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.
I've Just Seen a Face
The Dillards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't forget the time or place
Where we just met.
She's just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see
We've met, mm-mm-mm-m'mm-mm
Had it been another day
I might have looked the other way
And I'd have never been aware.
But as it is I'll dream of her
Tonight, di-di-di-di'n'di.
Falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling
Me back again.
I have never known
The like of this, I've been alone
And I have missed things
And kept out of sight
But other girls were never quite
Like this, di-di-di-di'n'di.
Falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling
Me back again.
Yeah!
Bup-a-lup-bup!
Falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling
Me back again.
I've just seen a face,
I can't forget the time or place
Where we just met.
She's just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see
We've met, mm-mm-mm-di-di-di.
Falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling
Me back again.
Falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling
Me back again.
Oh, falling, yes I am falling,
And she keeps calling
Me back again.
In The Dillards' song "I've Just Seen a Face," the singer becomes instantly smitten with a girl he has just met. He can't forget the time and place where they first laid eyes on each other, and he believes she is the perfect match for him. Though he admits that he may have overlooked her on another day, he knows that fate has brought them together. He is falling for her and can't resist her call. The singer expresses his feeling of astonishment at how different this girl is from all the others he has known who failed to capture his heart. He has been alone for so long and has missed out on so much. However, now that he has met her, he can't wait for the world to see them together.
The lyrics of this song convey a sense of immediacy, action, and passion. The words capture the moment of falling in love, but also the uncertainty that comes when a relationship is new. The singer is smitten with this girl and is eager to see where things go from here. The song's upbeat tempo, detailed descriptions, and catchy melody create a sense of excitement and joy that is contagious to the listener. The lyrics convey a yearning for connection and a sense of hopefulness about the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I've just seen a face,
I just laid eyes upon a girl for the first time
I can't forget the time or place
The moment and location of our meeting are now etched in my memory
Where we just met.
The place where we first locked eyes
She's just the girl for me
This girl is everything I've been searching for
And I want all the world to see
I want to show everyone how lucky I am to have met this girl
We've met, mm-mm-mm-m'mm-mm
I can hardly believe we crossed paths
Had it been another day
If we met on any other day, I might not have noticed her
I might have looked the other way
I could have easily overlooked her presence
And I'd have never been aware.
I would have missed out on meeting this wonderful girl
But as it is I'll dream of her
She has left such an impression that I will dream about her tonight
Tonight, di-di-di-di'n'di.
Tonight, my thoughts will be consumed by her
Falling, yes I am falling,
I am falling deeply in love with this girl
And she keeps calling
I can't escape the pull she has on me
Me back again.
She draws me back to her, time and time again
I have never known
I have never experienced
The like of this, I've been alone
I have been lonely, searching for someone like her
And I have missed things
I have missed out on experiences without her in my life
And kept out of sight
I have stayed hidden from love and relationships until now
But other girls were never quite
Other girls were not comparable
Like this, di-di-di-di'n'di.
Like her, she is truly unique
Yeah!
An enthusiastic exclamation
Bup-a-lup-bup!
A playful utterance
Oh, falling, yes I am falling,
I am continuing to fall deeper in love
And she keeps calling
She continues to draw me in
Me back again.
I can't stay away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind