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.
Don't You Cry
The Dillards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We live day-to-day, . . . work, play, and we make mistakes
I know there's more than this,
Sometimes we make our own bliss
I think you know what I've got in mind
Let's find a place that's on island time
Come on baby, let's get away
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
Our bags are packed and we just got paid
Even if it's only for a couple of days,
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
Every day of our lives, we go to work and barely get by
We live day-to-day, feels like we never get a break
There's gotta be more than this, I say we make our own bliss
I think you know what I've got in mind
Let's find a place where we can go unwind
Come on baby, let's get away
Even if it's only for a couple of days
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
Our bags are packed and we just got paid
Even if it's only for a couple of days,
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
We've been saving for a rainy day
And even though there's not a cloud in site,
We'll make believe and things will b all right
Come on baby, let's get away
Even if it's only for a couple of days
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
Our bags are packed and we just got paid
Even if it's only for a couple of days,
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
The Dillards’ song “Don’t You Cry” is an upbeat, catchy tune that encourages listeners to take a break from their everyday lives and seek out some much-needed rest and relaxation. The lyrics are an ode to the grind of daily life, but also a call to action to find happiness and enjoyment wherever it may be. The song speaks to the universal experience of working hard and feeling burnt out, but also to the belief that happiness is possible through self-care and taking small breaks to recharge.
The first verse sets the stage, acknowledging the lows and highs of daily life and the mistakes that inevitably come with it. The second verse conveys the same sentiment but is more directly about the daily grind of work and the lack of breaks. The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, is an invitation to escape, at least for a little while. It acknowledges the barriers that might prevent someone from taking a break, such as lack of funds or time, but encourages listeners to take advantage of what they do have and seek out some rest and relaxation. The final verse emphasizes the importance of even simply imagining a better, more restful situation, and making it a reality through intentional action.
Overall, “Don’t You Cry” is a song that extols the virtues of self-care and escape. It encourages listeners to prioritize their own well-being and make happiness an intentional part of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day, our lives, are filled with lows and highs
Our daily lives are full of ups and downs, good and bad moments.
We live day-to-day, . . . work, play, and we make mistakes
We live in the moment, balancing work and play, and sometimes making mistakes along the way.
I know there's more than this,
I believe there is more to life than what we are currently experiencing.
Sometimes we make our own bliss
We have the ability to create our own happiness and joy.
I think you know what I've got in mind
I believe you understand my plans and desires.
Let's find a place that's on island time
Let's find a location that has a slower, more relaxed pace of life.
Come on baby, let's get away
Let's escape from our daily routine for a while.
Even if it's only for a couple of days
Even if it is just a short amount of time.
Don't you want to? Tell me that you want to
Do you not desire this as well? Please express your agreement.
Our bags are packed and we just got paid
We are prepared for this trip and have the financial means to do so.
We live day-to-day, feels like we never get a break
Our daily lives can feel overwhelming and without reprieve.
There's gotta be more than this, I say we make our own bliss
I believe there is a greater purpose to our lives and suggest we create our own happiness and meaning.
Let's find a place where we can go unwind
Let's search for a location where we can relax and let go of our stress.
We've been saving for a rainy day
We have been financially preparing for unexpected situations.
And even though there's not a cloud in site,
Despite the current lack of difficulty or obstacles,
We'll make believe and things will b all right
We will pretend and convince ourselves that everything will turn out okay.
Lyrics © Lost Cowboy Productions
Written by: Greg Dillard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind