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)
I Saw the Light
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No more darkness, no more night
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord I saw the light
I wandered so aimless, life filed with sin
I wouldn't let my dear savior in
Then Jesus came like an angel in the night
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man, I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord, I saw the light
I was a fool to wander and astray
A straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the lord I saw the light
I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the lord I saw the light
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "I Saw the Light" is a gospel country song that speaks about a man's journey to finding his faith in Jesus. It uses metaphors of darkness and blindness to convey the feeling of being lost and unenlightened. The singer initially felt aimless in life and that he lacked direction. He was overcome with worries and fears and had no hope of redemption. However, he found salvation when Jesus came into his life like a beacon of light shining in the darkness. The lyrics imply that he saw the error of his ways and now walks on the narrow path of righteousness.
The song is rooted in the gospel and spiritual traditions that have long been a part of Southern folklore. The lyrics serve as a reminder that there is a way out of any predicament that one might face, and it can be as simple as turning to faith and spirituality. The song's message is one of hope and optimism in a world that all too often deals with despair and defeatism.
"I Saw the Light" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was first recorded in 1971 by Hank Williams but dates back to 1948 when Williams wrote and recorded the song. It was also recorded by many other artists, including Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, and Elvis Presley. The song has gained popularity over the years and has become an anthem for religious country music fans.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the light, I saw the light
I had a spiritual awakening and experienced a revelation
No more darkness, no more night
I am no longer lost or confused, my path is illuminated
Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight
My heart and soul are filled with joy and peace
Praise the lord I saw the light
My gratitude and thanks goes to God for showing me the way
I wandered so aimless, life filed with sin
I was lost and living a sinful life without direction
I wouldn't let my dear savior in
I resisted the love and guidance of Jesus Christ
Then Jesus came like an angel in the night
Jesus intervened and helped me see the truth
Just like a blind man, I wandered along
I was stumbling blindly through life without purpose or direction
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
I was burdened with anxieties and doubts that weighed me down
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
God helped me see the world and my life with clarity and understanding
I was a fool to wander and astray
I now realize that my previous choices and actions were misguided and foolish
A straight is the gate and narrow the way
The correct path is not always easy, but it is essential to salvation
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
I have renounced my previous sinful ways and embraced a virtuous lifestyle
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind