The band's best-known song was a 1970 cover of Jerry Jeff Walker's folk song "Mr. Bojangles". Their greatest critical acclaim has been for a 1972 album of country and folk standards, recorded in Nashville in collaboration with more traditional country artists, entitled "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".
"Will the Circle be Unbroken" was a collaboration album recorded in 1972 by the Dirt band with traditional artists such as Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Merle Watson, Jimmy Martin, Junior Huskey, Norman Blake, and Pete Oswald Kirby (known to Grand Ole Opry fans as Bashful Brother Oswald). Vassar Clements, not widely known then, was tapped for fiddle duties which led to greater notoriety and success for him.
"Will the Circle be Unbroken" featured classic bluegrass and folk standards written by A.P Carter, Doc Watson and others. The title comes from the song of the same name but indicates what the Dirt Band was trying to achieve. The long-haired boys from California were making an effort to reach out to the older veterans of American music and unite them in a divided America. Two other editions were released, one in the 1980s and another after September 11, 2001.
In July 1974 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was one of the headline acts at The Ozark Music Festival, at the Missouri State Fairgrounds, in Sedalia, Missouri. Some estimates have put the crowd count at 350,000 people, which would make this one of the largest music events in history.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's peak in popularity – at least on the radio — came during the mid- to late-1980s, when they charted a string of successful songs. Among the lot were three No. 1 singles: "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" (1984); "Modern Day Romance" (1985); and "Fishin' in the Dark" (1987). Other successful songs were "Dance Little Jean" (1983); "I Love Only You" (1984); "High Horse" (1985); "Home Again in My Heart," "Partners, Brothers and Friends" and "Stand a Little Rain" (1986); "Fire in the Sky," "Baby's Got a Hold on Me" and "Oh What a Love" (1987); "Working Man (Nowhere to Go)" and "I've Been Lookin'" (1988); and "Down That Road Tonight" and "When it's Gone" (1989).
The current members are:
* Bob Carpenter - keyboard, accordion, bass, and vocals (1977-present)
* Jimmie Fadden - drums, harmonica,guitar, washtub bass, jug and vocals (1966-present)
* Jeff Hanna - guitar, mandolin, drums, harmonica, bass, washboard, jug and vocals (1966-present)
* John McEuen - banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, accordion washtub bass and vocals (1966-1986 & 2001-present)
Former members:
* Ralph Barr - guitar, clarinet and vocals (1966-1968)
* Merel Bregante - drums and percussion (1977-1979)
* Jackson Browne - guitar and vocals (1966)
* John Cable - guitar, bass and vocals (1976-1977)
* Jackie Clark - guitar, bass and vocals (1976-1977)
* Chris Darrow - fiddle, guitar, mandolin and vocals (1967-1968)
* Michael Gardner - drums (1980-1981)
* Al Garth - saxophone, fiddle, keyboard, percussion and vocals (1977-1981)
* Richard Hathaway - bass and vocals (1977-1981)
* Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, accordion, drums, flute and vocals (1968-1975 & 1982-2004)
* Bruce Kunkel - guitar, kazoo, vocals (1966-1967)
* Bernie Leadon - guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals (1987-1989)
* Vic Mastrianni - drums (1980-1981)
* Les Thompson - guitar, bass, mandolin and vocals (1966-1973)
Fishin' in the Dark
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin' through the trees
Crickets are singin' and lightning bugs
Are floatin' on a breeze
Baby get ready
Across the field where the crick turns back
By the old stump road
I'm gonna take you to a special place
That nobody knows
Baby get ready, ooh-ooh
You and me goin' fishin' in the dark
Lying on our backs and countin' the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night
Just movin' slow
Stayin' the whole night through
It feels so good to be with you
Spring is almost over and the summer's comin'
And the days are gettin' long
I waited all winter for the time to be right
Just to take you along
Baby get ready
And it don't matter if we sit forever
And the fish don't bite
We'll jump in a river and cool ourselves
From the heat of the night
Baby get ready, ooh-ooh
You and me goin' fishin' in the dark
Lyin' on our backs and countin' the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night
Just movin' slow
Stayin' the whole night through
It feels so good to be with
You and me goin' fishin' in the dark
Lyin' on our backs and countin' the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night
Just movin' slow
You and me goin' fishin' in the dark
Lyin' on our backs and countin' the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night
Just movin' slow
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Fishin' in the Dark" is a song that speaks to the joy of spending a summer evening with someone special. The lead-up to the big moment is described in detail by the lyrics, which tell of a late, lazy evening spent outside. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of this setting; the moon is rising, insects are chirping, and the air is thick with a sense of anticipation. The singer of the song is taking his love interest to a secret place where they can be alone, away from the prying eyes of the world.
The chorus of the song is a celebration of the moment that the two lovers finally experience each other, lying in the cool grass, under the bright moon, at the edge of a river. The phrase “Fishin' in the Dark” is used as a metaphor for this moment, which symbolizes the blissful ignorance of the rest of the world beyond their moment together. The simplicity of the moment is highlighted by the chorus, which repeats itself, adding emphasis to the idea that the two are enjoying each other’s company and the beauty of the natural world. The final lines of the song, "It feels so good to be with you," encapsulate the lasting feeling of connection that the singer feels for his lover, despite the brevity of their time together.
Line by Line Meaning
Lazy yellow moon comin' up tonight
The full moon rising in the sky is a warm yellow color and it suggests a relaxing and peaceful night to come.
Shinin' through the trees
The moonlight is coming through the leaves of the trees, casting shadows and creating a beautiful ambiance for the night ahead.
Crickets are singin' and lightning bugs / are floatin' on a breeze
The insects are out and about, making music and providing natural light for the night ahead. It's a magical and romantic scene.
Baby get ready
The singer is urging his lover to prepare for a special journey they're about to take together - an adventure in the dark.
Across the field where the crick turns back / By the old stump road / I'm gonna take you to a special place / That nobody knows
The singer is taking his lover on a secret trip to a hidden location where they can enjoy the beauty of the night, undisturbed by the rest of the world.
You and me goin' fishin' in the dark / Lying on our backs and countin' the stars / Where the cool grass grows / Down by the river in the full moon light / We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night / Just movin' slow / Stayin' the whole night through / It feels so good to be with you
The singer is describing the beautiful experience of spending a night in nature with his lover, bonding and falling more in love with every moment that passes. They will lie down and look at the stars together, surrounded by the peaceful sounds and sights of the night. Their love is slow and steady, just like the rhythm of the night.
Spring is almost over and the summer's comin' / And the days are gettin' long / I waited all winter for the time to be right / Just to take you along / Baby get ready
The singer is excited for the summer to come and to share it with his lover. He has been waiting patiently for the right moment to go on this adventure with her.
And it don't matter if we sit forever / And the fish don't bite / We'll jump in a river and cool ourselves / From the heat of the night / Baby get ready, ooh-ooh
The singer is telling his lover that it doesn't matter what they catch or if they catch anything at all - the point of the night is to be with her, enjoy nature, and cool off in the river together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jim Photoglo, Wendy Waldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind