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)
These Days
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't do that much talking these days
These days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
For you
And all the times I had the chance to
I don't think I'll risk another these days
These days
These days I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song
But it's just that I have been losing
For so long
These days I sit on cornerstones
Count the time in quarter tones 'till ten
My friend
And now I believe I've come
To see myself again
These days I sit on cornerstones
Count the time in quarter tones 'till ten
My friend
Please don't confront me with my failure
I'm aware of it
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “These Days” is a classic folk rock song about introspection and regret. The opening lines, “I’ve been out walking, I don’t do that much talking these days…” immediately convey the sense of isolation and loneliness that comes with the singer’s self-reflection. The repetition of “These days” emphasizes the passage of time and hints at the passage of a more carefree youth to a more introspective and somber period in life. The singer thinks about the things he forgot to do for a lover in the past and acknowledges that he won’t risk another relationship. It’s become clear to him that he’s been losing for a long time, and as a result he’s become afraid to live the life he has made for himself in song.
The third verse includes the lines “These days I sit on cornerstones, count the time in quarter tones till ten…” which further highlight the passing of time, and the singer’s detachment from society. He’s lost track of time and as a result, he’s lost touch with himself. However, the final line “Please don’t confront me with my failure, I’m aware of it” shows that the singer is not oblivious to his own failings, and is trying to come to terms with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been out walking
I've been going on walks lately
I don't do that much talking these days
I don't talk much anymore
These days
Currently
These days I seem to think a lot
I've been thinking a lot lately
About the things that I forgot to do
I'm thinking about the things I missed doing
For you
For someone important to me
And all the times I had the chance to
The missed opportunities I had
Well I had a lover
I had a past lover
I don't think I'll risk another these days
I don't want to risk falling in love again
These days
Currently
These days I seem to be afraid
I've been feeling scared lately
To live the life that I have made in song
To live the life I wrote about in my songs
But it's just that I have been losing
I keep losing and failing
For so long
For a very long time
These days I sit on cornerstones
I spend my time sitting on street corners
Count the time in quarter tones 'till ten
I measure time in musical terms until 10 PM
My friend
Addressing someone kindly
And now I believe I've come
I think I've finally arrived
To see myself again
To understand myself once more
Please don't confront me with my failure
Please don't make me face my mistakes
I'm aware of it
I already know and acknowledge it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY KIRK ARNOLD, CHRISTOPHER LEE HENDERSON, MATTHEW DARRICK ROBERTS, ROBERT TODD HARRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wes Schofield
Well, I've been out walking,
And I don't do too much talking these days...
These days...
These days, I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I've had the chance to...
Well, I've stopped my rambling,
And I don't do too much gambling these days...
These days...
These days I sit on the corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten.
Oh, will I see that highway?
Well, I had a lover,
And I don't think I'd risk another, these days...
These days...
And if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song,
Well, it's just 'cause I've been moving too long.
Well, I've stopped my dreaming,
And I don't do too much scheming these days...
These days...
These days I sit on the corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend.
Don't confront me with my failures.
I have not forgotten them.
TheBluesDixonary
When Jackson Browne was 16, I was 16. I, too, wrote a song. It was titled, "When I was 16." It was not a hit. Nobody covered it, except whatever trash was thrown upon it after any record of it was taken to the dump.
Sporm Last Name
Damn. This comment is sad, and criminally under appreciated.
MerkinMuffly
Call me old fashioned, but I just love the sound of the 60s trombone usage
Jerry D Harding Jerry D Harding
I think NGDB is one of the best bands ever was , fan since about '67.
gdub999tube
Nico did a beautiful version - check it out.
AutisticWolf
this is my favorite version. probably because it was the only one I knew for so many years. :3
MushBeeguy
Bless their hearts... Horns??? Must have been from the 'Buy for me the rain' era. I truly love the flavors NGDB and subsets give us.
michael dibernardo
My favorite version also
Q Z
Jackson Browne played with NGDB before they even recorded their first album. If anybody has a right to record the song - they do. IMHO, Jennifer Warnes had the best cover.
Wes Schofield
Well, I've been out walking,
And I don't do too much talking these days...
These days...
These days, I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I've had the chance to...
Well, I've stopped my rambling,
And I don't do too much gambling these days...
These days...
These days I sit on the corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten.
Oh, will I see that highway?
Well, I had a lover,
And I don't think I'd risk another, these days...
These days...
And if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song,
Well, it's just 'cause I've been moving too long.
Well, I've stopped my dreaming,
And I don't do too much scheming these days...
These days...
These days I sit on the corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend.
Don't confront me with my failures.
I have not forgotten them.