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.
Midnight Flyer
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Engineer won′t you let your whistle moan
Oh midnight flyer
I've paid my dues and I feel like travelin′ on.
A runaway team of wild horses
Ain't enough to make me stay
So throw your rope on another woman
Make him into someone
To take the place of me
Make him every kind of fool
You wanted me to be.
Oh, midnight flyer
Engineer won't you let your whistle moan
Oh midnight flyer
I′ve paid my dues and I feel like travelin′ on.
Maybe I'll stop in Santa Fe
Maybe San Antone
Any town is where I′m bound
Anyway to get me gone.
Don't think about me
Never let me cross your mind
′Cept when you hear that
Midnight lonesome whistle whine.
Oh, midnight flyer
Engineer won't you let your whistle moan
Oh midnight flyer
I′ve paid my dues and I feel like travelin' on.
Travelin' on...
The Osborne Brothers' song "Midnight Flyer" is a classic bluegrass tune that tells the story of a man who has become disillusioned with his current situation and is ready to move on. The singer of the song is addressing the train engineer, asking him to let his whistle moan, so that he can leave his past behind and start a new chapter in his life. He has paid his dues and is ready to travel on.
The second verse of the song references a failed relationship, with the singer stating that a runaway team of wild horses wouldn't be enough to make him stay. He advises his former partner to find another man to take his place, one who is willing to be every kind of fool that she wanted him to be. Throughout the song, the singer is clear that he is ready to move on and forget about his past, regardless of where his travels take him.
Overall, "Midnight Flyer" is a poignant and relatable song that speaks to the human desire for transformation and new beginnings. The train serves as a powerful metaphor for the journey of life, with the singer ready to board and leave his past behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, midnight flyer
The singer is addressing the train known as the midnight flyer which he plans to board to take him away from his current situation.
Engineer won't you let your whistle moan
The singer is requesting the train engineer to activate the train whistle and let it moan as a signal that the train is ready to depart.
I've paid my dues and I feel like travelin' on.
The singer has had enough of his current situation and he feels like it is time to move on to something new and exciting.
A runaway team of wild horses
The singer is saying that he is determined to leave his current situation and nothing can hold him back, not even a runaway team of wild horses.
Ain't enough to make me stay
The singer is saying that no matter what happens, he is not going to stay in his current place any longer.
So throw your rope on another woman
The singer is telling someone to find someone else to control and manipulate the way they did to him.
And pull him down your way.
The singer is saying that the person should find someone else to manipulate and control instead of him, and try to make that person follow the same path as he did.
Make him into someone
The singer is saying that the person should try to make the new person they are manipulating into someone else entirely.
To take the place of me
The singer is saying that the person should try to replace him with someone else who can be controlled and manipulated just like he was.
Make him every kind of fool
The singer is saying that the person should try to make the new person they are manipulating into a fool, just like they did to him.
You wanted me to be.
The singer is saying that the person should create the new person they are controlling to be exactly like the singer was, the way they wanted him to be.
Maybe I'll stop in Santa Fe
The singer is saying that he might make a stop in Santa Fe on his journey, as he is free to go wherever he wants now.
Maybe San Antone
The singer is saying that he might also make a stop in San Antonio on his journey, as he is free to go wherever he wishes now.
Any town is where I'm bound
The singer is saying that he is not tied to any particular place and is free to go wherever he wants.
Anyway to get me gone.
The singer is saying that he is determined to leave his current situation and will take any means necessary to accomplish it.
Don't think about me
The singer is asking others to forget about him and move on, as he is moving on too.
Never let me cross your mind
The singer is asking others to never think about him again, as he is not going to think about them anymore either.
'Cept when you hear that
The only time the singer wants others to think about him is when they hear the sound of the midnight lonesome whistle on the train he is riding.
Midnight lonesome whistle whine.
The singer is referring to the sound of the whistle on the train as it leaves, reminding everyone of his departure and his journey to a new life.
Travelin' on...
The singer is making a final statement that he is indeed moving on, and no one can stop him from taking this journey to a new place and a better future.
Writer(s): Craft Paul Charles
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pttibg
The love between those two brothers is palpable. & the music...the singing...the picking...ahhhhh...may be their best. Love Paul Brewster, too.
@CyanBlackflower
THIS HERE !! - IS what I am TALKING about. - Osborne Bro.
@kishintuchis7076
UNBEATABLE HARMONIES , AND BOBBY HAD THAT CLEAR , PURE TENOR ALSO UNMATCHED . ONE OF THE BEST BLUEGRASS BANDS OF ALL TIME
@gospelbluegrassblog
Beats the Eagles to death, but you can't beat this lineup of the Osbornes -- Blaine Sprouse, Paul Brewster, and JD Brock are still some of the best in the business. Thanks so much for posting these clips. They're some of my favorites.
@hunterlewey9854
Sorry it doesn't beat the eagles at all
@williammclaughlin2946
@@hunterlewey9854 the eagles fuckin trashed this song lol so cope😂😂😂
@larryn2682
The Eagles (including late Randy Meisner) did it great! They also rocked out at end.
@TruegrassBoy
Great tune. Sonny and Bobby at their collective best. I am proud of Kentucky and am sitting up here on Rocky Top enjoying the view!
@banjerstring1304
Such great entertainment..sure is a standard to uphold for others coming up through the ranks of bluegrass genre.
@sfsloper
Pretty cool, I got to hear 85 year old Bobby Osborne sing this with Alison Brown and the Compass Bluegrass Allstars, yesterday at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Sweet!