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.
Old Blue
The Dillards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had an old dog and his name was Blue.
Had an old dog and his name was Blue...
Betcha five dollars he's a good dog too...
"Here old Blue"
"Good dog you"
Well, I shouldered my axe and I tooted my horn,
Went to find 'possum in the new-grown corn.
Old Blue treed and I went to see,
Blue had 'possum up a tall oak tree.
Mmm, boy I roast'd 'possum, nice and brown,
Sweet po-ta-toes, n' all a-round...
And to say "Here old Blue (here-boy)
You can have some too"
Now, Old Blue died and he died so hard,
Made a big dent in my back-yard.
Dug his grave with a silver spade,
Lowered him down with a link of chain.
Ev-er-y link I did call his name...
Singing "Here…old...Blue-ue...
"Good dog you"
Now, when I get to heaven, first thing I'll do.
When I get to heaven, first thing 'awm do.
When I get to heaven first thing I'll do,
Pull out my horn and call old Blue...
I'll say, "Here Old Blue come-on dog"
"Good dog you."
I'll say, "Here Blue-e"
"I'm a coming there too"
"Down boy... good dog"
The Dillards's song, "Old Blue," is a poignant and nostalgic tribute to a beloved pet dog named Blue. The lyrics mourn Blue's death and reflect on his life, but also celebrate his loyalty and skill as a hunting dog. The lyrics describe the joy of hunting possum, roasting it and sharing it with Blue.
The song is structured around a central refrain, "Had an old dog and his name was Blue," that is repeated throughout the song. This repetition lends the song a meditative quality that underscores the theme of loss and bereavement. The lyrics use vivid sensory details to describe Blue's life, such as the "new-grown corn" where he hunted for possum and the "silver spade" used to dig his grave.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I had an old dog and his name was Blue,
I used to have an aging dog and his name was Blue.
Had an old dog and his name was Blue.
He was an old dog, and I had given him the name Blue.
Had an old dog and his name was Blue...
I'm repeating that I had an old dog with the name Blue.
Betcha five dollars he's a good dog too...
I bet you five dollars that he's an excellent canine companion.
'Here old Blue'
I called out his name - 'Old Blue.'
'Good dog you'
And told him that he is a good dog.
Well, I shouldered my axe and I tooted my horn,
I picked up my ax and blew my horn.
Went to find 'possum in the new-grown corn.
I went to hunt for possum in the fresh cornfield.
Old Blue treed and I went to see,
Old Blue chased and cornered the possum, so I went to check it out.
Blue had 'possum up a tall oak tree.
Blue had successfully cornered the possum in a high oak tree.
Mmm, boy I roast'd 'possum, nice and brown,
I roasted the possum in a delectable manner until it turned brown.
Sweet po-ta-toes, n' all a-round...
I served the possum with sweet potatoes all around.
And to say 'Here old Blue (here-boy)
I called out to Old Blue to come and have some food - 'Here old Blue! (here-boy)'
You can have some too'
I offered Old Blue some of the possum and sweet potatoes.
Now, Old Blue died and he died so hard,
Eventually, Old Blue died, and he left a profound impact.
Made a big dent in my back-yard.
Old Blue's death left a big hole in my backyard.
Dug his grave with a silver spade,
I dug a grave for him, using a silver spade as a mark of respect.
Lowered him down with a link of chain.
I lowered his body down into the grave using a chain-link.
Every link I did call his name...
I counted the chain links as I lowered him down into the ground, and I called out his name at each step.
Singing 'Here…old...Blue-ue...
As I lowered him into the grave, I sang out his name 'Here…old...Blue-ue...'
'Good dog you'
And once again, I reminded him that he was a good dog.
Now, when I get to heaven, first thing I'll do.
I think that my first act in heaven will be.
When I get to heaven, first thing 'awm do.
As soon as I arrive in heaven, I will do this.
When I get to heaven first thing I'll do,
My priority for my first moment in heaven is.
Pull out my horn and call old Blue...
I will take out my horn and call Old Blue once again.
I'll say, 'Here Old Blue come-on dog'
I'll call out to Old Blue: 'Here Old Blue, come on boy.'
'Good dog you.'
Then inform him once again that he is a good dog.
I'll say, 'Here Blue-e'
I will call out to Blue.
'I'm coming there too'
And inform him that I will come to where he is as well.
'Down boy... good dog'
Finally, I will tell him to rest: 'Down boy... good dog.'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER MC GUINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B Welkinator
I was trying to remember where I got the phrase "slicker than deer guts on a door knob" - and here it is! I'm 76 and have used that all my adult life.
MyMoppet52
I still belly laugh each & every time I hear this. I NEVER get tired of it. As a small child, I would dread the 'out house' (as we called it), when we returned home to visit my family. Now as an adult I am proud of my mountain heritage! I laugh because the speech is 'dead on' correct!!! They know of which they speak. I can just see Pete and Joan...and poor Old Blue!
MyMoppet52
@gibwise
Yes...but I have a story about that. As children and even into high school, my grandparents had the outhouse. (My brother and I hated it in those W.Va. winters). We were used to indoor plumbing in our part of the country. I remember asking my mom, as an adult in my 40's how in the heck that Sears catalog was supposed to work! It was slick and yucky. Mom looked at me like I was an alien. She said, "Didn't you crumble up the pages and make them soft?" NO! We were young city kids...ages 4 + 6. How were we supposed to know. I told her it sure would have been nice if someone had told us at some point... :) p.s. Actually trying to figure out how they let us babies go out in the dark with copperheads all around...parenting has changed over the years.
GIB
so you must be familiar with the old Sears catalog lol
Jill Sidley
I was there! I was a huge fan and lived almost walking distance from the club. One of my happiest experiences in Ca!
graphictank
Love this song so much, my French Bulldog is named Bleu in honor of this song.
taddyd1
Love that they acknowledge Queen Joan. He even pronounces her last name correctly.
Tina Charles
Love the Dillards. Maybe if more people played this wonderful style of music in their homes, children would be calm. We loved falling to sleep to Bluegrass on the record player, sometimes our dad strumming his guitar to it and singing with our mom. The damn commercials are VERY annoying!
Nena Pike
great intro great song ! when I get to heaven first thing I'll do is call old blue!!
Marco van Bergen
Love it, funniest introduction of a song ever.