fair and Tender Ladies".
During their breakout period of the mid 1950s, Sonny's banjo and Bobby's mandolin styles became distinctive and easily-identifiable with their overall sound. The band was inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on August 8, 1964.
The Osborne Brothers have the distinction of having recorded two songs that would go on to be officially voted as "state songs." The first, "Rocky Top," was named a Tennessee state song in 1982. The other, "Kentucky," was named a state song for the brothers' home state of Kentucky.
In 1994, The Osborne Brothers were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor. The induction is considered bluegrass music's highest honor.
Each Season Changes You
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the weather your heart changes with each season
Springtime summer fall and winter too
Though I know I'll never understand the reason
I still wonder why each season changes you.
It was springtime when I found you like the flowers
And our love grew warmer with the summer sun
In the fall I could see our love was changing
Like the weather your heart changes with each season
Though I know I'll never understand the reason
I still wonder why each season changes you.
--- Instrumental ---
Came the spring again you said that you were sorry
And the summer brought a golden memory
In the fall again I saw your love was changing
And the winter brought the same old misery.
Like the weather your heart changes with each season
Springtime summer fall and winter too
Though I know I'll never understand the reason
I still wonder why each season changes you...
The Osborne Brothers's song Each Season Changes You is a poignant reflection on the shifting nature of love and relationships that mirrors the changing of the seasons. The first stanza sets the tone by comparing the fluctuations of the heart to the weather patterns of the Earth's cycle. The singer is perplexed by the fact that their lover undergoes a transformation with each passing season, despite the fact that they cannot comprehend why.
The second stanza then launches into a narrative that traces the various phases of the relationship. It begins with the "springtime" of blossoming love, as the singer finds their partner like "the flowers" and their romance warms with the "summer sun." However, as the seasons turn, cracks in the relationship start to show. By "fall," the singer realizes that their partner's love is changing, and by "wintertime" their heart has turned completely.
Ultimately, the song speaks to the fragile and ever-changing nature of love, and the way that relationships can be subject to unpredictable shifts and fluctuations. The use of seasonal metaphors adds a layer of symbolism to these themes, conveying the idea that even the rhythms of nature are not immune to variability and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the weather your heart changes with each season
Just like the weather changes with every season, your emotions and feelings also fluctuate accordingly
Springtime summer fall and winter too
From spring to winter, every season has its unique influence on you
Though I know I'll never understand the reason
While I realize that I may not be able to fathom the cause behind this change, I still feel curious about it
I still wonder why each season changes you.
I cannot help but ponder over why each season affects you differently
It was springtime when I found you like the flowers
I discovered you in the spring season, and it was as enchanting as finding a beautiful bloom
And our love grew warmer with the summer sun
Our affection and fondness for each other intensified and blossomed as the summer approached
In the fall I could see our love was changing
As the fall arrived, I noticed that our relationship was transforming
It broke my heart to see what wintertime had done.
The winter season had adverse effects on our love, and it was heartbreaking to witness it
Came the spring again you said that you were sorry
When the spring came back, you apologized for your actions and words in the past
And the summer brought a golden memory
The summertime created a beautiful and cherished memory for us
In the fall again I saw your love was changing
Once more, in the fall season, I realized that your love had altered
And the winter brought the same old misery.
The winter season brought back the same feelings of distress and gloom
Writer(s): ALBERT GOREE, RUTH TALLEY
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.