Chalk it up to the warm weather and cheap drugs or blame it on Buffalo Spri… Read Full Bio ↴Chalk it up to the warm weather and cheap drugs or blame it on Buffalo Springfield, but L.A. grinds out its share of guitar-toting folkies. Recalling L.A.'s early folk days, former Colour guitarist and songwriter Luke MacMaster's Romany Rye has picked up what his Laurel canyon counterparts left behind and wandered down a dusty new path. This album is an eight-chapter narrative of despair, love and everything in between, and it's as compelling as old time religion. From the very first track, "Brother",- a cautionary tale of deceit-I almost guarantee you'll find yourself humming along as an organ slowly bleeds into MacMaster's vocals. "Dear Holly" effuses even more Southern charm, treating us to country twang and perhaps even a washboard. MacMaster's deep-hearted poetry can mesmerize you after a few lines, as with the closing track, "Untitled (Love Song)," The song plays like a high-school ballad, reminding everyone about that one (or in some cases, two) who got away. I picture Highway 1, Looking Back Carefully rattling some dilapidated jukebox while some poor souls peer into their drinks and ponder what their lives have become. Hell, I think I need a drink now.

Brother
The Romany Rye Lyrics

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Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me
Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me

If time, is in motion
I'll be, high as the tide
With no peace, to speak of being satisfied

If love, is a language,
I will cut out my tongue
No use for singin' the songs already been sung

If Spring has the answer,
Lonely women,
You'll be on my mind

Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me
Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me

The faith, of a sea
Could move a mountain indeed
Brother I'm a fool, can't you see

Peace, like a river both deep and wide
Stand on the banks and watch her pass me by
If love has an answer, then momma you'll be on my mind

Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me
Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me

Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me
Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me

Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me

Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
Sister there's just no fool in me

Overall Meaning

The Romany Rye's song "Brother" is a meditative expression of self-awareness and reflection. The lyrics follow the singer as he grapples with his own conflicting emotions and experiences. The repetition of the opening lines, "Brother I'm a fool, can't you see / Sister there's just no fool in me," sets the tone for a discussion of identity and self-perception.

The singer then contemplates time and love. He expresses a sense of restlessness and a lack of satisfaction, suggesting that he may be seeking something unattainable. The line, "If love is a language, I will cut out my tongue," suggests that the singer has been hurt or disillusioned in matters of love. Meanwhile, the line "If Spring has the answer, lonely women, you'll be on my mind" further emphasizes the singer's sense of longing and ambiguity.

The final lines of the song are ambiguous but carry a sense of resolution. The singer reflects on faith and peace, suggesting that he finds solace in these concepts. The repetition of the opening lines once again reinforces the idea of self-awareness and self-assessment. Overall, "Brother" is a poetic and introspective piece that aims to express the complexities of human emotion.

Line by Line Meaning

Brother I'm a fool, can't you see
I may be foolish, and I cannot hide it from you.

Sister there's just no fool in me
I am not foolish, and I want to let my sister know.

If time, is in motion
Since time is always moving forward,

I'll be, high as the tide
I will be as high as the tide when it comes in,

With no peace, to speak of being satisfied
I will not be able to find any peace or satisfaction,

If love, is a language,
If love is like a language that we speak,

I will cut out my tongue
I would rather lose my voice than speak insincerely about love.

No use for singin' the songs already been sung
There is no point in singing about a love that has already been sung about many times before.

If Spring has the answer,
If there is an answer to be found in the season of Spring,

Lonely women,
I will think of women who are struggling with feelings of loneliness,

You'll be on my mind
I will keep these women in my thoughts and prayers.

The faith, of a sea
The strength and determination of the ocean,

Could move a mountain indeed
Is powerful enough to move even the largest of mountains.

Peace, like a river both deep and wide
Peace can be as deep and wide as a river,

Stand on the banks and watch her pass me by
But it can also seem to slip away from us just as easily.

If love has an answer, then momma you'll be on my mind
If there is an answer to be found in love, I will think of my mother who has always loved and supported me.

Contributed by Isaac N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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