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.
Daddy Was a Mover
The Dillards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never had a dollar or a hard luck song
Mama ran off and he′s never gonna find her
Went down the river she's a long time gone
Daddy taught me everything he thought we
Needed in the world just to get along
Brew a little feel good cut a little cord wood
Can you see me, daddy where the river went wrong
It ain′t easy, high and dry and the memory's gone
I'll settle down and let the river roll on
Misty midnight hunting by moonlight
One shot rifle and a one-eyed dog
Lonesome Sundays feel like Mondays
Daddy kept the bible in the sycamore log
Lonesome yearning, the kids keep turning on
Never had a woman I could call my own
What′s to give her running on the river
Sleeping in the gravel like a rolling stone
Can you see me, daddy where the river went wrong
It ain′t easy, high and dry and the memory's gone
I′ll settle down and let the river roll on
Can you see me, daddy where the river went wrong
It ain't easy, high and dry and the memory′s gone
I'll settle down and let the river roll on
In The Dillards's song "Daddy Was a Mover," the lyrics paint a picture of a father who had many skills and lived a difficult life. The mention of him being a mover and a gold creek miner implies that he had to constantly move around in search of work in order to make a living. The line "never had a dollar or a hard luck song" seems contradictory, as it suggests that although he may have been poor, he never complained or sang sad songs about it. Furthermore, the father's wife (presumably the singer's mother) left them, and the father never found her. It can be inferred from the line "went down the river she's a long time gone" that she probably departed by boat and was never heard from again.
The second stanza reveals that the father taught his child all the necessary skills to survive. This includes brewing alcohol (feel good), chopping wood, and singing gospel songs in a tenor voice. However, despite the father's teachings, the child seems to be struggling, as he is described as being "high and dry" and appears to have lost some important memories. The third stanza talks about the father's love for hunting, but it also reveals his loneliness and yearning for companionship. The line "never had a woman I could call my own" suggests that the father may have never remarried after his wife left. The song ends with the child wondering where things went wrong and deciding to let the river roll on.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy was a mover and a gold creek miner
My father worked hard his entire life as both a skilled laborer and a miner, but never had much financial success.
Never had a dollar or a hard luck song
Despite his struggles, my father never complained and always did his best to provide for our family.
Mama ran off and he′s never gonna find her
Unfortunately, my mother left us when I was young and my father has accepted that she won't be coming back.
Went down the river she's a long time gone
My mother vanished without a trace and my father has come to terms with the fact that he will likely never see her again.
Daddy taught me everything he thought we
My father passed down his knowledge and experience to me so that I would have the skills to make it in life.
Needed in the world just to get along
He wanted to make sure that I was equipped with the necessary tools to navigate the world and succeed.
Brew a little feel good cut a little cord wood
He taught me how to make moonshine and chop firewood, skills that were useful for both our personal enjoyment and for practical purposes.
Sing a little tenor on a gospel song
He also shared his passion for music with me and taught me how to sing harmonies in church songs.
Can you see me, daddy where the river went wrong
I wonder if my father can see how my life has turned out and if he understands some of the mistakes that led to my struggles.
It ain′t easy, high and dry and the memory's gone
Life has been difficult for me and I often feel lost and forgotten about, struggling to remember important details and events.
I'll settle down and let the river roll on
Despite my challenges, I am committed to finding peace in my life and letting go of the things that I cannot control.
Misty midnight hunting by moonlight
I remember hunting with my father on late, foggy nights with the moon shining down on us.
One shot rifle and a one-eyed dog
We were simple folks who made the most of what we had, including our loyal but imperfect hunting dog.
Lonesome Sundays feel like Mondays
Loneliness is a constant struggle in my life, and it often feels like every day is a struggle to get through.
Daddy kept the bible in the sycamore log
My father was a man of faith, and he kept his bible hidden in a secret compartment of a tree trunk.
Lonesome yearning, the kids keep turning on
I struggle with feelings of isolation and sadness, and my loved ones often struggle to understand what I am going through.
Never had a woman I could call my own
Despite my desire for love and companionship, I have never had a successful long-term romantic relationship.
What′s to give her running on the river
I don't have much to offer a partner, and my life has often felt like it's been drifting aimlessly down a river.
Sleeping in the gravel like a rolling stone
I have been on the move for much of my life, never staying in one place for too long and feeling like a wanderer.
Writer(s): Dillard, Jayne
Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jeffandersen7397
played in band with Billy Ray's nephew. Had the pleasure to hang out w/Billy Ray the few times he came to California.
@summyb
For anyone who might remember some of our early country artists: Mr. Billy Ray Lathum (not LathAm), of the Kentucky Colonels and The Dillards, passed away, August 18, 2018. His memorial was today, September 1, 2018, at The Station in Nashville, TN. He was a dear friend of mine, and my parents. I met him when I was four years old. We had a three hour conversation. I did not have the chance to see him again in the physical, but he was my rock via telephone when my Mom passed away in 2012. I couldn't be at his memorial today, because of finances, last minute stuff (it being Labor Day weekend and all). Billy was possibly the most remarkable banjo player to ever walk the earth. An icon in the industry who played on the Andy Griffith Show, and also with Elton John and so many others in the industry. He was not a show-off, he was a true showman. And, he loved life and country music with all of his heart. RIP Billy Ray.
@Mountainrock70
One of my favorite banjo pickers! Billy had his spirit do the pickin’ and his physical body was just there for good looks. God bless him.
@eddielathum8405
My uncle Billy Ray was an amazing person, I cherished every moment I spent with him,
@aplagueovgiants
THATS MY UNCLE BILLY!!!!!!
@ebuchanan83
Outstanding work done by a group of legends not afraid to stretch out a little once in awhile, no more, no less. They weren't following anyone's rules, just playing some great music!
@aliwhitwell
Saw this Dillards line up when they came to Aberdeen Scotland in (I think) 1977 or 1978. Got back stage to meet them and had a jam with Rodney, Dean and Billy Ray. Was memorable!
@Raughwe
One hell of a great song. Masterful lyrics. If you were a boy and grew up in a poor, country family, the lyrics should hit home.
@pickin6
Thank you for posting this clip Aubrunner! I love the Dillards post BG, 70’s progressive period, especially when Herb Pederson was in the band on banjo and vocals. Their breakthrough recording: WHEATSTRAW SUITE (1970) and their followup recording: COPPERFIELDS (1973) are absolutely wonderful! Good songs, outstanding vocals, angelic harmonies with cool vocal shifts (akin to the Osborne Bros.) and great playing make for some pure listening joy! These recordings sound as vibrant and fresh today as they did when they were first released. Rodney, Dean and Mitch moved on in this new direction without Rodney’s fine banjo pickin’ brother Doug, who had decided to join up with Gene Clark of the Byrds, to form Dillard & Clark. The brief all-star lineup of Clarence White, Peter Rowan, Richard Green, David Grisman and Bill Keith, collectively known as: MULESKINNER (1973) - musical companions of the Dillards, are another stellar progressive BG group from this period, along with the fabulous Osborne Brothers.
@howie14w
During this period, The Dillards weren't a bluegrass band, they were a country rock band. They and the NGDB were probably the most notable bands of this style in that they mixed bluegrass instrumentation with rock elements. The Eagles also did this for a time before they chose to abandon their country elements. Rick Nelson also did this, but from more of a straight country perspective with a pedal steel player.