The band's best-known song was a 1970 cover of Jerry Jeff Walker's folk song "Mr. Bojangles". Their greatest critical acclaim has been for a 1972 album of country and folk standards, recorded in Nashville in collaboration with more traditional country artists, entitled "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".
"Will the Circle be Unbroken" was a collaboration album recorded in 1972 by the Dirt band with traditional artists such as Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Merle Watson, Jimmy Martin, Junior Huskey, Norman Blake, and Pete Oswald Kirby (known to Grand Ole Opry fans as Bashful Brother Oswald). Vassar Clements, not widely known then, was tapped for fiddle duties which led to greater notoriety and success for him.
"Will the Circle be Unbroken" featured classic bluegrass and folk standards written by A.P Carter, Doc Watson and others. The title comes from the song of the same name but indicates what the Dirt Band was trying to achieve. The long-haired boys from California were making an effort to reach out to the older veterans of American music and unite them in a divided America. Two other editions were released, one in the 1980s and another after September 11, 2001.
In July 1974 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was one of the headline acts at The Ozark Music Festival, at the Missouri State Fairgrounds, in Sedalia, Missouri. Some estimates have put the crowd count at 350,000 people, which would make this one of the largest music events in history.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's peak in popularity – at least on the radio — came during the mid- to late-1980s, when they charted a string of successful songs. Among the lot were three No. 1 singles: "Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)" (1984); "Modern Day Romance" (1985); and "Fishin' in the Dark" (1987). Other successful songs were "Dance Little Jean" (1983); "I Love Only You" (1984); "High Horse" (1985); "Home Again in My Heart," "Partners, Brothers and Friends" and "Stand a Little Rain" (1986); "Fire in the Sky," "Baby's Got a Hold on Me" and "Oh What a Love" (1987); "Working Man (Nowhere to Go)" and "I've Been Lookin'" (1988); and "Down That Road Tonight" and "When it's Gone" (1989).
The current members are:
* Bob Carpenter - keyboard, accordion, bass, and vocals (1977-present)
* Jimmie Fadden - drums, harmonica,guitar, washtub bass, jug and vocals (1966-present)
* Jeff Hanna - guitar, mandolin, drums, harmonica, bass, washboard, jug and vocals (1966-present)
* John McEuen - banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, accordion washtub bass and vocals (1966-1986 & 2001-present)
Former members:
* Ralph Barr - guitar, clarinet and vocals (1966-1968)
* Merel Bregante - drums and percussion (1977-1979)
* Jackson Browne - guitar and vocals (1966)
* John Cable - guitar, bass and vocals (1976-1977)
* Jackie Clark - guitar, bass and vocals (1976-1977)
* Chris Darrow - fiddle, guitar, mandolin and vocals (1967-1968)
* Michael Gardner - drums (1980-1981)
* Al Garth - saxophone, fiddle, keyboard, percussion and vocals (1977-1981)
* Richard Hathaway - bass and vocals (1977-1981)
* Jimmy Ibbotson - guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, accordion, drums, flute and vocals (1968-1975 & 1982-2004)
* Bruce Kunkel - guitar, kazoo, vocals (1966-1967)
* Bernie Leadon - guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals (1987-1989)
* Vic Mastrianni - drums (1980-1981)
* Les Thompson - guitar, bass, mandolin and vocals (1966-1973)
All I Have To Do Is Dream
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I want you in my arms,
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream
When I feel blue in the night,
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, Is
Dream, dream dream dream
I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
Any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz,
I'm dreamin' my life away
I need you so that I could die,
I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream, dream
I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
Any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz,
I'm dreamin' my life away
I need you so that I could die,
I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream (repeats out)
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's song "All I Have to Do Is Dream" was released in 1975 and it is a cover of a classic song by The Everly Brothers. The lyrics of this song express the longing and desire of the singer to be with the person he loves. The opening lines "Dream, dream dream dream, dream, dream dream dream" set the tone of the song as a dreamy and romantic one. The singer is calling out to his loved one to come to him, to be in his arms, and to share her charms with him. He speaks of his need for her in his life as he feels blue in the night and wants her to hold him tight. He believes that he can make her his and taste her lips of wine whenever he wants, day or night, but the only trouble is that he is dreaming his life away.
The lyrics of the song convey a sense of helplessness, as the singer is unable to be with the person he loves, and he feels like he is living in a dream world. The song expresses a universal human experience of longing for someone we cannot be with, and the pain and frustration that comes with it. The repetition of the word "dream" throughout the song emphasizes the idea that the singer's love is all that he has, and all that he can hold on to. In conclusion, "All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a timeless ballad that captures the essence of love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Dream, dream dream dream, dream, dream dream dream
The singer is emphasizing the importance of dreaming.
When I want you in my arms,
The singer wants to be close to their loved one.
When I want you and all your charms
The singer desires their loved one and everything that makes them special.
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dreaming helps the singer feel close to their loved one.
Dream, dream dream dream
The singer is emphasizing the importance of dreaming.
When I feel blue in the night,
The singer feels sad and lonely at night.
And I need you to hold me tight
The singer wants their loved one to comfort them.
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, Is
Dreaming helps the singer feel close to their loved one.
Dream, dream dream dream
The singer is emphasizing the importance of dreaming.
I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine,
In the singer's dreams, they can be with their loved one and experience intimacy.
Any time, night or day
The singer can dream of their loved one anytime they want.
Only trouble is, gee wiz,
The singer realizes that dreaming is not the same as being with their loved one in reality.
I'm dreamin' my life away
The singer spends so much time dreaming that they feel like they're missing out on real life.
I need you so that I could die,
The singer's love for their loved one is so strong that they feel like they couldn't live without them.
I love you so, and that is why
The singer's love for their loved one is the reason why they dream so much.
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dreaming helps the singer feel close to their loved one.
Dream, dream dream dream, dream
The singer is emphasizing the importance of dreaming.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidmanzi4983
Listening to this album for the first time in years as I write. Wow, everything on it so good. Won it from the first radio station I would work for in a long, wonderful career in radio--making it all the more special.
@TJCATLOVER
Absolutely fantastic cover
@bpmcl
I played the hell out of this on my college radio station in the 70s. Almost as if it was written for bluegrass!
@midvilledean
Love this song!
@claudiastevenson4632
I love these guys! Some of the nicest people I have ever met!
@BANJOSAM9999
What a treat!! God bless the Dirt Band
@dwmzmm
I have this album (LP) and love all the songs in it! Thanks for sharing!
@SouthCarolinaPicker
.. This album IS a classic-for-the-ages! Thanks for stopping in, DM!
@davidmanzi4983
Listening to this album for the first time in years as I write. Wow, everything on it so good. Won it from the first radio station I would work for in a long, wonderful career in radio--making it all the more special.
@SuchisLifeIA
I love this song. I think I want that album. :)