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.
My Favorite Memory
The Osborne Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mixes their liquor with Crystal Light
With a couple of friends they called out of the blue
And not everybody spends what they made that week
On a tank of gas and a little bit of weed
But all my favorite people do
I don't know about them, but I know about us
Not everybody gets what we're going through
But all my favorite people do
Yeah, all my favorite people do
Come on, TJ
Not everybody's gonna find clarity
In a back porch sittin' kind of therapy
With a little bit of wine, John Prine, and Camel Blues, oh no
Not everybody leaves well enough alone
Stays out of business that ain't their own
But all my favorite people do
Well, I don't know about them, but I know about us
It is what it is and we love who we love
Not everybody gets what we're going through
But all my favorite people do
Yeah, all my favorite people do
All my favorite people, all my favorite people
All my favorite people, yeah, they do
Yeah, we ain't all perfect, but we're doing alright
Everybody's worried 'bout tryna get by
But all my favorite people do
Well, I don't know about them, but I know about us
It is what it is and we love who we love
Not everybody gets what we're going through
But all my favorite people do
Yeah, all my favorite people do
The lyrics of "My Favorite Memory" by The Osborne Brothers describe a group of friends who are not bound by societal norms or expectations. The singer acknowledges that not everyone spends their Tuesday night drinking Crystal Light mixed with liquor or buying gas and weed with their weekly earnings, but these are the things that his favorite people do. He also notes that not everyone likes back porch therapy with wine and John Prine music, or avoids unnecessary drama, but once again, these are the characteristics he loves in his favorite people.
The song celebrates the idea of being true to oneself and finding comfort in one's own unique quirks and imperfections. The singer feels that while he and his friends may not fit in with everyone else, they understand and appreciate each other's choices and way of life. The chorus emphasizes this sentiment, stating that while not everybody may understand them, all his favorite people do.
Overall, the song is about finding joy and kinship in the people who share your values and interests, even if those interests may not be mainstream.
Line by Line Meaning
Not everybody drinks on a Tuesday night
Not everyone takes risks or indulges in spontaneous fun on a weekday night.
Mixes their liquor with Crystal Light
Some people do not like to mix their drinks or try new things, unlike the singer's friends.
With a couple of friends they called out of the blue
The singer's friends are likely adventurous and enjoy spur-of-the-moment hangouts.
And not everybody spends what they made that week
Some people prefer to save their money or invest it in the future, unlike the artist's friends.
On a tank of gas and a little bit of weed
The artist's friends prioritize fun experiences in the present over saving for the future, as reflected in their spending habits.
But all my favorite people do
The singer strongly favors people who are adventurous, spontaneous, and prioritize experiences over material possessions.
I don't know about them, but I know about us
The singer acknowledges that not everyone likes to live the way they do, but they are confident in their choices and mindset.
It is what it is and we love who we love
The artist is accepting of their lifestyle and their unique relationships, even if others may not understand it or approve of it.
Not everybody gets what we're going through
The artist recognizes that their lifestyle may not be understood or appreciated by everyone, which can create feelings of isolation.
Come on, TJ
The artist is directing their message to a friend named TJ or calling TJ to join in the fun.
Not everybody's gonna find clarity
Some people may not be able to find inner peace or happiness in the same way that the singer has.
In a back porch sittin' kind of therapy
The artist finds peace and contentment in simple, relaxing activities like sitting on the back porch and enjoying downtime with loved ones.
With a little bit of wine, John Prine, and Camel Blues, oh no
The singer enjoys light drinking and listening to music on their back porch, and prefers Camel cigarettes over other brands.
Not everybody leaves well enough alone
Some people may interfere in other people's affairs or try to control situations that don't concern them.
Stays out of business that ain't their own
The singer and their friends respect other people's privacy and do not interfere in matters that do not concern them.
All my favorite people, all my favorite people
The artist repeats this phrase to emphasize the importance of their friends and the connection they share.
Yeah, we ain't all perfect, but we're doing alright
The artist acknowledges that their friends and themselves are not perfect, but they are happy and content with their lives.
Everybody's worried 'bout tryna get by
Many people prioritize financial stability and security, while the singer's friends focus on experiences and fun.
But all my favorite people do
The singer emphasizes the connection and shared values of their group of adventurous, fun-loving friends.
Well, I don't know about them, but I know about us
The artist recognizes that not everyone lives like they do, but they are content with their own way of living and the people who share their values.
It is what it is and we love who we love
The artist accepts their lifestyle and the people who matter to them, even if it is unconventional or misunderstood by others.
Not everybody gets what we're going through
The artist acknowledges that others may not understand their lifestyle or relationships, but they accept it and continue to enjoy it.
But all my favorite people do
The singer repeats this line to emphasize the importance of like-minded friends who share their values and way of life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Maren Larae Morris, Mikey Reaves, Ryan James Hurd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind