Flatt and Scruggs met as members of Bill Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys in 1946. They both left that band early in 1948, and within a few months had formed their own group, the Foggy Mountain Boys. Scruggs' banjo style and Flatt's vocals gave them a distinctive sound that won them many fans. In 1955 they became members of the Grand Ole Opry. Many of the songs on their albums are credited to "Certain and Stacey". These were in fact written by Flatt and Scruggs and various other members of the Foggy Mountain Boys. Certain and Stacey are the maiden names of the wives of Flatt and Scruggs. Louise Certain, wife of Earl Scruggs and Gladys Stacey, wife of Lester Flatt.
Scruggs, who had always shown progressive tendencies, experimented on duets with saxophonist King Curtis and added songs by the likes of Bob Dylan to the group's repertoire. Flatt, a traditionalist, did not like these changes, and the group broke up in 1969. Following the breakup, Lester Flatt founded the Nashville Grass and Scruggs lead the Earl Scruggs Revue. Flatt died in 1979, while Scruggs continued to perform until his death in March 2012. Flatt and Scruggs were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985
Flatt & Scruggs may be best known however as the performers of "The Ballad of Jed Clampit" the theme song from the sixties television show "The Beverly Hillbillies". Flatt & Scruggs made cameo appearances on the "The Beverly Hillbillies" as well.
I'll Never Shed Another Tear
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For I thought you meant the world to me
But now things have changed and those days are gone forever
So I'll never shed another tear
I'll never shed another tear now I don't care what happens
You have proved your love untrue to me
There's nothing you can do that will ever change my feelings
With a broken heart I'll never forget the vows we made together
The many times you told me not to fear
But now you've forgotten and you've left me here forever
So I'll never shed another tear
Now you should have told me dear that you were only fooling
Then I'd never learn to love you so
Then I wouldn't have all these heartaches my darling
Dreading the day I see you go
The song "I'll Never Shed Another Tear" by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs is a heart-wrenching ballad about a person who has been betrayed in love. The lyrics narrate the pain that lingers in the heart of the singer after being let down by their lover. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about the past when they used to worry about losing their lover who meant the world to them. However, the singer has now come to terms with the fact that their lover's love was not true, and vows to never shed another tear for them. The pain of the betrayal remains with the singer, but they have accepted the situation and choose not to cry.
The second verse shows the singer fighting with their broken heart and struggling to forget the promises they made together. The singer remembers the times when their lover promised to never leave them, but now they have to endure the pain of being left behind forever. The pain of betrayal is unbearable, but the singer won't cry anymore. In the last verse, the singer wishes that their lover had been honest about their intentions from the beginning. If they had known their lover intended to fool them, they would never have fallen in love, and they wouldn't have to go through the agony of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to sit alone at night and worry little darling
I used to be worried about our relationship when I was alone at night, my dear
For I thought you meant the world to me
I believed that you were everything for me in this world, my love
But now things have changed and those days are gone forever
Now everything has changed and those days are gone forever
So I'll never shed another tear
So, I made a decision that I will never shed another tear for you my dear.
I'll never shed another tear now I don't care what happens
Now, I don't care what happens because I will never cry again for you, my dear.
You have proved your love untrue to me
You proved to me that your love for me was not true, my love.
There's nothing you can do that will ever change my feelings
Nothing can ever change the way I feel, my dear.
So I'll never shed another tear
So, I made a decision that I will never shed another tear for you, my dear.
With a broken heart I'll never forget the vows we made together
My heart is broken, and I will never forget the vows we made together, my love.
The many times you told me not to fear
You have told me many times to not fear anything, my dear.
But now you've forgotten and you've left me here forever
But now you have forgotten everything and left me here forever, my love.
So I'll never shed another tear
So, I made a decision that I will never shed another tear for you, my dear.
Now you should have told me dear that you were only fooling
You should have told me earlier that you were only fooling around, my dear.
Then I'd never learn to love you so
If you had told me earlier, I would never have fallen so deeply in love with you, my dear.
Then I wouldn't have all these heartaches my darling
If only you had told me earlier, I would not be in so much heartache right now, my love.
Dreading the day I see you go
I am dreading the day when you will finally leave me, my love.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LESTER FLATT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-qw1et7yo4m
That's some good solid bluegrass by
the masters Flatt and Scruggs.
@grammadee9443
Love it.THANKs for sharing. Never got to see them they never came to MASS that i know of.got to see bill.monroe thou.
@kennydobbins1345
They were Protestant, that's why.
@brasspick
This separates the good from the TRULY GREAT!!! I don't think Chuck Noll would have suggested law-degrees to Flatt & Scruggs.