The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
http://www.charliedaniels.com/
Blind Man
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
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Sits an old black blind man, and no one knows his name
He plays the same old guitar, he plays the same old tune
And when the people pass him by, some are heard to say
“Play, let the blind man play”
He was a cotton picker down in Alabam'
Daddy never amounted to much died by his own hand
Burned his eyes with a branding iron some are heard to say;
Play, let the blind man play
Maybe you'll be around another day
Dreamin' about those little things you know you'll never see
So play, let the blind man play, let the blind man play!
The years were kind while the man was blind, but he knew his time was due
And no one cried when the blind man died, with the name that no one knew
They made his coffin outta knotty pine, with a wreath of laurel too
His epitaph was short and sweet, and all it said was play
Play let the blind man play
Maybe you'll be around another day
Dreamin' about those little things you know you'll never see
So play, let the blind man play, let the blind man play
Maybe you'll be around another day
Dreamin' about those little things you know you'll never see
So play, let the blind man play, let the blind man play
Play that guitar blind man!
Charlie Daniels's song "Blind Man" tells the story of an old black man sitting on the corner of fifth and main playing the same old tune on his guitar. No one knows his name, but some people passing by him tell him to play and let the blind man play. The song reveals that the blind man was a cotton picker down in Alabama, and his father never amounted to much and died by his own hand. The man lost his sight one terrible night by the hand of the Ku Klux Klan. They burned his eyes with a branding iron, and the locals are heard saying that. The lyrics encourage the man to play his guitar so that people can appreciate what he's doing.
The song reflects the plight of the marginalized in society and reminds us that everyone has a story, and their voice should be heard even if they can't see or speak. The blind man's story is particularly poignant because of the brutality he faced at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. His story may not be unique, but the way in which he faces adversity with resilience and continues to play his guitar despite his blindness is a testament to the human spirit. Daniels's song reminds listeners to appreciate the good things we have, and the tune played by the blind man is one of those things to be grateful for.
Line by Line Meaning
On a cold concrete sidewalk, on the corner of fifth and main
There was an old black blind man sitting on a cold concrete sidewalk on the corner of fifth and main.
Sits an old black blind man, and no one knows his name
An old black blind man was sitting there and no one knew his name.
He plays the same old guitar, he plays the same old tune
The old man played the same old tune on his guitar.
And when the people pass him by, some are heard to say
“Play, let the blind man play”
When people passed him by, some would tell him to play and let the blind man play his guitar.
He was a cotton picker down in Alabam'
Daddy never amounted to much died by his own hand
He lost his sight one terrible night by the hand of the Ku Klux Klan
Burned his eyes with a branding iron some are heard to say;
The blind man was a cotton picker in Alabama, his father died by suicide and didn't amount to much. The Ku Klux Klan took his sight and burned his eyes with a branding iron, as some say.
The years were kind while the man was blind, but he knew his time was due
And no one cried when the blind man died, with the name that no one knew
They made his coffin outta knotty pine, with a wreath of laurel too
His epitaph was short and sweet, and all it said was play
The blind man lived a good life despite his blindness, but he knew his time had come. When he died, no one cried for him because no one knew his name. They made him a coffin out of knotty pine and laid a laurel wreath on top. They wrote his epitaph to say only one thing, 'play'.
Play that guitar blind man!
Someone shouted to the blind man to play his guitar.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS BECK, JASON BECK, PHIL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
P0V3RTY09
I have to agree, Million Mile Reflections was a great album. I got the 8 track for Christmas the year it came out and I was probably the ONLY kid in my school ( being from NY ) that was exposed to Southern Rock outside of Lynrd Skynrd. Thanks for this video. Great B side!
Winston Tucker
RIP Tommy Crain. Great man, great guitar player
Terry Sheer
RIP Charlie Daniels. You were the best.
dalton young
i have an old cassette with this song on it and I've searched for years trying to find it online, and haven't ... until now. thanks for uploading this great song onto you-tube
coltsrule5150
The album is titled, Million Mile Reflections. It's actually a pretty good album for an old country record. The Devil Went Down To Georgia, Mississippi, Rainbow Bridge, Blind Man.
Jeff Scott
U had that cassete too
whatzahoo
RIP Tommy Crain, prayers out to your family and many, many friends!
Just Doyle
I guess it's been 35+ years since I heard that song. My older brother wore out their 8 tracks of Million Mile Reflections & I not only dand along note for note just now, but I also remembered, anticipated & recognized every nuance of the music, vox, etc.
💙
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James Reddick
I love this song, RIP.
Russell Tweedly
love this song