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)
New Orleans
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah.
Come on everybody, take a trip with me
Well, down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
They got the Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
And love is a-blooming there all the time.
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans.
Yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah.
Come on take a stroll down to Basin Street
Yeah, listen to the music with the dixieland beat
A-where the magnolia blossoms fill the air
Yeah, and if you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there.
They got the French moss hangin' from a big oak tree
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans.
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah.
Come on everybody, take a trip with me, yeah
Well, down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
They got the Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
Yeah, and the love is a-blooming there all the time.
You know every Southern Bell is a Mississippi Queen
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
New Orleans
...
The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band's "New Orleans" is a feel-good tune that is a celebration of the city itself. The song is an invitation to take a trip down to the Mississippi up to New Orleans to experience the city's unique atmosphere.
The first stanza talks about the beauty of New Orleans from the perspective of nature. The Honey Suckle's blooming on the Honey Suckle vine represents the abundant natural beauty of the city. The second stanza talks about the musical offerings of New Orleans at Basin Street. The Dixieland beat represents the musical heritage of the city. The third stanza, the linking verse, repeats the highlights of the first two stanzas and emphasizes that New Orleans is Heaven on Earth.
The chorus "I said a hey, hey, hey yeah," is exciting and unifying- it's an invitation to join in the celebration. The last stanza reiterates the joy and happiness found in New Orleans, as well as the status of every Southern Belle as a Mississippi Queen.
Overall, the song celebrates the beauty, music, and culture of New Orleans in a catchy and upbeat way. It is a perfect singalong tune for a road trip to the Crescent City.
Line by Line Meaning
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Come on everybody, take a trip with me
Inviting everyone to join them on a journey
Well, down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
Traveling down the river towards New Orleans
They got the Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
Describing the beautiful scenery of blooming flowers
And love is a-blooming there all the time.
Implying that New Orleans is a romantic place full of love
You know every Southern Bell is a Mississippi Queen
Suggesting that all the women in the South are beautiful like queens
Come on take a stroll down to Basin Street
Encouraging the listener to go for a walk on Basin Street
Yeah, listen to the music with the dixieland beat
Inviting the listener to enjoy the unique dixieland music
A-where the magnolia blossoms fill the air
Describing the pleasant scent of magnolia blossoms in the air
Yeah, and if you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there.
Stating that New Orleans is such a great place that it's like heaven
They got the French moss hangin' from a big oak tree
Describing yet another beautiful feature of nature in New Orleans
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans.
Reiterating the journey down the river towards New Orleans
New Orleans
Emphasizing the focus of the song and admiration for the place
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Horus9339
Sent over from Dr Malone, great tune. Thank you guys.
@bunch_o_racket
This is the first time I've EVER heard this version! Damn I love it!
@SouthCarolinaPicker
.. MissLisa, thanks for stoppin' in .. Gotta love these guys!
@cynthiabkeller670
Have you heard the original complete lyrics version done by the writer himself? Check out Johnnie Driftwood. He wrote it and sang it to his students, in an attempt to get the kids interested in US history.
@nunya4244
I love the "rawness" of it...
@hildapage7065
YEE HAW, Doc MALONE! KEEP FIRING! L♡VE YA!
@catsmeaow
What memories- I love it.
Charlie buzz saw. California
@SouthCarolinaPicker
.. Ride the Vibe!
@nunya4244
This has been my favorite version of this song since the first time I heard it YEARS ago! Love it still!
@da8760
Johnny Horton version is wonderful too!