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Greg Brown — No Place Away
Album: Dream Cafe
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1402









Released: 1992
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Words like notes,
Are strokes along the thigh-
A long slow seduction,
On an Autumn night-
When Autumn, was still Autumn.
Wait a minute now,
Everybody just hold it.
Let's think about this.
Whoa, whoa now.
Ain't there no place away?

And I tryed to hide-
Live there like I used to.
But the sadness sent me,
Letters every day,
Sayin' there's-
There's no place away.

Tell me where the hope lies,
To bear the world,
To bear the destruction,
In which we all participate.
Tell me where the hope lies,
To bear the world,
To bear the destruction,
In which we all participate.

Oh I wanna hear-
Words like notes,
Are strokes along the thigh-
A long slow seduction,
On an Autumn night-
When Autumn, was still Autumn.

Pour me out some hot tea,
And build up the fire.
We'll sit here and listen,
To the ancient choir,
Singin', singin', singin', singin', hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah
Comments (65)add comment
Another great discovery for me via RP. Thanks
Lullaby by Pieta Brown, then next song No Place Away by Greg Brown.
Now thats keeping it all in the family.
 idiot_wind wrote:

His Dream Cafe could be the The Sanctuary Cafe in Iowa City, Iowa. It's a great place for artsy-fartsy hipster doofuses to hang out and catch a show...like one from Greg and discuss aesthetics after several cocktails!!!

Iowa City is north west of his home in the panhandle of Iowa. 

You should play some of his daughter's music Pietra Brown. 



I saw Pietra perform some years ago in the mid-Hudson Valley of NY. Yes, she was wonderful. Re: GB's DC and the SC in IC,   I can imagine a silly screenplay on the discussion of aesthetics after cocktails ... but it's not an activity a Greg Brown performance would inspire me to do. His performances and work are also wonderful.
My first reaction was “meh.”  But when I listened to the words…. Wow. 
just beautiful       what a great piece of craft     

juz sayin 
the pic to the left of these comments from the artist's website looks like shlabby/red_dragon. <shrug>
Ha!

I was just in Greg's stomping grounds:  Sigourney and Keota and What Cheer. 

And the tunes were good for a good road trip. 
Sadly apt lyrics from 30 years ago.
Here in NZ we've just endured the worst floods in living memory.. Climate change is hitting home.
"To bear the destruction,
In which we all participate."
only issue with this amazing songwriter is that he kinda mumbles live.  age, non-conformity or...
 idiot_wind wrote:

and that might be bo ramsey on guitar



probably.  they're  compadres.  Bo's guitar is so rich.
I'm going +1 to 9 tonight too!! 
LLRP
Wouldn't have ever heard of him if it wasn't for RP.  What a character and voice this guy has!  Great songwriter and storyteller.
and that might be bo ramsey on guitar

Damn that's the second time I thought Greg was Tony Joe White. That from me is high praise. I think I gotta do me a RP deep dive. 
I'm picking up a little Roy Orbison vibe/vocals on this... anyone else?
Its strange, I want to like this.  Lyrically, its amazing.  Sadly, I find the way he sings horribly grating.   Hope you all are enjoying! 
 
I like the non-us/them perspective of this line: 
To bear the destruction,
In which we all participate.
Had to look and see who this was... thought it was Gord Downey!  I like it.
I can't believe, and am so regretful, that I haven't heard of this guy until a couple of years ago here on RP. 
 bb_matt wrote:
Quite shockingly middle of the road tired derivative twaddle.
 
You mean because only one singer ever can have a song that uses the word Hallelujah?
Apt song for 2020.
Great emotive voice, relaxed, engaging, smooth, cool, calm, and yes - collected!
smooth
How can you not love this guy. A 10 all the way.
How have I never heard of this guy before?! What a great and pleasant surprise!
Hello Allah, Jehovah, Abba, Yahweh, God, Jesus, Bill. Please bless us with Greg Brown's "Speed Trap Boogie" Live!  We will all be uplifted.
 RabbitEars wrote:

I'll second that. he's like honey to me - there's such sweetness in his work. 
 

 
Like honey - thick, cloying, and bad for your health in large doses.
 onelittlemoose wrote:

No regrets. I agree with you. Very nice. 

 
Ditto that. I'd like to hear it again, more. 
His Dream Cafe could be the The Sanctuary Cafe in Iowa City, Iowa. It's a great place for artsy-fartsy hipster doofuses to hang out and catch a show...like one from Greg and discuss aesthetics after several cocktails!!!

Iowa City is north west of his home in the panhandle of Iowa. 

You should play some of his daughter's music Pietra Brown. 
You bunch of "lowraters". I think this song and artist deserves more than hohum. 7.7

 
Quite shockingly middle of the road tired derivative twaddle.
 
garyalex wrote:
I'll likely regret posting this but I don't understand the low rating.  This is very nice.

 
No regrets. I agree with you. Very nice. 
It's OK but I prefer Greg's darker side (Slant 6 Mind).
I'll likely regret posting this but I don't understand the low rating.  This is very nice.
 RabbitEars wrote:

I'll second that. he's like honey to me - there's such sweetness in his work. 
 

 
Lovely comments and compliments 
 dalebryan wrote:
Greg  Brown is one of the truest voices of American folk music.

 
like
Greg  Brown is one of the truest voices of American folk music.
Very moody album, in a good way.

holy hell this is boring

plod plod plodding


 BBoyes wrote:
He's awesome live if you ever get the chance. Amazing deep, effortless voice. 

 
I'll second that. he's like honey to me - there's such sweetness in his work. 
 
strong and subtle, very very enjoyable piece of slow rhythm
He's awesome live if you ever get the chance. Amazing deep, effortless voice. 
" I think the lyrics are excellent and sadly, all to salient to the present times." ...too!

 
kaybee wrote:

This guy's voice is somewhat grating to me and will take some getting used to, but I disagree with others here - I think the lyrics are excellent and sadly, all to salient to the present times.

 


like the voice

like the instrumentation/arrangement

like the overall mood

fits into the radio paradise vibe 
I think I will give this guy a chance and buy one of his CDs because (A) he is from Iowa and I grew up there and (B) I have never bought a blues CD and (C) this sounds pretty good and I need to expand my horizons a bit more.....
 k_trout wrote:
This song touches me.....

 
This song hurts my ears {#Headache}
This song touches me.....
 TerryS wrote:
 Beastie wrote:
OK, it is my opinion that this guys blows, big time. Thank you very little for that music piece.

In the world of musical criticism
what is the difference between 'sucks' and 'blows'
Just need a straight answer.
 
Probably the same as with a vacuum cleaner ;-)
 Beastie wrote:
OK, it is my opinion that this guys blows, big time. Thank you very little for that music piece.

In the world of musical criticism
what is the difference between 'sucks' and 'blows'
Just need a straight answer.


 michaelc wrote:
this whole ablum is very dark, it was 2nd greg I bought.
the first was in the dark with you
this one is very upbeat. guess his wife left and grew dark.
My wife did not like this album, but I did, it's one of my favs of gregs.
 
This guy's voice is somewhat grating to me and will take some getting used to, but I disagree with others here - I think the lyrics are excellent and sadly, all to salient to the present times.
I love Greg Brown!
 pollyh wrote:
Tracey Chapman's older brother?
 
If so he should take lessons on writing lyrics from her.
Tracey Chapman's older brother?
 
I started to a little Roy out of this.I liked it though.
Sort of the Chris Isaak "sad elvis" vibe. Not bad, not great either.
Yes, nice guitar and overall sound!
OK, it is my opinion that this guys blows, big time. Thank you very little for that music piece.
Some really nice guitar in there. Seems like a good drivin song.
ursus88 wrote:
Seems a bit out of character for Greg Brown, but I still like his voice and most all of the stuff he does.
this whole ablum is very dark, it was 2nd greg I bought. the first was in the dark with you this one is very upbeat. guess his wife left and grew dark. My wife did not like this album, but I did, it's one of my favs of gregs.
Really digging Greg Brown lately and this album/song in particular.
Seems a bit out of character for Greg Brown, but I still like his voice and most all of the stuff he does.