The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has e… Read Full Bio ↴The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since the original founding in California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen iterations over the years, including five years, between "Dirt, Silver & Gold" (1976) and "Let's Go" (1983), when the band performed and recorded as The Dirt Band.

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)

Get Back
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner

But he knew it wouldn't last

Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona

For some California grass

Get back, get back

Get back to where you once belonged

Get back, get back

Get back to where you once belonged

Ooh, get back Jo

Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman

But she was another man

All the girls around her say she's got it coming

But she gets it while she can

Get back, get back

Get back to where you once belonged

Get back, get back

Get back to where you once belonged

Ooh, get back [Incomprehensible]

Yeah, get back, get back

Get back to where you once belonged

Get back, get back

Get back to where you once belonged

You once belonged

Ooh, get back Jo

Overall Meaning

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Get Back" tells two different stories. The first story mentions Jo Jo, who thinks that he is a loner and decides to leave his hometown in Tucson, Arizona, and go to California for some grass. This story is symbolic of a person who feels alone and out of place in their hometown, so they decide to seek new opportunities elsewhere. Jo Jo's journey is not an easy one, and he faces many challenges along the way.

The second story introduces Sweet Loretta Martin, who is initially believed by many to be a woman when, in fact, she is a man. The song suggests that Loretta gets what she can while she can, despite the potential consequences. The lyrics reflect society's norms and expectations regarding gender and sexuality.

The main takeaway from the song is the desire to go back to a place where one felt at home and belonged. The chorus repeats the phrase, "Get back to where you once belonged" with the simple melody inviting listeners to sing along.

Line by Line Meaning

Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
Jo Jo believed that he was alone and had nobody by his side

But he knew it wouldn't last
Jo Jo realized that his loneliness would not continue and things were going to change

Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
Jo Jo departed from his hometown, Tucson, Arizona

For some California grass
He left his homeland to find some California grass and start a new life there

Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
Loretta Martin considered herself as a woman

But she was another man
However, in reality, Loretta Martin was a man

All the girls around her say she's got it coming
All the girls around her believed that she would receive punishment for her actions

But she gets it while she can
Despite this, Loretta tries to enjoy what she can until the punishment eventually catches up to her

Get back, get back
Return to your original place

Get back to where you once belonged
Go back to your home, your starting place

Ooh, get back Jo
Come back Jo