He is likely best known for the song "Man of Constant Sorrow," which was featured in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? and won the 2001 CMA award for best single as well as a Grammy Award for best Country Collaboration with Vocals (along with Harley Allen and Pat Enright, filling out the vocals for the movie's Soggy Bottom Boys). In total, he has won 10 Grammy awards for solo and collaborative projects.
Tyminski was born June 20, 1967 in Rutland, Vermont and plays a bluegrass style that blends traditional and pop traditions. Before becoming a member of Union Station in 1994, Tyminski played mandolin and sang in the Lonesome River Band. Though Tyminski's love and feel for traditional bluegrass didn't come from growing up in the southern Appalachians, he absorbed and learned the music just the same. He credits his brother Stan with getting him hooked on the guitar and mandolin at the age of 6. While Stan was in the Navy and home on leave, he left his mandolin with his younger brother.
While in high school Dan and his brother formed a band called Green Mountain Bluegrass. Dan played the banjo with that band for nearly five years. In fact, Dan says that he was primarily a banjo player from the time he was twelve until he was in his early twenties. When he was twenty-one, Dan was hired to play mandolin in the Lonesome River Band. When asked how he landed that job, Dan said, "It was a word-of-mouth thing. We ended up playing some shows at the same venue and when the position came up for a musician, one of the guys in the band recommended to Tim (Austin) that they give me a call." Dan played the mandolin with the Lonesome River Band for about five years.
While he was still with the Lonesome River Band, Dan got a call from Alison Krauss.
Tyminski attributes his love for traditional bluegrass to such musicians and singers as Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Larry Sparks and Jimmy Martin.
Dan Tyminski plays Martin and Bourgeois guitars and Sim Daley mandolins. Dan also has three kids, Kathryn, Chris, and John. His wife is named Elise. (pronounced E-lees-a)
Dan Tyminski and Ron Block played together at the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival. They performed "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Road to Nash Vegas".
Dan is also known for the vocals on the song Hey Brother by Avicii
I Am a Man Of Constant Sorrow
Dan Tyminski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen trouble all my day
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised
(The place where he was born and raised)
For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasures here on earth I found
I have no friends to help me now
(He has no friends to help him now)
It's fare thee well my old lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
(Perhaps he'll die upon this train)
You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave
(While he is sleeping in his grave)
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face, you'll never see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
(He'll meet you on God's golden shore)
Dan Tyminski's song "Man of Constant Sorrow" is a sorrowful lament of a man's lifelong hardships. The lyrics, "I am a man of constant sorrow. I've seen trouble all my day," don't just speak to this individual's current difficulties, but instead allude to a lifetime of such experiences. "The place where I was born and raised," refers to his home in Kentucky which he is departing, likely in search of a better life. However, the line "For six long years I've been in trouble, no pleasures here on earth I found," suggests that his escape from Kentucky hasn't been as good as he'd hoped.
The song's most heartbreaking moment comes when the character reveals that he has no friends to rely on. "I have no friends to help me now." The pain in this statement is amplified by Tyminski's soulful vocals. The second verse further describes the character's sense of isolation. "It's fare thee well my old lover. I never expect to see you again. For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad. Perhaps I'll die upon this train." The lyrics paint a vivid image of a man not just down on his luck, but truly alone in the world. The final verse adds an emotional touch by acknowledging the possibility of his lover moving on after he dies, leaving him to eternally rest alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a man of constant sorrow
He has experienced a lot of misfortune in his life
I've seen trouble all my day
He has experienced trouble throughout his life
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
He is saying goodbye to his home state, Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised
Kentucky is where he was born and raised
For six long years I've been in trouble
He has been having problems for the last six years
No pleasures here on earth I found
He hasn't found any joy or pleasure in life
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
He is destined to continue wandering
I have no friends to help me now
He currently has no friends that can help him
It's fare thee well my old lover
He is saying goodbye to his old lover
I never expect to see you again
He doesn't anticipate seeing his old lover again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
He is destined to travel on the northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
He may die on this train
You can bury me in some deep valley
If he dies, he wants to be buried in a deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Wherever he is buried, he wants to stay there for a long time
Then you may learn to love another
After his death, his old lover may learn to love someone else
While I am sleeping in my grave
While he is buried in his grave
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
Her friends may not recognize him
My face, you'll never see no more
She won't see him in person anymore
But there is one promise that is given
There is one promise that he can make
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
He will meet her on heaven's shore
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Traditional, John Allen, Scott Mills, Victor Carrera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind