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.
Shady Grove
Doc Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cheeks as red as a blooming rose
And eyes are the prettiest brown
She's the darling of my heart
I wish I had a big fine horse
And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
Went to see my Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stockin's in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
When I was a little boy
I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove
To say she'll be my wife
A kiss from pretty little Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
And there ain't no girl in this old world
That's prettier than mine
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
The song "Shady Grove" by Doc Watson is a classic folk tune about the singer's love for a girl named Shady Grove. The lyrics portray the singer's affection for Shady Grove, stating how she has "cheeks as red as a blooming rose" and "eyes [that] are the prettiest brown." The singer wishes he could stay with Shady Grove, but he is "bound to go away." He dreams of having a big fine horse and corn to feed it, with Shady Grove staying at home to take care of it while he's gone.
In the second verse, the singer visits Shady Grove at her home and finds her standing in the doorway, holding her shoes and stockings in her hand, with little bare feet on the floor. He describes his lifelong desire for a Barlow knife as a child, but now he wants Shady Grove to be his wife. The final verse states that a kiss from Shady Grove is as sweet as brandy wine, and there is no girl in the world prettier than her.
The song is a simple yet powerful expression of love and longing, with vivid imagery that captures the listener's attention. The melody is an upbeat, catchy tune that adds to the charm of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Shady Grove, my little love
Referring to Shady Grove as a term of endearment
Shady Grove I say
Emphasizing the importance of Shady Grove in my life
Shady Grove, my little love
Repeating the term of endearment for added emphasis
I'm bound to go away
Expressing regret in having to leave Shady Grove despite attachment
Cheeks as red as a blooming rose
Commenting on the beauty of Shady Grove's rosy cheeks
And eyes are the prettiest brown
Appreciating Shady Grove's beautiful brown eyes
She's the darling of my heart
Emphasizing how special Shady Grove is to the singer
Sweetest girl in town
Declaring Shady Grove to be the most pleasant person in the vicinity
I wish I had a big fine horse
Expressing a desire for a better life
And corn to feed him on
Describing a practical need for the horse
And Shady Grove to stay at home
Expressing the desire for Shady Grove to wait at home
And feed him while I'm gone
Asking Shady Grove to take care of the house and the horse while the artist is away
Went to see my Shady Grove
Describing a visit to Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Depicting where Shady Grove is located when the singer visits her
Her shoes and stockin's in her hand
Noting a detail in Shady Grove's appearance when she opened the door
And her little bare feet on the floor
Continuing to describe the shoes and stocking-less feet of Shady Grove
When I was a little boy
Recalling a previous stage in life as a child
I wanted a Barlow knife
Acknowledging a childhood desire for a particular item
And now I want little Shady Grove
Comparing a present desire to a past desire
To say she'll be my wife
Asking Shady Grove to agree to a lifetime commitment
A kiss from pretty little Shady Grove
Expressing desire to be physically intimate with Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
Comparing the sweetness of Shady Grove's lips to wine
And there ain't no girl in this old world
Saying that Shady Grove is special and unique
That's prettier than mine
Declaring that there is no girl more beautiful than Shady Grove
Shady Grove, my little love
Repeating a term of endearment to close the song
Shady Grove I say
Echoing the importance of Shady Grove in the singer's life
Shady Grove, my little love
A full-circle recall of the opening verses, ending with a term of endearment
I'm bound to go away
A final acknowledgement of the gravity of leaving Shady Grove
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind