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.
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
Doc Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bad luck's all I've ever had
Going down the road feeling bad, Lord, Lord
And I ain't' a-gonna be treated this a-way
Got me way down in jail on my knees
This old jailer he sure is hard to please
Feed me corn, bread and peas, Lord, Lord
Sweet mama, won't you buy me no shoes
Lord, she's left me with these lonesome jailhouse blues
My sweet mama won't buy me no shoes, Lord, Lord
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
And these two-dollar shoes they hurt my feet
The jailer won't gimme enough to eat
Lord, these two-dollar shoes they hurt my feet, Lord, Lord
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm going where the climate suits my clothes
Lord, I'm going where these chilly winds never blow (hm hm)
Going where the climate suits my clothes, Lord, Lord
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Yes, I'm going down the road feeling bad, Lord, Lord
Lord, I'm going down this road feeling bad
Bad luck is all I've ever had (it sure is)
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
"Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" is a traditional folk song that has been covered by many artists over the years. Doc Watson's version of the song is a classic, and his powerful vocals and guitar playing make this rendition particularly memorable. The lyrics of the song tell a story of someone who is down on their luck, stuck in jail without enough food or proper shoes, and yearning to escape to a better place where things might be different.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics - the singer is going down the road feeling bad and has never had much luck in their life. They are resigned to their fate but also determined to keep their spirit and dignity intact. The second verse reveals that the singer is in jail, and the jailer is being difficult and stingy with food. This is a common theme in many prison songs, where the inmates are often mistreated by the authorities.
The third verse is particularly poignant, as the singer laments the fact that their mother won't even buy them shoes. This line speaks to the singer's sense of abandonment and the feeling that they are alone in the world. The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer declares that they are going to a place where the climate is more hospitable and they won't be mistreated. This line speaks to the universal desire for a better life and the hope that things can always get better.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, it's going down the road feeling bad
The singer is feeling discouraged and unhappy as they travel down the road.
Bad luck's all I've ever had
The singer believes that they have had a lot of misfortune in their life.
Going down the road feeling bad, Lord, Lord
The singer is emphasizing their current state of discouragement and unhappiness.
And I ain't' a-gonna be treated this a-way
The artist is determined not to allow others to treat them poorly.
Got me way down in jail on my knees
The artist is currently incarcerated and feeling powerless.
This old jailer he sure is hard to please
The singer is experiencing difficulties with the jailer in charge of their well-being.
Feed me corn, bread and peas, Lord, Lord
The singer is expressing dissatisfaction with the jailer's meager offerings of food.
And I ain't gonna be treated this a-way
The artist is emphasizing their determination not to be treated poorly.
Sweet mama, won't you buy me no shoes
The artist is appealing to their mother for help in obtaining footwear.
Lord, she's left me with these lonesome jailhouse blues
The artist is feeling sad and lonely due to their current situation.
My sweet mama won't buy me no shoes, Lord, Lord
The singer is disappointed that their mother has not provided them with shoes.
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
The artist is reiterating their determination not to be treated poorly.
And these two-dollar shoes they hurt my feet
The singer is expressing discomfort with the shoes they have been given.
The jailer won't gimme enough to eat
The singer is experiencing difficulties with the jailer's provision of food.
Lord, these two-dollar shoes they hurt my feet, Lord, Lord
The singer is emphasizing their discomfort with their shoes.
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
The artist is reinforcing their determination not to be treated poorly.
I'm going where the climate suits my clothes
The artist is planning to go somewhere that is more comfortable for them.
Lord, I'm going where these chilly winds never blow (hm hm)
The singer desires to go to a warm location where they will not experience cold weather.
Going where the climate suits my clothes, Lord, Lord
The singer is emphasizing their plan to go where they will be comfortable.
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
The artist is reiterating their determination not to be treated poorly.
Yes, I'm going down the road feeling bad, Lord, Lord
The artist is still feeling discouraged and unhappy as they continue on their journey.
Lord, I'm going down this road feeling bad
The artist is emphasizing their current state of discouragement and unhappiness.
Bad luck is all I've ever had (it sure is)
The singer maintains that they have had a difficult life filled with misfortune.
And I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
The artist is continuing to reinforce their determination not to be treated poorly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DELANEY BRAMLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind