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)
Jamaica
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As we lay in the tall grass where the shadows fell
Hiding from the children so they would not tell
We would stay there 'til her sister rang the evening bell.
Jamaica, say you will
You help me find a way to fill
These empty hours say you will
The daughter of a captain on the rolling seas
She would stare across the water from the trees
The last time he was home, he held her on his knees
He said the next time they would sail away just where they please.
Jamaica, say you will
You help me find a way to fill
These lifeless sails and stay until
My ship can find the sea.
Jamaica was a sweet young thing, I loved her too
She was a comfort and a mercy through and through
Hiding from this world together, the next thing I knew
They had brought her things down to the bay, what could I do?
Jamaica, say you will
You help me find a way to fill
These sails and we will sail until
Our waters have run dry.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's song Jamaica Say You Will tells a story about a man who had a fling with a woman named Jamaica. They enjoyed spending time together and lay in the tall grass as they hid from the children. However, as the evening approached, they went their separate ways until tomorrow. The man wants Jamaica to say that she will help him find a way to fill these empty hours and come again tomorrow to spend more time together.
The song then speaks about the woman's background, where she is the daughter of a captain on the rolling seas. She would stare across the water from the trees while her father was away. Her father promised her that the next time they sailed away, it would be wherever they please. But as the story continues, Jamaica becomes a sweet young thing, and the man loves her too. However, their time together is cut short when they bring her things down to the bay, forcing them apart.
Overall, the song is about two people who come together briefly and have a connection that has to end abruptly due to circumstances beyond their control. It speaks to the idea that some relationships are fleeting and that people should value their time with each other before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Jamaica was a lovely woman, I played her well
The singer had a romantic relationship with a woman named Jamaica and he treated her well.
As we lay in the tall grass where the shadows fell
The couple would often hide in tall grass to be alone.
Hiding from the children so they would not tell
They would hide from the children because they didn't want anyone to know about their relationship.
We would stay there 'til her sister rang the evening bell.
They would stay hidden until Jamaica's sister signaled the end of the day.
Jamaica, say you will
You help me find a way to fill
These empty hours say you will
You come again tomorrow.
The artist wants Jamaica to commit to spending time with him in the future and to help make their time apart less lonely.
The daughter of a captain on the rolling seas
She would stare across the water from the trees
The last time he was home, he held her on his knees
He said the next time they would sail away just where they please.
Jamaica's father was a ship captain and the last time he was home, he promised to take her away on his next voyage.
Jamaica, say you will
You help me find a way to fill
These lifeless sails and stay until
My ship can find the sea.
The singer wants Jamaica to help him overcome his difficulties and join him on his journey.
Jamaica was a sweet young thing, I loved her too
She was a comfort and a mercy through and through
Hiding from this world together, the next thing I knew
They had brought her things down to the bay, what could I do?
The artist loved Jamaica deeply and they found solace in each other's company. However, he ultimately had to let her go for reasons beyond his control.
Jamaica, say you will
You help me find a way to fill
These sails and we will sail until
Our waters have run dry.
The artist is asking Jamaica to join him on a journey without a clear end, but one they will embark on together until the very end.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACKSON BROWNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind