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.
Crawdad Hole
Doc Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You get a line and I'll get a pole babe
You get a line and I'll get a pole we'll go down
To the crawdad hole honey, sugar baby mine
Sit on the bank til my feet get cold honey
Sit on the bank til my feet get cold babe
Sit on the bank til my feet get cold we'll go down
Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go (clap)
Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go (clap)
Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go (clap)
Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go (clap)
Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go (clap)
What will you do when the lake goes dry honey
What will you do when the lake goes dry babe
What will you do when the lake goes dry sit right there
Watch the crawdads die hone, sugar baby mine
You get a line and I'll get a pole , honey
The lyrics to Doc Watson's song 'Crawdad Hole' depict a playful and lighthearted exchange between two lovers. The chorus consists of the repeated line, "You get a line and I'll get a pole, honey" which refers to the act of catching crawdads. The "crawdad hole" is essentially a shallow area in a body of water where crawdads are abundant.
The first verse suggests that the couple is planning to make a trip down to the crawdad hole to catch crawdads. They seem excited and eager to enjoy each other's company while engaged in this activity. The second verse presents a more relaxed mood as they sit on the bank and wait for their feet to thaw. The chorus then repeats, followed by a very rhythmic instrumental section where they clap and chant "Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go."
The final verse is somewhat melancholic, reminding us of the transience of things. It hints at the idea that the lake may eventually dry up and the crawdads wither away. Regardless, it's clear that the couple is enjoying the present moment and relishing in their love for one another.
Overall, Doc Watson's 'Crawdad Hole' is a charming and upbeat tune that celebrates the simple joys of life, companionship, and the beauty of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
You get a line and I'll get a pole , honey
Let's catch some crawdads together, my sweet love.
You get a line and I'll get a pole babe
Let's work together to catch some crawdads, my dear.
You get a line and I'll get a pole we'll go down
To the crawdad hole honey, sugar baby mine
Let's head down to the crawdad hole and catch us some crawdads, my sweet honey.
Sit on the bank til my feet get cold honey
Let's take our time and sit on the bank until my feet start to get cold while we're catching crawdads, love.
Sit on the bank til my feet get cold babe
Let's relax and enjoy the moment together while catching crawdads until my feet turn cold, my dear.
Sit on the bank til my feet get cold we'll go down
To the crawdad hole honey, sugar baby mine
Let's take our time and relax on the bank until my feet get cold, then head back down to the crawdad hole to catch more crawdads, my sweet honey.
Crawdad hole way down to the crawdad hole lets go (clap)
Let's make our way down to the crawdad hole and catch some crawdads together, yay!
What will you do when the lake goes dry honey
My love, what will we do when there are no more crawdads left in the lake?
What will you do when the lake goes dry babe
My dear, what will we do when the crawdads in the lake are no more?
What will you do when the lake goes dry sit right there
Watch the crawdads die hone, sugar baby mine
When there are no more crawdads left in the lake, we'll sit and watch them die and remember the good times we had together catching crawdads, my sweet honey.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOU WILLIE TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind