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.
Love Hurts
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And mars, any heart
Not tough or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud
Holds a lot of rain
Love hurts, ooh,ooh love hurts
I know a thing or two
And I learned from you
I really learned a lot, really learned a lot
Love is like a flame
It burns you when it's hot
Love hurts, ooh,ooh love hurts
Some fools think of happiness
Blissfulness, togetherness
Some fools fool themselves I guess
They're not foolin' me
I know it isn't true, I know it isn't true (repeat)
Love is just a lie
Made to make you blue
Love hurts, ooh, ooh love hurts
Ooh,ooh love hurts
The Osborne Brothers's song Love Hurts is a poignant portrayal of the pains that come with love. The chorus sets the tone, describing love as something that inflicts scars and wounds on the heart of anyone who is not tough or strong enough to withstand the pain. Love is likened to a cloud that holds a lot of rain, which can be interpreted as all the emotions love can bring, including the torrential downpours of tears shed in heartbreak. The second verse is particularly interesting as the singer admits their youthfulness yet acknowledges that they have learned a lot about love from the person they address in the song. The metaphor of love being like a flame is used, and when it is hot, it burns. This is a clear warning about the intensity of passion that could lead to heartbreak.
The bridge of the song is particularly significant as the singer makes reference to those who think of love as happiness and togetherness. Still, these emotions are revealed to be nothing more than a mirage, an illusion, a lie. The final chorus reiterates that idea that love is just a lie that is made to make people blue.
Line by Line Meaning
Love hurts, love scars, love wounds
The experience of love can be painful and leave lasting emotional marks and injuries.
And mars, any heart
No one is immune to the negative effects of love.
Not tough or strong enough
Many people are unable to handle the intensity of emotional pain that love can cause.
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Enduring love's pain requires a significant amount of mental and emotional resilience.
Love is like a cloud
Love is an abstract concept that is difficult to quantify, understand or grasp.
Holds a lot of rain
There can be a lot of sorrow, tears and sadness in love.
Love hurts, ooh,ooh love hurts
Love can be extremely painful, as it has the power to cause physical and emotional agony.
I'm young, I know, but even so
Despite being young and inexperienced, I have learned enough about love to understand its true nature.
I know a thing or two
I have gained some valuable knowledge and experience about love from my previous relationships.
And I learned from you
I have learned from my personal experience and from observing others in love.
I really learned a lot, really learned a lot
The lessons I learned about love were significant and have impacted me greatly.
Love is like a flame
Love is an intense, burning desire that can consume a person's thoughts and emotions.
It burns you when it's hot
The intensity of love can be overwhelming and cause emotional and physical harm.
Some fools think of happiness
Many people associate love with feelings of happiness, bliss and contentment.
Blissfulness, togetherness
The idea of being in love includes feelings of joy, connectedness and unity.
Some fools fool themselves I guess
Many people deceive themselves into thinking that love will bring them happiness and fulfillment.
They're not foolin' me
I am not quickly deceived or swayed by others' views on love, as I have gained enough personal experience to form my own opinions.
I know it isn't true, I know it isn't true (repeat)
I understand that the picture-perfect image of love is often an illusion and does not reflect the reality of most relationships.
Love is just a lie
The idealized outlook on love is unrealistic and misleading.
Made to make you blue
The pain caused by love can leave you feeling sad, depressed and under a dark cloud.
Love hurts, ooh, ooh love hurts
The emotions involved in love and its ending can be very difficult to handle and lead to intense suffering.
Lyrics © HOUSE OF BRYANT PUBLICATIONS, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind