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)
Keep On The Sunny Side
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a bright and a sunny side too.
But if you meet with the darkness and strife,
The sunny side we also may view.
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we keep on the sunny side of life.
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear.
Clouds and storms will in time pass away.
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.
Let us greet with a song of hope each day.
Though the moments be cloudy or fair.
Let us trust in our Saviour always,
To keep us, every one, in His care.
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life.
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.
The song "Keep On The Sunny Side" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band encourages listeners to stay positive in the face of life's challenges. The lyrics acknowledge that there is both a dark and a sunny side of life, but the key is to focus on the sunny side even when experiencing darkness and strife. The storm and its fury represent the challenges and disappointments of life, but the lyrics reassure us that these will pass over time, and the sun will shine again.
The song is a call to hope and faith, urging us to greet each day with a song of hope, trusting in our Savior to keep us in His care. The repetition of the phrase "keep on the sunny side" reinforces this message and encourages listeners to maintain a positive outlook in all circumstances. The song celebrates the power of positivity and faith to help us through difficult times, and reminds us that the sun will always shine again if we persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
Well there's a dark and a troubled side of life.
Life is not always easy and there are times of struggle and difficulties that we must face
There's a bright and a sunny side too.
However, there is also a positive and joyful side to life
But if you meet with the darkness and strife,
When we encounter challenges and difficulties in life
The sunny side we also may view.
We can choose to focus on the positive and hopeful aspects of life
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
It is important to maintain a positive attitude and outlook in life
Keep on the sunny side of life.
We should strive to focus on the good in life and remain hopeful
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,
Maintaining a positive outlook can help us navigate through the challenges of life and bring joy to our daily experiences
If we keep on the sunny side of life.
We can find happiness and hope if we choose to focus on the positive aspects of life
Oh, the storm and its fury broke today,
We may face unexpected challenges and trials in life
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear.
These challenges may cause us to feel discouraged and disheartened
Clouds and storms will in time pass away.
However, we can have faith that these difficulties will eventually pass
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
And we will once again find happiness and joy in life
Let us greet with a song of hope each day.
We should welcome each day with a positive attitude and a hopeful outlook
Though the moments be cloudy or fair.
No matter what challenges or blessings we face in life
Let us trust in our Saviour always,
We can always have faith and believe in a higher power that will guide and protect us
To keep us, every one, in His care.
To provide us with comfort and peace, and protect us from harm
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life.
If we choose to focus on the positive and hopeful aspects of life, we can find joy and happiness
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.