The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has e… Read Full Bio ↴The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since the original founding in California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen iterations over the years, including five years, between "Dirt, Silver & Gold" (1976) and "Let's Go" (1983), when the band performed and recorded as The Dirt Band.

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)

You Don't Know My Mind
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Honey, you don't know my mind
I'm lonesome all the time
Born to lose a drifter that's me

You can travel for so long
Then a rambler's heart goes wrong
Baby, you don't know my mind today

Heard the music of a rail slept in every old dirty jail
And life's too short for you to worry me
When I find I can't win, I'll be checking out again
Baby, you don't know my mind today

I've been a hobo and a tramp
My soul has done been stamped
Lord things I know I learned the hard hard way

I ain't here to judge or plea
But to give my poor heart ease
Baby, you don't know my mind today

Honey, you don't know my mind
I'm lonesome all the time
Born to lose a drifter that's me

You say I'm sweet and kind

I can love you a thousand times
Baby, you don't know my mind today

Overall Meaning

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's song "You Don't Know My Mind" is a classic example of a blues song that speaks to the experiences of a drifter. The lyrics communicate a level of sadness, loneliness, and helplessness that is typical of such a lifestyle. The song's narrator is clearly dissatisfied with his life on the road, where he's always moving, never still or grounded in one place, and he's always searching for something he's yet to find.

The song opens with the line "Honey, you don't know my mind, I'm lonesome all the time, born to lose a drifter that's me." The singer feels misunderstood and alone. He is convinced that no one can comprehend his thoughts, feelings, and experiences as a drifter. Next, he sings about how his rambler's heart is failing him, and his journey has derailed. Although he has heard the music of the rail and slept in dirty jails, he is disillusioned and feels that life is too short for anyone to worry about him.

The singer goes on to describe how he has been a hobo and a tramp before, implying that he has seen and lived through much hardship. Despite his difficult experiences, he is not here to judge or blame anyone. Instead, he wants to find solace and ease his "poor heart". Overall, the lyrics of "You Don't Know My Mind" are a lament for the harsh realities of being an aimless drifter who is seeking to find a place and a purpose in life.

You Don't Know My MindThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics

You Don't Know My Mind
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics