Brodie Buttons, "The Sun Song," // GemsOnVHS™

This is the 4th and final tune from my time in the rainforest of eastern Australia with the nonchalant, dare I say happy-go-lucky perpetual jungle dweller Brodie Buttons, his family and his friends. I say, with no reservations, Brodie is one of the best songwriters i've ever had the pleasure of meeting. His book of songs, which he broke open to recite lyrics from at times around the fire, was dogeared, messy and disheveled. Filled to the brim with clever words and stories plucked from his lived experience. There's no pretentiousness in his work, and it lacks the self seriousness and self pity so rampant in most "folk music". In Brodie's songs, I find a stoic this-is-how-life-is delivery, with a fiery determination to live it, face it, regardless.
He also writes about his community, real experiences and tales of the times. This song is one example, written after the horrific drought that struck Australia, and the firestorm that consumed it, the likes of which hadn't been experienced in living memory. He balances the tragedy of the climate with the simple fact that we need the light of the Sun, like we need the air we breath, just like the generations after us will and the ones before.
I would just like to highlight the beautiful writing in this verse;
"
As the sun sets over Hobart,
Martin Bryant cries and cries,
as a sliver of sun falls cross the bunk,
of the cell in which he lies.
He's thinkin of his mother's tears,
the blue eggs of magpies,
as the same sun sets on everyone,
and kisses the day goodnight.
As the same sun sets on everyone,
and kisses the day goodnight.
"
I'm someone who, for better or worse, has to listen to a lot of songs, in the heart of the "musical industry" in Nashville. So listening to someone like Brodie and his friends, sharing songs around a campfire, doing it for the love of life, fills my cup to the brim. Trekking out in mud and wet to find him, deep in the bush, was worth every moment. The last words of the video, "I guess that's all we have time for," is both a tragedy and a simple fact of it all. Until we meet again Brodie, in this life or next!
We're releasing some of the Brodie field recordings on Spotify, right now you can listen to his hit single "King Brown" on there;
open.spotify.c...
That's Bobby Dazzla on the fiddle, a wonderful fellow.
Find more of Brodie here;
/ boringbuttons
open.spotify.c...
Our undying love and gratitude go to our executive producers for making this project possible: Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, VJ Arizpe, Mr. Free, and Rusty Shackleford.
Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
/ gemsonvhs
GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
We're on instagram (@gemsonvhs or @anthonysimpkins)
Like us on FB too! ( / gemsonvhs )
www.gemsonvhs.com

[@GemsOnVHS]

We're getting our field recordings on Spotify for y'all! Check 'em out at open.spotify.com/artist/7t78CwAbQIA6DKAKUKBYgl?si=V6VTcLxtQWupz0QpvbZYSA. Listen to Brodie's tunes on Bandcamp at thebuttoncollective.bandcamp.com/album/sit-back-and-endure. You can find him on Instagram at @boringbuttons.

[@alexjepson1691]

It'd be super cool if you threw them on Google Play Music as well. Just sayin.

[@gittaradau8790]

What a beautiful, lyrical gem of a song. I didn't know magpies had blue eggs 🎵🎶🥚🥚🥚💙 You are such a wonderful artist Brodie.

[@GemsOnVHS]

brodie is a bit of a naturalist, always working in the bush. id reckon hes seen a magpie egg or two. lyrics are gorgeous though ay, especially that one!

[@sethmountain]

Another god-level folk song from Brodie, and another unforgettable video. Wow. Thank you, Anthony and GEMS, for using your magic, time, and skills to get Brodie and some of his catalogue out to the world beyond his world. Hope he keeps writing songs like this and that he increasingly gets the recognition and respect and support across the globe that he deserves. What a gem!

[@averynewtown2782]

Brodi is just one more man inspiring me to pick up my strings every day. Seeing him live would be a dream

[@charlesbuckley9269]

Love the epic, totally bespoke descriptions of each video during your time in Aus.. makes me miss home!

[@DonnyDealer]

I was hoping to see more of these guys soon. Very nice tune!

[@Ihavebeenwatchingyou]

Great song......Hopefully Martin Bryant see's just enough sun to know what he is missing.

[@scottkidwell3601]

Damn. So good! Thanks, y'all 🙏🏻🤍

[@aftermath66699]

If I was australian I'd call Brodie a national treasure But i ain't from there So i guess i ll just enjoy him n his collective Til we all die Thanks brodie for all of it Everything Sincerely the Ghost on the shore

[@codyweiss8060]

YES BEEN WAITING FOR MORE BRODIE BUTTONS THANK YOU

[@GemsOnVHS]

ur welcome

[@harryfurphy1491]

Brodie is the type of musician that finishes a tune and leaves you wanting more. shame that the final tune from the Australian set. here's hoping more is coming in years to come.

[@GemsOnVHS]

i hope so as well. we will be putting all of these up on streaming at least.

[@aftermath66699]

The button collective(brodies band)has a lot of their records here on youtube Just punch in brodie buttons with "topic" in front or behind it You ll enjoy the ride Good luck From the ghost on the shore

[@GemsOnVHS]

@@aftermath66699thanks for heads up

[@aftermath66699]

@@GemsOnVHS your welcome Anthony Its redd Probably don t remember me But we talked on here a few times over the years Love what you do and I m very grateful

[@kotafoster1375]

Was put up 5 hours ago? Wooo! Good shit.

[@ShawarmaFarmer]

Hell yeah Brodie

[@downforanything1265]

Australia represent👏

[@SirCoughsalot]

Reminds me of Slim Dusty. Needs a yodel!

[@captaintomandthehooligans7106]

that was incredible

[@GemsOnVHS]

whats up captain tom like comment and subscribe pls

[@captaintomandthehooligans7106]

oh believe me I have@@GemsOnVHS

[@cedarriver]

He has something special that makes me just wanna listen what he has to say. Lovely song, like the way he writes! Chords and lyrics below! Verses D / A7 / G / D A7 / G / D / A7 / G D Outro D / A7 / G / D A7 / G / D / A7 / G D [Verse 1] As the sun rose over mankind When the world was fresh and new The horned one pan danced through the bush To the click of his cloven hooves His merry reels ran through the hills To make the peasants sing As they looked all up to a burning sun And thanked her for everything [erse 2] Well, the sunshine's high up in the sky Over Australia's golden plains She's rose and set since time began She grows hotter every day The life she gives turns bittersweet As her dosage grows too great And the fires rise up and fill the air With the bushe's burning haze [Verse 3] As I go to work The garden in my backyard grows and grows The sunflowers stand up proud and true And the roots curl in their toes Their golden faces fixed to east To greet the morning dawn As my firstborn sun stirs in his sleep And wakes up with a yawn [Verse 4] As the sun sets over Hobart Martin Bryant cries and cries As a sliver of sun falls cross the bunk Of the cell in which he lies He's thinkin of his mother's tears The blue eggs of magpies As the same sun sets on everyone And kisses the day goodnight As the same sun sets on everyone And kisses the day goodnight [Outro]

[@alexgray8804]

Dope

[@charlieleonardo]

Cool 😎

[@JeffinBville]

Reminds me of something Redbud might have done.

[@resistance.through.poetry]

It's called weather modification

[@steely1neverwane]

Martyn Bryant is innocent.

[@MrBurleyfish]

I don't understand

[@briewhit1312]

what do you mean?

[@MrBurleyfish]

@@briewhit1312 exactly!

[@Ihavebeenwatchingyou]

You can if you want to.

[@MrBurleyfish]

@@Ihavebeenwatchingyou No thanks I like my brain functional.

[@Ihavebeenwatchingyou]

@@MrBurleyfish I agree.