Parsons, Gram - Brass Buttons Lyrics






Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes
Warm evenings, pale mornings, bottle of blues
And the tiny golden pins that she wore up in her hair
Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes

My mind was young until she grew
My secret thoughts known only by the few
It was a dream much to real to be leaned against too long
All the time I think she knew

Her words still dance inside my head
Her comb still lies beside my bed
And the sun comes up without her, it just doesn't know she's gone
Oh, but I remember everything she said

Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes
Warm evenings, pale mornings, bottle of blues
And the tiny golden pins that she wore up in her hair
Brass buttons, green silks and silver shoes





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Parsons, Gram Brass Buttons Comments
  1. K.... P....

    Written in memory of his mother...

  2. A.... L....

    I'm here because Guy from Coldplay requested to play this song on their recent BBC interview. I'm glad I came here, it's a beautiful song <3

  3. D.... A....

    So emotional for anyone who has been through the grieving process.

  4. j.... g....

    I thought this song was about his Grandmother? People are saying its about his Mother?

    j.... g....

    Generally thought to be written about his mother Avis, who died when he was 18.

  5. T.... S....

    Evan Dando brought me here ;-)

  6. K.... P....

    Beyond gorgeous...

  7. T.... ....

    Man ~ he was cute - great singer

  8. j.... m....

    this totally predates the 70s country mellow rock sound.

  9. A.... V....

    You gay..

  10. A.... V....

    Chutiya

  11. S.... J....

    I love Gram Parsond.

  12. A.... G....

    RIP. Avis, and my mom, and GP. I totally relate

  13. A.... D....

    Gram doin it.

  14. M.... C....

    The song they'll play at my funeral - hopefully

  15. O.... ....

    Super hard core blues for white people. I'm not selling my Son House or Lightnin" Hopkins recordings but this is perfect.

  16. J.... S....

    His words & music could only have come from a place deep down inside.

  17. J.... S....

    This song for me will always be a woman named Jodie who was in my life for way too short a time. RIP Gram.

  18. B.... ....

    Is it possible that Glen Frey ran the ball in for the winning score after Gram Parsons fumbled it?

    B.... ....

    BobSchusterMusic.com The Eagles not only ran but scored big — all the way to the Super Bowl with this sound

  19. H.... C....

    my Button 💞

  20. S.... S....

    My heartstrings are yanked right from the start with that piano intro.

  21. R.... G....

    so this is where the Eagles got 'Lyin Eyes'....

    R.... G....

    @rimmersbryggeri According to Rimmer. Stick to ass crack, Jack.

    R.... G....

    @Andy G It's the title of a wheelmaker Haggard .. Just listen tol all of the four chords Frey/Henley could ever manage playing. All of their hits were written by other people except if they were not .written by Felder/Walsh. They were all about flawless execution of generic songs if you didnt know that.

    R.... G....

    @rimmersbryggeri Henley is a genius. Bad person maybe but a genius.

    R.... G....

    I can hear it....

    R.... G....

    Here's an interesting fact...Actually, Richard Furay wrote a song about GP called 'Crazy Eyes' and POCO recorded the 9 minute masterpiece on their 1973 album titled 'Crazy Eyes'. POCO also recorded Brass Buttons on the album as well. Check out Crazy Eyes, it's a beautiful song and nice album.

  22. O.... G....

    Yeah, drugs suck. But, how many of us were self medicating the hurts we felt in those days? I shed a tear when I hear Gram Parsons' songs. Some of us got the help we needed and others didn't. "I saw the best minds of my generation ..."

  23. �.... ....

    miss you so much

  24. b.... w....

    ..oh my! 8 people...................................lost souls

    b.... w....

    ten now :(

    b.... w....

    eleven now... poor lost souls.

  25. N.... B....

    The book 20,000 Roads is an excellent bio on Gram. It covers everything from his childhood to his untimely death. Very objective and no dirt digging. It details how close he was to his mom and makes the reader understand and appreciate the lyrics to this song. Very sad yet such a masterpiece of a song.

    N.... B....

    agreed,brilliant book.Broke my heart.Better than any other Gram bio i have ever read,and i've read a few :)

  26. r.... b....

    RIP Gram Parsons✌❤😎🎸

  27. J.... M....

    Poco's version is excellent as well---a beautiful,sad song.

  28. G.... S....

    And the Sun comes up without her - it just doesn't know she'a gone. That's just gorgeous.

    G.... S....

    yes,it is :)

  29. P.... O....

    And the sun comes up without her, doesn't know she's gone

  30. R.... J....

    There is a God !

  31. L.... I....

    one of my fav Gram songs

  32. J.... C....

    This is awesome to say the very least. Poco's cover isn't quite as soft, but then it's not done solo. Gram was a pained musical genius, as are many artists of various genres. He painted his 'canvass' with notes and words - the losses in his early life seep through audibly. May he be blessed in his eternal rest.

    J.... C....

    Man you really guzzle the kool-aid don't ya... Smh

  33. T.... B....

    "It was a dream much too real to be leaned against too long". Fuck, that's good...

    T.... B....

    @steve firth​

    I've only just realised you were talking to me.

    Steve - this is where you went wrong. When I posted my Parsons comment I didn't expect young kids to read it. I don't reckon there's many Gram fans attending elementary schools these days, what with him dying in '73 and not being mega-famous anyway. You said what you said to a mum with young children (except you didn't really, did you, you little scamp!). I don't think swear words hurt anyone in any case - they're not like drugs or violence or smoking or crossing the road without looking - your life, limbs, lungs and brain cells will all be fine no matter how much swearing you hear.

    And if we took your view to its conclusion we couldn't talk about anything remotely unsavoury on here just in case an underage kid may be reading it. This means most political discussions are out, anything to do with the crisis in the Catholic Church re paedophilia is a no-no, as are terrorist attacks - it's up to individual children's parents to monitor their kids' internet use, not you or me or Josh B or anyone else.

    On top of this you can still work out that I really rate that line from Brass Buttons, so I must have expressed it well enough.

    I shouldn't have to tell you this.

    T.... B....

    Duff Gordon
    In what way is this connected to Gram Parsons (or a debate about swearing, as it inexplicably turned into)?

    T.... B....

    I think I lost my place as I was thinking that cee-lo . Forgive me, I will erase

    T.... B....

    Fuck it!

    T.... B....

    indeed.

  34. S.... C....

    Really great song and one of the early you can hear and tell how the eagles took his sound only years later. I believe he wrote this is 68 or 69.
    Bernie leadon the eagles original guitar/bass player who was in the burritos with gram said in his bio that gram tried to get him to go to europe to hangout all summer with kieth richerds and he declined because he didnt have the money and how it was the best decision he ever made cause that was what got gram on heroin and that while gone is when he got in the eagles but even berne says the eagles borrrowed heavily from grams sound and this song is evident of that.
    I hate wben people use the word stole when it comes to.music cause like david lee roth said unless you were just brought up never hearing.music at all everyone borrows bits and pieces from someone else.

  35. R.... ....

    I like this shit. Very relaxing.

    R.... ....

    It's definitely not "s**t" !

  36. e.... ....

    Who in God's name could dislike this song haha?

  37. J.... S....

    1022rebelreddog
    No Gram wasn't born in Waycross. He was born in Winter Haven Florida into one of the wealthiest citrus families around at the time. He lived in Waycross for awhile where his father was in charge of the family's container factory. After his father's suicide when Gram was around nine, he, his sister and Mother returned to Winter Haven

  38. M.... K....

    People think he invented country rock.  not even close.  Chris Hillman and the Byrds were doing this in 66-67.  He was more straight country, than country rock.

    M.... K....

    @Mitch Kenvin Gram was doing country rock in 65 with the International Submarine Band

    M.... K....

    labels,semantics my friend,Gram stood alone,infinitely better than Hillman or the Byrds.His music was Cosmic American Music.

    M.... K....

    I can hear the sound of The Eagles on this song also.

    M.... K....

    @kate davenporty The Byrds beat the fuck out of this easy listening country bullshit.

  39. M.... K....

    Richie Furay said Gram wrote this when he was like 18 years old.  Pretty mature.  Poco did a cover of this.

  40. J.... S....

    So he had some kind of thing for his mom. So what? Not like he's singing about screwing her. Heavy admiration maybe.

    J.... S....

    @Josh Swann Why would screwing her come to mind? It's about how he misses her because she died when he was a teenager.

    J.... S....

    @abt7217tc My comment was in response to those who thought this song was about him doing his mom, I agree with you.

    J.... S....

    @abt7217tc Really? I never knew this song was about his mum. That's so sweet.

    J.... S....

    +Josh Swann
    He did have a thing for his Mom, it was called love. His Dad committed suicide when Gram was quite young 9? 12 ?, I forget. That left only Gram, his mother and younger sister. His Mother was fiercely protective of her children, but sadly she also was plagued by depression and alcoholism. Gram felt as though he had to be the man of the house at an early age. It deeply affected him to watch his Mom die a slow death due to complications of alcohol and when she died it killed a part of him too. So to those people who think otherwise, all I can say is that they've probably never experienced such a deep and painful love and loss of family.

  41. J.... S....

    Tom Leek.. No one does this song better than Gram. It was his song, his pain, his heartache. Maybe imitated, never duplicated.

  42. J.... S....

    1022rebelreddog,, No, Gram Parsons was born in Wunter Haven Fl, but spent a few years in Waycross where his Father was in charge of the citrus container plant there. He, his sister and Mother returned to Winter Haven after his Father's suicide.

  43. R.... ....

    4 people missed the like button

    R.... ....

    it's not my favourite Gram song,though i've grown to like it a lot more over the years,but who would ever thumbs down ANYTHING by GRAM?!?

  44. m.... ....

    Gram Parsons short life proves one adage, that drugs suck 

    m.... ....

    "He just wanted to get away"
    - Grand Theft Parsons excerpt

    m.... ....

    not to mention ALCOHOL.

    m.... ....

    alcohol is a drug like all the rest..except it is legal and kills more than the rest

    m.... ....

    Well I've heard the music of sober people, and it sucks.

  45. H.... H....

    Could be true. She died 1965 and I´ve got a very early recording of this song, done at Dec. 1965 - just played with an acoustic guitar (homerecording withe a private tape machine or the like - the CD containing rare recordings is called "another side of this life"). I guess the song was written then - and what else could have been in his mind that time?

  46. J.... S....

    No, it was definitely written for his Mother.She was an alcoholic who died from complications of the disease. Maybe his 'secret thoughts known only by a few' was his premonition that her life would not be a long one. The comb ? A memento to remind him of her. They were very close. She died on his H.S graduation day. Sad.

  47. C.... S....

    I love this song. Gram Parsons, all grown up. I've heard before that it's about his Mom. But do you really think so? The lyrics seem awfully intimate to me. "My secret thoughts known only by a few" and "Her comb still lies beside my bed" sound like a man whose heart has been broken by a woman?

    C.... S....

    yes Cathy,thanks for your comment,i always felt baffled by the idea that it was about his Mum,if so it's very Oedipal coz to me it is clearly about a lover or rather one he WISHES were a lover,doesn't sound right at all to me that it was about his Mum and of course HE never said it was.I don't think it is,personally.

    C.... S....

    Kate,,,THIS SONG is ABOUT HIS MOTHER. hE HAD A VERY intense relationship with her, yes even intimate if you chose to use those words, The very word INTIMATE has somehow taken on a sexual meaning.. not so here. Intimate only means 'close', He adored her as he did his father. Both their deaths set the stage for his abandonment issues which later morphed into substance abuse. Anyone who wishes to put a sexual spin on this beautiful song he wrote in memory of his mother, needs to revisit the lyrics in it's real context. Her death devastated him and set the course for a lifetime of emotional, never ending pain.

    C.... S....

    Julia S perfect!!! 10000% in agreement!!

    C.... S....

    @Julia S Correct. ☺

    C.... S....

    @Julia S Thank you. You explain it well. Such feelings would be overwhelming to deal with, especially for a youngster.

  48. J.... S....

    One of Parsons' very best. He had such great potential but cut way too short. Sad.

  49. H.... C....

    sadly he became the embodyment of his lyrics

  50. p.... ....

    Can anyone say "Tequila Sunrise?" Before Gram there was no Country/Rock, Outlaw Country or Southern Rock. No Skynard, no Eagles, no Allman Bro. and Willie and Waylon were still clean shaven with short haircuts and suits. Oh and no rhinestone suits with pot leaves, poppies and naked women...come to think of it there's still not.

  51. j.... f....

    A song about his mother , She died a alcoholic ,with cirrhosis of the liver ,she died the day he graduated high school

  52. T.... L....

    i don't know, this song sounds like it could have been done by poco and sound better.

    T.... L....

    Tom... no one could sound better. How can you 'better' perfection ?

    T.... L....

    Poco, "Brass Buttons"...https://youtu.be/TKwi1153nW8

  53. G.... H....

    This MUST be on any conscious person's "short list" for best songs of all time. It don't get any better than this, and the production value on the album still holds its own against all modern work. Lovely expression of loss?, love?, loneliness?, etc...

    G.... H....

    Gary Hallford
    you speaketh the truth. An amazing record of unparelled beauty. i'd like to give the pedal steel player a big, sloppy kiss. I must admit that I wouldnt know who Gram was if not for Evan Dando's cover or Stanley Booth's book.

  54. A.... ....

    One of the best country rock albums of all times, and one of the best country rock song of all times!!

  55. K.... S....

    She was an alcoholic; she died of cirrhosis of the liver on the same day Gram graduated high school

    K.... S....

    yes,we all know the story :) that whole Snively family was beset with alcoholism so with those genes poor Gram really had no chance.He also didn't have especially good influences around him at the end (Keith Richards,Phil Kaufman).R.I.P Gram.

  56. m.... ....

    The lines "And the sun comes up without her, it just doesn't know she's gone" is classic, heartbreaking.

  57. m.... ....

    I've watched Fallen Angel 3 times, it's such a sad and compelling story....

  58. 1.... ....

    gram born in waycross ga.

    1.... ....

    1022 umm,,, no Gram was born in Winter Haven Florida

  59. R.... Q....

    Have always loved this song and always sounded like a love lost that is no longer there. I guess it really is, but a loss more jagged and permanent. God bless yoiu Gram; RIP.

  60. F.... F....

    just wonderful.

  61. J.... h....

    @pinkfloyd4241 I'm trying to catch up :D and I agree...

  62. b.... m....

    love this song,gram parsons very underappreciated