Scruggs joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in late 1945 and his syncopated, three-finger picking style quickly became a sensation. In 1948 Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt left Monroe's band and formed Flatt and Scruggs. In 1969, Flatt and Scruggs broke up and Scruggs started a new band, the Earl Scruggs Revue, featuring several of his sons.
Flatt and Scruggs won a Grammy Award in 1969 for Scruggs' instrumental Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Scruggs was an inaugural inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1991.
In 2002 Scruggs won a second Grammy award for the 2001 recording of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, which featured artists such as Steve Martin on 2nd banjo solo (Martin played the banjo tune on his 1970s stand-up comic acts), Vince Gill and Albert Lee on electric guitar solos, Paul Shaffer on piano, Leon Russell on organ, and Marty Stuart on mandolin. The album, Earl Scruggs and Friends, also featured artists such as Elton John, Sting, Johnny Cash, Don Henley, Travis Tritt, and Billy Bob Thornton. Earl Scruggs and Friends (MCA Nashville, 2001).
On February 13, 2003, Scruggs received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On September 13, 2006, Scruggs was honored at Turner Field in Atlanta as part of the pre-game show for an Atlanta Braves home game. Organizers set a world record (239) for the most banjo players playing one song together (Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Breakdown).
Scruggs' wife and manager Louise Scruggs died on February 2, 2006 at the age of 78 at Nashville, TN's Baptist Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Heavy Traffic Ahead
Earl Scruggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We load our music up on the run
Heavy traffic ahead, heavy traffic ahead
We got to ramble ramble there's heavy traffic ahead
We pull out of Nashville right on time
The Blue Grass special heads down the line
We traveled around from state to state
The Bluegrass boys are never late
Late in the evening about sundown
You know we've come from some other town
We do our work with a good will
On Friday night we head for Nashville
The lyrics of Heavy Traffic Ahead by Earl Scruggs’s song depict the life of a bluegrass musician traveling from one town to another for their gigs. The song describes the musicians' routine as they load their music and instruments on the run after finishing their work on Saturdays. Earl Scruggs, being a bluegrass musician himself, uses lyrics that showcase their day to day life that they have to face out on the road to make a living. The song talks about how they face traffic congestion and have to ramble along while going to different towns.
The second verse talks about the Blue Grass Special train, which is the means of transportation for many bluegrass bands. The lyrics illustrate how the Bluegrass boys travel from state to state and always reach their destination on time. The third verse describes the journey, which starts in the morning and ends in the evening after sundown. The bluegrass boys never miss their gigs and are always on time. The fourth verse talks about how they always perform with a good will and give their best on stage. On Fridays, they head back to Nashville, ready for the next gig.
In summary, the song Heavy Traffic Ahead by Earl Scruggs depicts the life of a bluegrass musician and the struggles they face on the road, including traffic congestion and the journey from one town to another. The song portrays how these musicians have a passion for music and are always ready to perform, no matter what hurdles they face.
Line by Line Meaning
On Saturday night when our work is done
After working during the week, on Saturday night we take our music with us and hit the road
We load our music up on the run
We quickly pack up our instruments and equipment and head out
Heavy traffic ahead, heavy traffic ahead
We anticipate a lot of cars on the road which may slow us down
We got to ramble ramble there's heavy traffic ahead
We must keep moving and be persistent in getting through the traffic we might encounter
We pull out of Nashville right on time
We leave the city on schedule
The Blue Grass special heads down the line
Our band and our music are on the move
We traveled around from state to state
We tour across different US states to perform
The Bluegrass boys are never late
We are always punctual in our performances
Late in the evening about sundown
Our journey usually lasts till the evening where we may catch the sunset
You know we've come from some other town
People are aware that we are not locals and we came from somewhere else to perform
We do our work with a good will
We perform with passion and dedication
On Friday night we head for Nashville
After touring and performing, we head back to where it all started, Nashville
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BILL MONROE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sambsialia
Ive always found in videos that if Mr. Trishka is smiling it’s good. It is!
@bigalp1831
Maddie is such a doll. Extremely good player. 👍
@stephenhenion8304
Now, That's My kind of Grass!!🎵🎶🎵
@Lonesomecowboyblues
Super super version! Greetings from Italy!! I love this stuff❤❤❤
@sophiawolfe2663
i’m so glad youtube recommended this to me, you guys are awesome
@smoke4287
Just got hit by the algorithm, this might a get a few thousand views good luck!
@loukerst9091
Wonderful mix for what it seems is only one microphone. Very tasteful playing out of each player. Great job folks!
@dogtails1000
YES SIR
@randywhitebanjo4639
Right on! nice grass. Loving it here in the great Pacific NW!
@j.wagner7266
Fantastic! Thank you so much