That would be one of those no-edit posts which sadly, don't happen for me as often as I would like to. When it comes to this track, the "play, think, repeat" sequence was executed numerous times, but I still can't get enough of the track. Before digging into who Hiss Golden Messenger are, I felt like trying to "understand" what the meaning of the song really is.

Perhaps I'm aiming far from the truth, but it feels like "Brother, Do You Know the Road?" is somehow related to the crossroads we all face in our lives and the moments when the road ahead seems... blurry and vague. I guess whenever I've been in such situation, I've always tried to remember that whatever happens next, it will be better than being stuck into the nothingness. That and the fact that friends, family, brothers or sisters will always be there.

The song makes me wanna write unusual type of review, but I reckon many of you would also like to find out more about the people behind HGM. I was a bit surprised to find out that the duo M.C. Taylor + Scott Hirsch have been making music for more than 2 decades. Drawing inspirations from blues, Americana and folk music, the two (+ friends) have released 4 albums and I think that would be my next musical inspiration.

I found some quotes from their press releases related to "Brother, Do You Know The Road?":

"Brother, Do You Know the Road?” was written quickly and recorded in one take in a house belonging to Joyce and Joel Martin in Oxford, NC. It was green early summer. Lots of insects humming in the mics. There is a refrain in this song that is important to me: “And though the storm’s passed over / And the sun is in its place / Oh, it took a long time / And the rain, how I know it.” This song has always been something of an orphan; it’s never found its way onto any full-length HGM album, although it frequently gets played at full-band performances. I like this song a lot.

Personnel on this recording are myself, Scott Hirsch (who also recorded and mixed the song), Terry Lonergan, Phil Cook, and Brad Cook.
posted by Ivo
May 2014