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.
My Little Girl in Tennessee
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, a long long time ago when I left my home to roam
Down in the hills of Tennessee
Was the sweetest little girl that was ever in this world
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, she begged me not to go, ?You'll be sorry, dear, I know?
For the way that you've were treating me
So I rambled all around and nothing could be found
To take the place of her in Tennessee
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, someday I'll wander back to that little cabin shack
Little girl that's waiting there for me
I can see her smiling face waiting for me at the gate
Oh, the little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
The song "My Little Girl in Tennessee" by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs is a heartfelt ode to a lost love. The singer left his home a long time ago to travel the hills of Tennessee, where he met and fell in love with a sweet little girl. The lyrics suggest that he mistreated her and she begged him not to go, warning him that he would regret his actions. He ultimately left her behind and traveled elsewhere, but nothing could be found to replace her.
Despite the time that has passed, the singer still longs for his little girl in Tennessee. He plans to settle down with her someday in the little country town where they once shared happy memories. He can still see her smiling face waiting for him at the gate, and he knows she's still waiting for him.
The song is a poignant reminder of lost love and the regret that comes with it. It's a reminder to cherish what you have before it's too late, and to not take the people you love for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
The singer knows and remembers his love in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
The singer is confident that his love is still in love with him and is waiting for him
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
The singer plans to eventually settle down in the small town where his love lives
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
The singer wants to be with his love in Tennessee
Oh, a long long time ago when I left my home to roam
The singer left his home a long time ago to wander around
Down in the hills of Tennessee
The singer was in the hills of Tennessee when he met his love
Was the sweetest little girl that was ever in this world
The singer's love was the sweetest girl he had ever met
Oh, she begged me not to go, ?You'll be sorry, dear, I know?
The singer's love begged him not to leave because she knew he would regret it
For the way that you've were treating me
The singer's love was hurt by the way he treated her
So I rambled all around and nothing could be found
The singer wandered around and didn't find anything or anyone that could replace his love
To take the place of her in Tennessee
The singer couldn't find anyone to replace his love in Tennessee
Oh, someday I'll wander back to that little cabin shack
The singer plans to go back to the little cabin where his love lives
Little girl that's waiting there for me
His love is still waiting for him
I can see her smiling face waiting for me at the gate
The singer can vividly picture his love waiting for him with a smile on her face
Oh, the little girl of mine in Tennessee
The singer loves and cherishes his girl in Tennessee
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LESTER FLATT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind