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)
Tennessee
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I left Tennessee very much alive
And I never would have gotten through the Arkansas mud
If I hadn't been a-ridin' that Tennessee stud
I had some trouble with my sweetheart's pa
And one of her brothers was a bad outlaw
I sent her a letter by my Uncle Fud
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
A-He had the nerve and he had the blood
And there never was a hos like the Tennessee stud
We drifted on down into no man's land
We crossed that river called the Rio Grande
I raced my hos with the Spaniard's foal
Till I got me a skin full of silver and gold
Me and the gambler we couldn't agree
We got in a fight over Tennessee
We jerked our guns, and he fell with a thud
And I got away on the Tennessee stud
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
A-He had the nerve and he had the blood
And there never was a hoss like the Tennessee stud
Well I got just as lonesome as a man can be
A-Dreaming of my girl in Tennessee
The Tennessee stud's green eyes turned blue
Cause he was a-dreamin' of his sweetheart, too
We loped right back across Arkansas
I whoop her brother and I whoop her pa
When I found that girl with the golden hair
And she was A-ridin' that Tennessee mare (whoa, boy)
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood
And there never was a hos like the Tennessee stud
Stirrup to stirrup and side by side
We crossed them mountains and the valleys wide
We came into Big Muddy then we forded a flood
On the Tennessee mare and the Tennessee stud
There's a pretty little baby on the cabin floor
A little hos colt playin' 'round the door
I love the girl with golden hair
And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare (They're good hoses)
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
And he had the nerve and he had the blood
And there never was a hos like the Tennessee stud
The song "Tennessee Stud" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tells the story of a man traveling from Tennessee to Arkansas and beyond, all while riding on his trusty Tennessee stud. He faces challenges along the way, such as trouble with his sweetheart's family and a fight with a gambler, but ultimately he finds love and happiness with his girl and their horses.
The lyrics of the song are simple and straightforward, but they paint a vivid picture of life on the American frontier in the 19th century. It speaks to the mythos of the American West as a place of rugged individualism and adventure, where men and women could forge their own destinies in the face of adversity. The Tennessee stud is both a mode of transportation and a symbol of the singer's determination and courage in the face of challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Along about eighteen twenty-five
Around the year 1825
I left Tennessee very much alive
I departed from Tennessee while still alive
And I never would have gotten through the Arkansas mud
I could not have crossed the muddy lands of Arkansas
If I hadn't been a-ridin' that Tennessee stud
If I hadn't been riding on my horse, the Tennessee stud
I had some trouble with my sweetheart's pa
I had an issue with my lover's father
And one of her brothers was a bad outlaw
Furthermore, one of her brothers was a notorious criminal
I sent her a letter by my Uncle Fud
I sent a letter to her, delivered by my Uncle Fud
And I rode away on the Tennessee stud
I departed on my horse, the Tennessee stud
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The Tennessee stud was a lengthy and agile horse
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
Its coat was like the sun, and its eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood
The horse was brave and strong
And there never was a hos like the Tennessee stud
There was no horse quite like the Tennessee stud
We drifted on down into no man's land
We passed into unclaimed territory
We crossed that river called the Rio Grande
We traversed across the Rio Grande river
I raced my hos with the Spaniard's foal
I had a horse-racing competition with a Spaniard's foal
Till I got me a skin full of silver and gold
I won a significant amount of silver and gold
Me and the gambler we couldn't agree
The gambler and I had a disagreement
We got in a fight over Tennessee
We came to blows about the Tennessee stud
We jerked our guns, and he fell with a thud
We drew our guns, and he was defeated promptly
And I got away on the Tennessee stud
I made a quick escape on the Tennessee stud
Well I got just as lonesome as a man can be
I became unbearably lonely
A-Dreaming of my girl in Tennessee
I dreamt of my girl in Tennessee
The Tennessee stud's green eyes turned blue
The Tennessee stud's eyes changed color from green to blue
Cause he was a-dreamin' of his sweetheart, too
Because the horse was also dreaming of his own lover
We loped right back across Arkansas
We made a quick trip across Arkansas
I whoop her brother and I whoop her pa
I defeated her brother and father
When I found that girl with the golden hair
When I discovered my lover with blonde hair
And she was A-ridin' that Tennessee mare (whoa, boy)
She was riding on the Tennessee mare
Stirrup to stirrup and side by side
Next to each other, on either side of their stirrups
We crossed them mountains and the valleys wide
We went through the mountains and wide valleys
We came into Big Muddy then we forded a flood
We arrived at Big Muddy and passed through a flood
On the Tennessee mare and the Tennessee stud
On the Tennessee mare and stud we rode
There's a pretty little baby on the cabin floor
There is a beautiful baby in the cabin
A little hos colt playin' 'round the door
A little horse colt playing around the door
I love the girl with golden hair
I love my blonde haired lover
And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare (They're good hoses)
And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare (They are good horses)
The Tennessee stud was long and lean
The Tennessee stud was a lengthy and agile horse
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
Its coat was like the sun, and its eyes were green
And he had the nerve and he had the blood
The horse was brave and strong
And there never was a hos like the Tennessee stud
There was no horse quite like the Tennessee stud
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAREN RUTH STALEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Stone Depot
we moved to TN from Fl in 91 i love this place! my dad listened to this song a 1000 times
julie brtek
Truly love this song, every since was child watch it on tv all Country Music artist, my first time was back 1989. Was dream came true, less money but music though years back 1970s always follow my country music roots. Once got vist Fan Fair and much more was like dream. Did go back 1990 until women shelter on fire on my birthday April 9 , after vist early Ricky Skaggs church on Sunday morning. Sad part was leaving there. Why am in Minnesota. But love music and low pay jobs. Love Nashville Tennessee. This always my favorite song. So proud day my mom birthday April 8 on Sunday , lady from Georgia and three kids was supposed get room took her wait. Glad did room hold someone start fire that early April 9 1990. Day had go work early 3:25 am. Thank god everyone ok. Sad part leaving Tennessee. Love country and mountain. So beautiful place to live. Does feel like home.