Doc played guitar in both flatpicking and fingerpicking style, but was best known for his flatpick work. His virtuosity combined with his authenticity as a mountain musician made him a highly influential figure during the folk music revival. He pioneered the fast and flashy bluegrass lead guitar style which has been adopted and extended by others such as Clarence White and Tony Rice. He was also an accomplished banjo player and in the past had accompanied himself on harmonica as well.
In 1986 he received the North Carolina Award and in 2000 he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 1997, Doc received the National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton.
He was generally joined on stage by his grandson and Merle's son Richard as well as his musical partner of twenty years, Jack Lawrence.
He was host to the annual MerleFest music festival held every April at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The festival features a vast array of acoustic style music focusing on the folk, bluegrass, blues and old time music genres. It's named in honor of Merle Watson and is one of the most popular acoustic music festivals in the world, drawing over 85,000 music fans each year.
In late May 2012, Watson was listed in critical condition but was responsive at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after undergoing colon surgery. Watson had fallen early in the week. Watson did not break any bones, but an underlying condition prompted the surgery. Watson died on May 29, 2012 at the medical center at the age of 89.
Bird Dog
Doc Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A very funny joker (he's a bird)
But when he jokes my honey (he's a dog)
His jokin' ain't so funny (what a dog)
Johnny is a joker that's a'tryin' to steal my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
Johnny sings a love song (like a bird)
He sings the sweetest love song (ya ever heard)
But when he sings to my gal (what a howl)
To me he's just a wolf dog (on the prowl)
Johnny wants to fly away and puppy-love my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
Johnny kissed the teacher (he's a bird)
He tiptoed up to reach her (he's a bird)
Well he's the teacher's pet now (he's a dog)
What he wants he can get now (what a dog)
He even made the teacher let him sit next to my baby (he's a bird dog)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
Doc Watson's song "Bird Dog" is a humorous tale of a man named Johnny, who is both a joker and a singer with the voice of a bird. However, Johnny's affections for the singer's girlfriend have turned him into what the singer calls a "dog." The lyrics are playful and witty, with the use of bird and dog imagery to describe Johnny's behavior toward the singer's girlfriend. The singer repeatedly tells Johnny to stay away from his girl, using the phrase "hey bird dog" to address him. The chorus reiterates this warning, telling Johnny to find his own girl to pursue.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a warning to other men to stay away from the singer's girlfriend, or they can be seen as a light-hearted portrayal of a love triangle. The use of animal imagery adds to the playful tone of the song, and the catchy melody makes it an enjoyable tune to sing along to.
Overall, "Bird Dog" is a fun and lighthearted song that showcases Doc Watson's skill as a songwriter and singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny is a joker (he's a bird)
Johnny is a playful person, always fooling around (like a bird)
A very funny joker (he's a bird)
Johnny is a really amusing comedian (like a bird)
But when he jokes my honey (he's a dog)
However, when he makes fun of my girlfriend (he's like a hunting dog)
His jokin' ain't so funny (what a dog)
It's not really funny when Johnny teases my girlfriend (he's acting like a dog)
Johnny is a joker that's a'tryin' to steal my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny is a comedian who wants to take my girlfriend away from me (he's acting like a hunting dog that's after a bird)
Hey, bird dog get away from my quail
Stop pursuing my girlfriend, just like a bird dog would chase after a quail
Hey, bird dog you're on the wrong trail
You're going after the wrong girl, just like a bird dog would follow the wrong trail
Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone
You should leave my girlfriend alone, just like a bird dog would stop chasing a lovey-dove
Johnny sings a love song (like a bird)
When Johnny sings, he sounds sweet and romantic, like a singing bird
He sings the sweetest love song (ya ever heard)
His love songs are really sweet and delightful, like the songs of a bird
But when he sings to my gal (what a howl)
However, when he sings to my girlfriend, it's really bad and off-key (like a howling dog)
To me he's just a wolf dog (on the prowl)
To me, he's like a dog that's always looking out for someone new to flirt with (like a wolf dog on the prowl)
Johnny wants to fly away and puppy-love my baby (he's a bird dog)
Johnny wants to escape with my girlfriend and have a puppy-like romance (like a hunting dog that's finally caught his bird)
Johnny kissed the teacher (he's a bird)
Johnny is mischievous and took advantage of the situation, kissing the teacher (like a sneaky bird)
He tiptoed up to reach her (he's a bird)
He approached her quietly and cautiously, like a bird landing on a branch
Well he's the teacher's pet now (he's a dog)
Now he has won the teacher's favor and gets special treatment, like a pet dog
What he wants he can get now (what a dog)
He can get whatever he wants, just like a well-trained dog
He even made the teacher let him sit next to my baby (he's a bird dog)
He convinced the teacher to let him sit next to my girlfriend, just like a hunting dog that's good at getting what he wants
Hey, bird dog get away from my chick
Stop pursuing my girlfriend, just like a bird dog would chase after a small bird
Hey, bird dog you better get away quick
You need to leave as soon as possible, just like a bird dog would flee when chased away by its owner
Bird dog you better find a chicken little of your own
You should find someone else to chase, just like a bird dog should find its own chicken to hunt
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind