Though The Dillards were already an established bluegrass band, their biggest claim to fame is performing musically as members of the fictional Darling family on The Andy Griffith Show, introducing bluegrass to many Americans who had never heard it. This was a recurring role and the Dillards were led by veteran character actor Denver Pyle as their father and jug player, Briscoe Darling. Maggie Peterson played Charlene Darling, their sister and the focus for the attentions of character Ernest T. Bass, played by Howard Morris. The appearances of the Dillards as the Darlings ran between 1963 and 1966. In 1986, the Dillards reprised the role in the reunion show Return to Mayberry. As part of their current tour, Rodney Dillard answers questions about the TV series. He says the songs such as "Dooley" are about people the family knew.
On the October 1963 episode "Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee", the Dillards performed the first wide scale airing of the 1955 Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith composition Feudin' Banjos (Dueling Banjos).
According to Jim Clark of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club, three albums have been produced with songs performed on the show. Clark says Songs That Make Me Cry is the only one currently available with real performances and has the three songs which included Maggie Peterson, who played Charlene. Back Porch Bluegrass: Live Almost includes five songs that were sung on the show, and Rodney Dillard released another album with the real performances of other songs.
The Dillards are notable for being among the first bluegrass groups to have electrified their instruments in the mid-1960s. They are considered to be one of the pioneers of the burgeoning southern California folk rock, country rock and progressive bluegrass genres, and are known to have directly or indirectly influenced artists such as The Eagles, The Byrds, and Elton John. In 1972, The Dillards joined Elton John on his first American tour. John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin has also acknowledged their influence, particularly in his decision to play the mandolin.
Rodney Dillard is a founding member of The Dillards - the group he formed with his brother, Douglas Dillard in the late 1950s. Credited throughout the years as the driving force behind the group's musical direction, success, and phenomenal longevity as a working act. Today, Dillard's musical duties include lead and harmony vocals, guitar, and dobro.
Beverly Cotten-Dillard is a native of Morrisville, North Carolina who performed with Janette Carter, Ola Belle Reed, Tommy Jarrell, and Doc and Merle Watson. She has appeared on Hee Haw and the Disney Channel and at Carnegie Hall. Cotten-Dillard is recognized as an authority on the traditional "clawhammer" banjo technique and is a featured member of The Dillards live shows. Her 1981 album Clog-In 'is considered an American folk classic."
George Giddens is a classically trained musician who is an awarded fiddler and mandolin player for the band.
Gary J. Smith was added to the lineup, having recorded double bass in the 2015 studio sessions for the new Dillards album. Smith is well known in Nashville circles after stints with Tom T. Hall, The Brother Boys, Ed Snodderly, and his long-time collaborator, Jeff Gilkinson.
Former member, Dean Webb, died at the age of 81, on June 30, 2018.
Close the Door Lightly
The Dillards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
don't whisper out my name
For like a breeze it might stir a dyin' flame
I'll miss someone if it eases you know
So close the door lightly when you go.
Take your tears to someone elses eyes
They're made of glass and they cut like wounding lies
Memories are drifting like the snow
So close the door lightly when you go.
Who was the one who wasted time
Who was the one who stole my mind
Who was the one who made me feel unkind
So fare thee well sweet love of mine
Don't look back to where you once had been
Look straight ahead if you're walking in the rain
And find a life if the path is dark and cold
And close the door lightly when you go.
The Dillards's song "Close the Door Lightly" is a melancholic and introspective piece, exploring themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and the end of a relationship. The song highlights the character's desire to let go of their past love and move on with dignity, even if it means accepting the pain of separation. The opening lines "Turn around, don't whisper out my name," speak to the pain of being reminded of someone you love who is no longer there. The singer knows that stirring a "dying flame" can only cause more pain and heartbreak for both parties.
The lines "Take your tears to someone else's eyes, They're made of glass and they cut like wounded lies," demonstrate the singer's struggle to process their emotions and move on. They acknowledge that crying over the loss of a relationship only causes more harm, comparing tears to glass that cuts like lies. The song implies that memories of the relationship are drifting away like snow, indicating the character may still cling to some hope or feeling of loss in the wake of the break-up. The verse "Who was the one who wasted time, Who was the one who stole my mind, Who was the one who made me feel unkind, So fare thee well sweet love of mine," puts the blame on the failed relationship on the other person, emphasizing how the singer is trying to reclaim their sense of self and dignity by letting go of toxicity.
The chorus, urging the other person to close the door lightly and to find their own way in life, without looking back, moves the song towards the emotional resolution. Overall, the song's emotional depth and honesty mark it out as a classic reflection on the universal theme of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn around
Please turn around and face the other way
don't whisper out my name
Please refrain from calling my name in a hushed tone
For like a breeze it might stir a dyin' flame
Because like a gentle gust of wind, it may reignite a flame that has been fading away
I'll miss someone if it eases you know
I will endure the pain of missing someone, if it brings you comfort
So close the door lightly when you go.
Therefore, please take care to gently shut the door when you leave
Take your tears to someone elses eyes
Please seek solace with another person and do not cry in front of me
They're made of glass and they cut like wounding lies
Your tears are fragile and sharp like hurtful lies, and I cannot bear to see you cry
Memories are drifting like the snow
My memories of us are slipping away like snow falling from the sky
So close the door lightly when you go.
Therefore, please take care to gently shut the door when you leave
Who was the one who wasted time
Who was responsible for squandering our time together
Who was the one who stole my mind
Who took away my peace of mind and clarity of thought
Who was the one who made me feel unkind
Who was the person that inflicted emotional pain and negativity upon me
So fare thee well sweet love of mine
So I bid farewell to you, my beloved
Don't look back to where you once had been
Avoid gazing backwards at the place where we were once together
Look straight ahead if you're walking in the rain
Keep your focus forward and press on through difficult times
And find a life if the path is dark and cold
Seek out a new path in life if the current one is bleak and inhospitable
And close the door lightly when you go.
Therefore, please take care to gently shut the door when you leave
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC ANDERSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind