Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923, Deep Gap, North Carolina – May 29,… Read Full Bio ↴Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923, Deep Gap, North Carolina – May 29, 2012, Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was a guitar player, banjo player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music.

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.

Hick's Farewell
Doc Watson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

VERSION number one
--------------------------

My time is swiftly rolling on
When I must faint and die;
My body to the dust return
And there fergotten lie.
Let persecution rage around

And Antichrist appear;
My silent dust beneath the ground;
There's no disturbance there.

To call poor sinners to repent
And seek their Savior dear.
My brother preachers, boldly speak
And stand on Zion's wall.
Confirm the drunk, confirm the weak
And after sinners call.

My loving wife, my bosom friend,
The object of my love,
The time's been sweet l've spent with you,
My sweet and harmless dove,
My little children near my heart
My warm affections know.
From each the path will I attend.
O from them can I go?!

O God, a father to them be
And keep them from all harm,
That they may love and worship Thee
And dwell upon Thy charm.
How often you have looked fer me
And often seen me come.
But now I must depart from thee
And nevermore return.

My loving wife, don't grieve fer me,
Neither lament nor mourn;
Fer I will with my Jesus be
And dwell upon his charm.

VERSION number two
--------------------------
The time is swiftly rolling on
When I must faint and die,
My body to the dust return
And there forgotten lie.
Let persecutions rage around,
Let Antichrist appear;
Beneath the cold and silent ground
There's no disturbance there.

Through heats and cold I've toiled and went
And wandered in despair;
To call poor sinners to repent
And seek the Savior dear.

My brother preachers, boldly speak
And stand on Zion's wall.
Confirm the strong, revive the weak,
And after sinners call.

My little children, near my heart,
And nature seems to bind,
It grieves me sorely to depart
And leave you here behind.

Oh Lord, a father to them be
And keep them from all harm
That they may love and worship Thee
And dwell upon Thy charm.

My loving wife, my bosom friend,
The object of my love,
The time's been sweet I spent with thee,
My sweet, my harmless dove.

Though I must now depart from thee
Let this not grieve your heart,

For you will shortly come to me
Where we shall never part.

Overall Meaning

Doc Watson’s “Hicks’ Farewell” is a solemn hymn about the inevitability of death and the singer’s hopes for the afterlife. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges their own impending death and acceptance that their body will return to the earth. They also express their belief that their soul will be at peace in the grave regardless of the turmoil and persecution that may take place. The second verse speaks to the singer's dedication to spreading the gospel and calling sinners to repentance. In the third verse, the singer addresses their family, expressing their love and affection for them and their hope that they will all be reunited in heaven. Finally, the singer addresses their wife, urging her not to grieve their separation but to find comfort in the knowledge that they will be reunited in heaven.

The lyrics of “Hicks’ Farewell” are a testament to the religious convictions of the rural, southern communities that Doc Watson himself grew up in. The song reflects a belief in the afterlife and the importance of spreading the gospel while emphasizing the importance of family. The slow, mournful melody and Watson’s resonant voice convey a sense of sadness but also an underlying acceptance of the natural cycle of life and death.

Line by Line Meaning

My time is swiftly rolling on When I must faint and die; My body to the dust return And there fergotten lie.
Time is fleeting, and I must soon depart from this world. My physical body will return to the ground, and I will be forgotten.

Let persecution rage around And Antichrist appear; My silent dust beneath the ground; There's no disturbance there.
No matter what trials and tribulations plague those who remain on this earth, I will be at rest beneath the ground, oblivious to any turmoil.

To call poor sinners to repent And seek their Savior dear. My brother preachers, boldly speak And stand on Zion's wall. Confirm the drunk, confirm the weak And after sinners call.
I have spent my life preaching the Gospel to those who need to hear it. My fellow preachers should continue to boldly proclaim the Word of God, support the vulnerable, and invite sinners to come to Christ.

My loving wife, my bosom friend, The object of my love, The time's been sweet l've spent with you, My sweet and harmless dove, My little children near my heart My warm affections know. From each the path will I attend. O from them can I go?!
My wife and children are the most important things in my life. I cherish the time I have spent with them and love them deeply. It is difficult to part from them, and I wonder how I can bear to be separated from them.

O God, a father to them be And keep them from all harm, That they may love and worship Thee And dwell upon Thy charm.
I pray that God will protect and care for my family, that they may love and serve Him always.

How often you have looked fer me And often seen me come. But now I must depart from thee And nevermore return.
My loved ones have often awaited my return, but this time I must leave them and not return to them in this life.

My loving wife, don't grieve fer me, Neither lament nor mourn; Fer I will with my Jesus be And dwell upon his charm.
My wife should not be saddened by my departure, for I will be with Jesus and enjoying His presence forever.

Lyrics © SHINING SHADOWS MUSIC
Written by: BAKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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