Earl Eugene Scruggs (born January 6, 1924, Shelby, North Carolina-died Marc… Read Full Bio ↴Earl Eugene Scruggs (born January 6, 1924, Shelby, North Carolina-died March 28, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee) was a musician noted for creating a banjo style (now called Scruggs style and also formerly known as the three-finger style) that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music.

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.

Reuben
Earl Scruggs Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Reuben' by these artists:

Cathy Davey Reuben, i've been told That you got fire in your pocket,…
Johnny Cash Have you heard of the ship, called the good Reuben…
June Carter Rueben, Rueben, I been a thinking What a sad world this…
June Carter Cash Rueben, Rueben, I been a thinking What a sad world this…
The Be Good Tanyas Well, who's gonna shoe your pretty little foot? Who's gonna …
The Dillards Ol Reuben made a train & he put it on…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Earl Scruggs:

Baby Blue Eyes I wonder if I'll ever forget you And if our love…

Back To The Cross I'm out on the sea filled with sorrows Tossed like a…
Before I Met You I thought I'd seen pretty girls in my time That was…
Black Mountain Blues When I was young And in my prime (in my…
Borrowed Love At every glance, you steal from me I catch your…
Bouquet In Heaven When it's decoration day up in Heaven There's a bouquet I'm…
Bugle Call Rag You're bound to fall for the bugle call; You're gonna brag…
Cabin On the Hill There's a happy childhood home in my memory I can…
Come Back Darling Tonight as I sit by my window I'm reading your letter…
Country Comfort Soon the pines will be falling everywhere Village children f…
Doin My Time On this old rock pile with a ball and chain They…
Down The Road Now down the road just a mile or two Lives a…
Fill Her Up Mobil station where I stand This old gas pump in my…
Foggy Mountain Top If I was on some foggy mountain top I'd sail away…
Give Me the Flowers While I'm Living In this world today while we're living some folks say…
Give Mother My Crown She labored so hard in this world below she didn't…
Heaven When it's decoration day up in Heaven There's a bouquet I'm…
Heavy Traffic Ahead On Saturday night when our work is done We load our…
Hey Jude Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and…
Hey Porter Hey, Porter Hey Porter Would you tell me the time? How mu…
I Saw The Light I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin I wouldn't let…
I Shall Be Released They say everything can be replaced They say every distance…
I'd Rather Be Alone I'd rather be alone and have you dream of me…
I'll Be Going To Heaven Sometime Are you going to be A saint on that shore Are the…
I'll Never Love Another I used to sit alone at night and worry little…
I've Lost You I've got something to tell you That I think you ought…
It Won't Be Long There will come a time some morning when all the…
It's Mighty Dark to Travel It's mighty dark for me to travel For my sweetheart she…
Love is Just a Four Letter Word Seems like only yesterday I left my mind behind Down in the…
Mandolin Wind When the rain came I thought you'd leave 'Cause I knew…
My Cabin In Caroline There's a cabin in the pines in the hills of…
My Little Girl In Tennessee Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee I know she's waiting…
Never Ending Song Of Love I've got a never ending love for you From now on,…
No Mother Or Dad Now brother and I are all alone We have no place…
Old Salty Dog Blues Standin' on the corner with the low down blues Is a…
On My Mind I can't sleep and I can't eat all I do…
Passin' Thru Well I have stood upon the mountain I have seen the…
Propinquity ccccccccccccccccccccccI've known for a long time The kind o…
Reunion in Heaven When it's decoration day up in Heaven There's a bouquet I'm…
Ring Of Fire Love is a burning thing and it makes a firery ring bound…
Rock Salt And Nails On the banks of the river, …
Roll In My Sweet Baby If I was on some foggy mountain top I'd sail away…
Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms I ain't gonna work on the railroad I ain't gonna work…
Salty Dog Blues Standin' on the corner with the low down blues Is a…
Same Old Train Well I got on in Bristol, by the old Virgina…
Some Of Shelley's Blues Tell me, Just one more time the reasons why you must…
The Angels Sometimes I feel like an innocent one To deserve this fate…
The Banks Of The Ohio I asked my love to take a walk, Just a little…
The Cabin There's a cabin in the pines in the hills of…
Thinking About You I've got something to tell you That I think you ought…
Till The End Of The World Rolls 'Round 'Til the end of the world rolls round, I'll keep…
True Love Never Dies The last time I thought about leavin' Was the last time…
Wabash Cannonball From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore Gre…
We'll Meet Again Sweetheart The time has come to say goodbye I'm asking you to…
What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul Brother how far, from the saviour today Risking your soul, f…
What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul? Brother how far, from the saviour today Risking your soul, …
When the Saints Go Marching In Oh when the saints go marching in when the saints…

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere Clouds so swift Rain won't lift Gate won't close Railings fr…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

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Comments from YouTube:

@samueldavidrucker7514

4y↑42

I have been in a whole new musical wonderland with these guys. I never had any clue what brilliant musicians they were and how much really great music they made! Thank you for letting me be exposed to this All-American treasure!

@freedapeeple4049

3y↑2

Check out Billy Strings if you haven't already

@anniefannycharles9951

1y↑5

My glorious and most talented fellow Countrymen!! American music LIVES!!!!!

@Christiern-Knudsen333

11w↑1

I love Earl’s harmonics

@banjomasterr

10y↑30

Some times when I see him play I wanna cry

@superchef78

10y

Why?

@banjomasterr

10y↑4

I was just being sarcastic but he's the man

@waynebrown616

2y↑4

Rueben. The greatest banjo tune.....ever. This arrangement is the best I've heard.

@kirtnlisa

10y↑77

I can't say enough, "I love this man and his style." Earl Scruggs has the most nonchalant style and is so SO great at his craft. Listening is teriffic, don't get me wrong, I love Lester Flatt and the guys, but to see Mr Scruggs play.... well.... I just consider myself lucky to have seen these videos, thank you so much for posting them!

@DuskY1991

10y↑6

I dabbled with Lester's way of playing rhythm guitar and it's really amazing what he did. Earl's playing surely benefitted from that.

@ragingaggr0n710

Amen to that

@1930Granada

6y↑1

What I'I've noticed about him is that unlike today's players, he don't really look at the neck all that much.

@1930Granada

6y↑1

kal

Admittedly, he played almost everything with a subtle smile on his face.

@lapboard340

5y↑4

So sad that 23 people gave this a thumbs down.... this is pure gold! Everyone gets a turn playing!

@redwolf7929

2y↑1

Every single member of this band is great.ive been watching all the videos of it, long before my time

@robarsenault7500

9y↑19

JUST SIMPLY THE MASTER!!!!!!!

@sherrysetliff2502

5y↑7

Flatt and scrugs and the Stanley's , can't go wrong.

@rickybateman898

38w

Earl Scruggs, the GOAT!…and there will never be another!

@cassieatkins6143

8y↑58

This makes me so happy. I don't know how young people my age don't like blue grass

@damianhess

8y↑11

+Cassie Atkins (Cassiecass) Because you have good taste and a lot of em don't.

@caseywh02

8y↑3

+Tool Time that's right!

@lukenitschke3209

8y↑9

+Cassie Atkins (Cassiecass) i love bluegrass and im 14

@sawomirmanikowski6742

6y↑2

b'cause they're idiots?

@merlinsmith5524

4y↑1

Banjoin’ Benjamin same

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@greengiant3815

3y↑3

So awesome to listen to.. great talented folk..

@lovethatagave

5y↑5

Wonderful. One of my favorites.

@fullshark09

3y↑2

Good ole cousin Jake coming through. He seemed like a very energetic individual.

@psb9537

6y↑3

Thank you for sharing this. This is a big influence in my life. I listened to this music with my father, we loved it!

@metalabsynth

6y↑10

Much like Ralph Stanley, earls playing always outshined anyone he played with, the ease he hits every note, nothing is out of place, and he had great volume control

@Charlie-fx9dp

3y↑1

Bluegrass stay nice music even in 2021... From France.

@kingcobra4567

4y↑2

That was so damn good I listened to er twice

@nottavictim5

4y↑1

Just incredible virtuosos. All of em

@leafforever9174

Speechless. Period...................................................

@StringbeanFPV

4y↑1

This guy just played one hour a day. And no Earl did not create the three finger style contrary to popular belief. But none the less he took this style and absolutely blew it up. An absolute legend

@Adriancee555

My boy said YESSSSIR at the end 😂🤘🏼

@deirdreprewette6505

2y↑1

Earl was the best ever.

@martysmith1626

6y↑112

Before they had computers to make music, all they had was talent.

@Claidheambmor

3y↑9

You have no idea how much time it takes to make electronic music sound good... I'm a guitarist of 15 years and have spent about five years consecutively making electronic music. Trust me, the 10,000 hours you have to spend on guitar is no different!

@collecter3456

3y↑2

@@Claidheambmor He means learning an instrument without youtube videos or online tabs and such.

@ryanpenman251

3y↑5

No auto tune, no gimmicks

@jamesskearyjr

3y↑2

Very simplified view. For not only is this not electronic but it's reminiscent of our great american ancestors, this one clearly jazzed up a bit, but as a genre is a calling to purity and righteousness. A calling of our great wasp ancestors. A direct opposition to the global occult african noise of this modern era. Something that the Lord's hand is in.

@cheesenoodles8316

3y↑1

String band, gather on the back porch and magic.

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@billcross9508

Josh is such a BOSS.....

@writerrad

1y↑1

Earl claimed that about the age of 14 or 15 he transitioned from 2 finger to 3 finger picking this tune, so this had a special place in his music

@monicajohns66

7y↑3

That sweet banjo, like eating candy.

@evanmcroberts5427

9y↑1

his Granada is beautiful

@jirimarkvart1941

5y↑1

Classic Earla Scruggs. R.I.P.

@thomasgriffin8368

Wow!!

@TheMegaHarvey

9y↑10

As a banjo man I wish I could've seen earl play

@freedapeeple4049

I saw The Earl Scruggs Revue way back in the 70s. His son Randy was as good, or better(!), on the guitar as his dad was on banjo. I feel very fortunate to have seen them.

@mikewood866

9y↑6

He really was a true Master. Wasn't that also called Reubens Train?

@boblackey1

9y↑7

I've heard it called Lonesome Ruben. I dad bought a copy of "Foggy Mountain Banjo" when it came out about 1960 and played it over and over but I enjoyed it too. It was a Flatt and Scruggs all instrumental album with Ground Speed, Ruben, Little Darlin' Pal of Mine, Cripple Creek, Cumberland Gap, Lonesome Road Blues, Bugle Call Rag, Sally Ann, Sally Goodwin, Home Sweet Home, John Henry and I can't think of the others. Surprised I remember those but I head him play the record about 400 times.

@mikewood866

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your message, I only know it as Reubens train, great little tune.
I haven't heard a couple of the others you mention
All the best,
Mike

@gregoryaisemberg2712

Outstanding

@arthurogle7581

6y↑1

Earl plays this in D Natural.Never heard it in any other key. They wouldnt dare to!!!!

@Engineer1897

40w

The Great Earl Scruggs!

@ronlackey2689

I was listening to an interview and Earl Scruggs said he invented the 3 finger picking when when he was 10 years old practicing this very song. he played it the normal 2 finger style of the time but adjusted it and history was made.

@patrickjamessimpson7268

6y↑4

brilliant. they don't need computers to get a good tune. gets your foot tappin away

@rasonjason4066

5y↑1

This is the real deal

@enzogiargia8857

Thank you so much for this posting

@thesouthernotaku9004

9y↑5

I can play this tune, but not the way Earl did it, lol, those are some hot licks.

@kingcobra4567

Oh and don't forget that sweet sweet slide guitar

@MerchXplorer

Anyone else see how fast Graves jumped in there on the mic?

@Mason_bluegrass

poeple dont undestand bluegrass is realy another level... i play all instruments . banjo is my favorite but nothing beat playing a old dreadnought martin

@cliffstates63

Reubens train... Ruby's another good song.

@BrandtM84

9y↑1

Cliff States the riff that earl plays is the same as Ruby thats why its confusing, look it up

@cliffstates63

Brandt. What'd talkin about ? I play. Its ALL confusing... Lol. Besides , reuben is an old song, earl didnt write it... When earl was little, his brother ridiculed him for the way he was playin it, so he tweeked it... Makin it his own i guess. Osborns did ruby much later.. Correct me if im wrong...

@kishintuchis7076

15w

BILL MONTOE SAID THE SPACE BETWEEN THE NOTES IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE NOTES . EARL HAD IT ALL . THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT BANJO PLAYERS TODAY ( 1 / 24 ) , BUT NONE BETTER THAN EARL

@dennissmith8370

Mightie fine picking

@eddyflo2978

the greatest banjo-er and than D Ray white took it to a whole other universe by his dance.

RIP to the masters

@davidturbo8566

8y↑2

Josh graves was an amazing bass player.

@pegcage

8y↑3

Dobro.

@warrentedder7133

david turbo

@davidturbo8566

Mary Cage yeah I know that's a dobro but I thought the guy playing the standup bass was josh but now I know it's not

@jonathangude2504

He's the dobro player.

@davidturbo8566

Josh at 1:20

1 More Replies...

@jamesthrasher3088

7y↑2

"Jake" Turlock on bass.

@calebsmith6236

7y↑2

The only thing that is frustrating about earl Scruggs is that he didn't tune to 440 standard. He was always higher than it. Makes it hard to play along sometimes

@barryclevenger7456

7y↑1

I read somewhere that the reason that they all tuned a little higher than 440 was because of Lester's voice being so high. In later years, they tuned more to 440. That's what I read anyway. I play banjo too and when I started it was a little frustrating having to tune higher so I know where you are coming from. lol

@metalabsynth

caleb smith his later performances were tuned down, I always just assumed he was playing a bigger banjo later on

@rasonjason4066

It's perfect. That's all I know.

@stevenwhite4281

Capo one fret and adjust!

@ised-5239

Reuben is the major version of Nashville Blues.

@tedtedsen269

2y↑1

Im told that Scruggs played the best banjo GIBSON the Deering is not even close im tolda im a deering player my selfe must admit the GIBSON premium models are KING

@TheDave448

10y

SD 2014

@bobg.9585

LET ER GO JOSH!!!!!!!

@joewingard29

37w

they are awesome... but why only one microphone?

@briscoedarling3237

4y↑1

They needs some juggin’ in this tune....

@tyreedavis8596

9y↑2

whats the song where one of them acts like the guitar is a little kid asking him questions

@Realcls

9y↑2

Mama Blues

@mikego18753

41w

Ha Ha,great.

@wyattcollins7587

9y↑2

Isn't this song called "Ruby"?

@TheAzmountaineer

9y↑1

nope - it's 'Reuben'; although I think I've heard it called 'Lonesome Reuben', too.

@dirtbagdarrell2008

9y↑1

+Wyatt Collins its called Reuben's train

@gtabanjo8476

9y↑2

+Wyatt Collins The Osborne Brothers wrote a song using the same tune and called it Ruby.

@wyattcollins7587

GTA BANJO Yes, you're right! i knew I heard this tune elsewhere called Ruby!

@JanJohanssonmusic

6y↑2

@@gtabanjo8476 - Train 45 is another in the same family of related tunes.

@caseywh02

8y↑4

Makes me wanna eat a reuben

@SARAH-qx8yi

Sexiest banjo picker to ever live. Playing it like it's hot. Only way to pick on a banjo.

@j.m.3752

Isn't the name of this song "Ruby," not "Reuben"?

@MrPhantooz

Ruby just sounds similar they are different

@carolinagirl4759

Earl Scruggs putting the capital C on cool.

@getthefffffoffme

Lanny on Mando.

@DanDDirges

Mr Scruggs is a bad man. I think I should just chuck my banjer and stick to the kazu

@zwiebelkuchen418

I can hardly play up the neck and he’s going straight past the neck. 😔

@rijden-nu

What is it with the decades long fashion fad where everyone tilted their cowbow hats to the side? It looks so strange.

@marclayne9261

39w

No one can out Banjo a Hillbilly...!

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