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.
Memories
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Memories, memories, mem'ries
Of the one that I'd let go
Memories, memories, mem'ries
Of the one I still love so.
My arms can't hold a mem'ry there's nothing there to hold
My lips can't kiss a mem'ry it has no lips to kiss
And just how long will I go on with memories like this.
Memories, memories, mem'ries
Of the one that I'd let go
Memories, memories, mem'ries
Of the one I still love so.
--- Instrumental ---
Mem'ries of the one I still love so...
In this song, the Osborne Brothers are expressing the pain of letting go of someone they still love. The singer is haunted by memories of the person he let go, and he's struggling to move on without them. He describes how memories of the past can't physically comfort him in the present, and how he longs for the love he lost.
The opening lines of the song, "Memories, memories, mem'ries, Of the one that I'd let go," set the tone for the rest of the song. The repetition of "mem'ries" throughout the song emphasizes the weight and power of memories. The singer acknowledges that he has let go of the person, but he's still consumed by thoughts of them. The instrumental interlude drives the emotional intensity of the song, highlighting the sadness and loneliness the singer is experiencing.
Overall, "Memories" is a poignant reminder of the complexities of love and loss. The Osborne Brothers perfectly capture the pain and longing of losing someone you still love.
Line by Line Meaning
Memories, memories, mem'ries
Remembering the past that can never be brought back.
Of the one that I'd let go
Thinking about a person who was once let go, but still remembered fondly.
Memories, memories, mem'ries
Repeating the memories over and over to keep them fresh in memory.
Of the one I still love so.
Even though the person was let go, they are still deeply loved even through memories.
My arms can't hold a mem'ry there's nothing there to hold
The physical world can't hold onto memories, like how one's arms can't embrace memories.
And thoughts of you can't warm me when the nights are dark and cold
Thoughts of the one lost can't offer emotional support during dark times.
My lips can't kiss a mem'ry it has no lips to kiss
Memories can't be physically acted upon like how lips can't kiss a memory.
And just how long will I go on with memories like this.
Wondering how much longer the memories will cause emotional pain and if they'll ever go away.
Mem'ries of the one I still love so...
Continuing to dwell on memories of the person that was once loved.
Writer(s): Shuki Levy, Haim Saban, Erika Lane
Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.