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)
Nine Pound Hammer
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For my size, honey, for my size
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
Baby, how can I roll when the wheels won't go
Up on the mountain just to see my honey
And I ain't coming back, lord, I ain't coming back
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
It's a long way to Hazard a long way to Harian
Just to get a little booze, just get a little booz
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
Ain't one hammer in this tonnel
That rings like mine that rings like mine
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
It rings like silver and shines like gold
It rings like silver and shines like gold
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
Somebody stole my nine pound hammer
They've took it and gone, they've took it and gone
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
That nine pound hammer that killed John Henry
Ain't a gonna kill me, ain't a gonna kill me
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
For my size, honey, for my size
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Nine Pound Hammer" is a classic American folk song, with its roots in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The song is about a laborer who is struggling with the weight of his hammer, which he needs for his work. He laments that the nine pound hammer is too heavy for his size, and he is struggling to make it work for him. The imagery in the song is vivid, as the lyrics describe the laborer's journey up the mountain to see his honey, as well as his frustration with the wheels that won't go. The song is also about the pride that the laborer takes in his work, as he notes that there isn't a hammer in the tunnel that rings like his. Finally, the song touches on the legend of John Henry, the legendary railroad worker who died after racing against a steam-powered hammer to lay tracks. The singer notes that the hammer that killed John Henry won't kill him, despite the weight and difficulty he has with his own nine pound hammer.
The song is an important part of American music history and reflects the hardships that working-class people faced during the early days of industrialization in the United States. It reveals the pain and struggle of manual labor and the importance of pride and self-respect, despite the difficulties encountered. Nine Pound Hammer has been covered by many notable artists and remains an important song in the genre of American folk music.
Line by Line Meaning
This nine pound hammer is a little too heavy
The physical tool I am currently holding is too weighty for my own capabilities.
For my size, honey, for my size
It is too heavy for me to wield because I do not have the necessary strength.
Roll on buddy, don't you roll so slow
Please continue to move forward without delay.
Baby, how can I roll when the wheels won't go
I am unable to make progress because I am experiencing technical difficulties with my mode of transportation.
Up on the mountain just to see my honey
I have climbed a high terrain to visit my romantic partner.
And I ain't coming back, lord, I ain't coming back
I have no intentions of returning from this visit and plan to remain with my significant other.
It's a long way to Hazard a long way to Harian
It is a lengthy distance to travel to reach these specific destinations.
Just to get a little booze, just get a little booz
The primary motivation for this journey is to acquire alcohol.
Ain't one hammer in this tonnel
There is no other tool available within this tunnel.
That rings like mine that rings like mine
The unique and distinct sound generated by my hammer cannot be replicated by any other in this location.
It rings like silver and shines like gold
My hammer produces a beautiful sound akin to that of silver bells and has a physically appealing shine like gold.
Somebody stole my nine pound hammer
I have reason to believe that another person has taken my hammer without my permission.
They've took it and gone, they've took it and gone
The thief responsible for taking my hammer has successfully absconded with it.
That nine pound hammer that killed John Henry
The same type of hammer that John Henry used and tragically died with.
Ain't a gonna kill me, ain't a gonna kill me
I am not fearful of suffering the same fate as John Henry with a similar hammer.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MERLE TRAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind