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Greg Brown — Spring Wind
Album: Dream Cafe
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1237









Released: 1992
Length: 4:20
Plays (last 30 days): 1
I lived awhile without you,
Darn near half my life.
I no longer see our unborn children,
Born to you my unwed wife.
But yesterday I had a vision,
Beneath the tree where we once talked,
Of an old couple burning
Their love letters so their children
Won't be shocked.

Love calls like the wild birds-
It's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
Things to do...away.

My friends are gettin older,
So I guess I must be too.
Without their loving kindness,
I don't know what I'd do.
Oh the wine bottle's half empty-
The money's all spent.
And we're a cross between our parents
And hippies in a tent.

Love calls like the wild birds-
It's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
Things to do...away.

In a mucked up lovely river,
I cast my little fly.
I look at that river and smell it
And it makes me wanna cry.
Oh to clean our dirty planet,
Now there's a noble wish,
And I'm puttin my shoulder to the wheel
'cause I wanna catch some fish.

Love calls like the wild birds-
It's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
Things to do...away.

Children go to sleep now-
You know it's gettin' late.
I know you don't like to miss nothin'
And school ain't that great.
Oh, I'll dance with you when you're happy,
And hold you when you're sad,
And hope you know how glad I am,
Just to be your Dad.

Love calls like the wild birds-
It's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
Things to do...away.

Darlin' it's been a hard go
But I think we'll be okay.
I know I say that all the time
Like everything else I say.
Oh, I've been gone so often,
But every time I miss you,
And I don't really know nothin',
Except I like to kiss you.

Love calls like the wild birds-
It's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
Things to do...away.
Comments (55)add comment
"My friends are gettin older so I guess I must be too" How perceptive and profound and true.
Once had a girlfriend who had a thing for Greg Brown. I didn’t get it way back then, but I always stop for a listen now.
impeccable phrasing
Love love Greg Brown! Long live RP!
His voice is perfect
As is this song.
lovely lyrical gem right here...
Peace, joy, and love. I see what you're doing here, my Mr Brown!

Oh, I'll dance with you when you're happy,
And hold you when you're sad,
And hope you know how glad I am,
Just to be your Dad.
I've heard Greg a few times, but just now I reeeaally listened and followed the lyrics....I think I need to get this CD! His is a singular voice and sound, but some notes resonate with memories of  early Cat Stevens; "Tea For The Tillerman".  Thanks Bill & Rebecca, for the best dang radio station in this or any other universe......
 bap728 wrote:


So the table-saw is running up until Greg comes on?


"What? WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU WITH THIS TABLE SAW MAKING SO MUCH NOISE!"
 hayduke2 wrote:

oh dammit, I have to turn everything off, the lights, the table-saw, just anything that makes a sound while this man's voice is telling his song-story, dam dam dam I also know where he's leading me, each line seems so born of reality and actual sincere feeling
so good for me, to cry and smile
never get anything done while Greg Brown is going on, oh well, good song in the middle of a work day      Thanks



So the table-saw is running up until Greg comes on?
Fine songwriting and nicely presented. 
Stirring lyrics. A simple song from a father to a daughter? To his children who were never born; to those he never knew? A universal understanding of private pain?

Just a gem of a song about decisions made, and the hope that we won't need forgiveness in the end.
Always blows my list of things to do away!  See y'all @ the Dream Cafe, eh?  
he's the personification of wit & wisdom
 hayduke2 wrote:

oh dammit, I have to turn everything off, the lights, the table-saw, just anything that makes a sound while this man's voice is telling his song-story, dam dam dam I also know where he's leading me, each line seems so born of reality and actual sincere feeling
so good for me, to cry and smile
never get anything done while Greg Brown is going on, oh well, good song in the middle of a work day      Thanks



Play more Greg Brown then :)
This  is lovely.
I know this artist only for Radio Paradise and i love it, voice, lyrics, it's excellent!
Glorious honey voice, emotive with classic beauty! An easy 10/10, simply because there is no 11/10.
This song is poignant and so true; as we sift through our old letters and writing and photos; imagine seeing them through the eyes and hearts of our children or whomever takes care of the ephemera  we leave behind that hints at our younger selves...we know it only captured a hint of our lovely time on our lovely planet. . 
the real deal
Ah gosh yes, after hearing Dylan's voice, this is a real honey toast.
His v{#Wink}ice - nothing like it.
me fro up now.  one click higher than Cats in the Cradle.  
oh dammit, I have to turn everything off, the lights, the table-saw, just anything that makes a sound while this man's voice is telling his song-story, dam dam dam I also know where he's leading me, each line seems so born of reality and actual sincere feeling
so good for me, to cry and smile
never get anything done while Greg Brown is going on, oh well, good song in the middle of a work day      Thanks
 Highlowsel wrote:
Hmmm.....

"Children go to sleep now-
You know it's gettin' late.
I know you don't like to miss nothin'
And school ain't that great.
Oh, I'll dance with you when you're happy,
And hold you when you're sad,
And hope you know how glad I am,
Just to be you're Dad."

Aw now doesn't that go and make you want to sniffle just a little?  I've always liked Sir Greg of the Brown tribe's ability to turn some words into a world of meaning.  I like it.  {#Cheers}

Highlow
American Net'Zen

 
I am 100% in agreement with you, Highlow!  Mr. Brown is somewhat new to my ears, and over the last several months I've gotten to a point where I really enjoying hearing him sing.  Dream Café is the song I enjoyed first...there's something in the quality of his intonation and phrasing that evokes sadness and longing yet seems to stay somewhat upbeat.  It reminds me of how Cat sings "Wild World" or Jim Croce's "Operator."  Thanks to BillG again (and again and again...and again....) for providing us this station...and for living in Paradise CA and not Boring OR.  LONG LIVE RP!!
This album is entitled: Dream Cafe....not to be confused with "The Sanctuary", which really is a dream cafe in Iowa City, Iowa and Greg has played there.

Life's a funny thing.   
Hmmm.....

"Children go to sleep now-
You know it's gettin' late.
I know you don't like to miss nothin'
And school ain't that great.
Oh, I'll dance with you when you're happy,
And hold you when you're sad,
And hope you know how glad I am,
Just to be you're Dad."

Aw now doesn't that go and make you want to sniffle just a little?  I've always liked Sir Greg of the Brown tribe's ability to turn some words into a world of meaning.  I like it.  {#Cheers}

Highlow
American Net'Zen

If you really want a sense of how great a poet Greg Brown is, check out his album "The Live One". In concert most of his songs are preceded by a story and it really adds depth to his performances.

Also, there's a great cover of this song that's part of a medley by Jack Johnson that is super fun : ) —> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkCpXIxZZn8

The studio version is here —> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7qil1H4G7E


How many times have I said this?
How have I never heard this before? Thanks RP.

I love that line "spring wind blew my list of things to do away..." 
I'm getting a bit of a Phil Ochs vibe.
this man has a strong beautiful voice  : )     most excellent
absolute 10.  among his very best.
The man living in the boot heel of SE Iowa! And watch out for his musician daughter, Petra Brown...she a rock n roller.  
A nice early-spring set list so far in celebration of P. Phil's "scientific" observation this February day {#Daisy}
Damn Bill- You keep this up and I'm gonna get all weepy! Beautiful and heavy set list. Your the man.
 
 bpkengor wrote:
almost 8 years between plays.   impressive!

 
If only the same could happen for the Cure... {#Notworthy}
Bring on more GB!
I walked out on Greg Brown. Drunk to the point of uselessness. Seemed to be playing okay but just a vocal mess. That's been years; hope he's dried out a little.
Ha! The previous comment just beat me. Something about the lyrics grabbed me, not the music. Sounded wonderful. Might like to hear more.
Silly comments below. It's RP, folks. Expect the unexpected. Or move on.
The poetry in this song is lovely. Brown does a terrific live performance, but beware the venue. In some cases, the crowd is chatting away over his music, other times the sound man doesn't "understand" Brown's voice and all you hear is mayhem (and the crowd). The best performance would be, of course, at your campfire! 
Grew on me all the way through, great song.  I've never heard the guy before (and figure it'll be 8 years until he returns), but I'll second (third?) the request for more of this him...
lots more Greg please!
Hear you next time in 2019.
Woa, is it just me or does this really resemble "Get Lucky" by Mark Knopfler!? I thought it was until he started singing... either way, both songs are quite nice.
 anuraga wrote:
Keep Greg coming!!!!
 
Anything.

As long as it stops him from making any more 'music'.

almost 8 years between plays.   impressive!
The list said to write a better song. :p
That\'s not a Spring wind, it\'s just gas.
I have every single Greg Brown CD with me everywhere I go. heh. I adore this guy. Thanks for playing him.
Keep Greg coming!!!!
The first time I heard this I gave it a 7.. I like his voice. However, the more I have heard this- the higher I wish I had ranked it. He\'s one of those guys I won\'t remember to buy, but I sure wished I owned the CD.
This guy is a great little-known national treasure. Thanks to Radio Paradise for introducing me to stuff like this.