Duffey proposed some rules that the others agreed to including playing only one night a week at local clubs, doing occasional concerts and festivals on weekends, making records, and keeping their day jobs. Duffey repaired musical instruments, Eldridge was a mathematician, Starling a physician, Auldridge a graphic artist, and Gray a cartographer with National Geographic. The Scene's first home was the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland, where they spent six years before starting weekly performances at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Virginia.
Bluegrass reached a second peak in popularity in the early 1970s, and the progressive bluegrass style played by The Seldom Scene was particularly popular. Duffey's stratospheric tenor anchored the group, but the vocal blend of Duffey/Starling/Auldridge set a new standard that attracted new audiences to what had been a niche music. Their weekly shows included bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even classical pop. The band's popularity soon forced them to play more than once a week--but they continued to maintain their image as being seldom seen, and on several of their early album covers were photographed with the stage lights on only their feet, or with their backs to the camera.
Though the Scene remained a non-touring band, they were prolific recorders, producing seven albums in their first five years of existence, including two live albums (among the first live bluegrass albums). But the band's philosophy of not touring and maintaining their day jobs eventually caused some changes in membership.
In 1977, John Starling left the group to focus on his medical career, and was replaced by singer and songwriter Phil Rosenthal, whose song "Muddy Water" had been recorded by the Scene on two earlier albums. Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel Records to Sugar Hill; however, while Starling had been officially the band's frontman, these changes made little significant difference to the band's overall sound.
The band recorded several more albums in the 1980s and firmly established themselves as one of the most influential bluegrass bands. In 1986, Rosenthal and Tom Gray both left the band to focus on other pursuits, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively. Coleman proved to be very controversial, as many purists objected to his use of an electric bass in what is an acoustic genre, but the albums produced by the band after Coleman's arrival maintained the traditional appeal of any of the Scene's earlier albums.
Reid left the band in 1993, and Duffey convinced former member John Starling to return to the band for the next year. During that year the Scene recorded the album "Like We Used To Be," but Starling did not wish to stay with the band long term. He was replaced in 1994 by lead singer Moondi Klein.
Throughout these changes, John Duffey remained the group's spiritual center and greatest influence, and his initial ideas about keeping a light touring schedule and staying close to home continued to prevail. Though there had been disagreements about this philosophy before, it wasn't until after Starling left for the second time that it cost the band a majority of its members at once. During 1995 and 1996, Klein and Coleman, along with original member Mike Auldridge, left the group to form a new band called Chesapeake. This new band became a full-time project for its members, and for a time the Scene stopped recording.
Duffey and Ben Eldridge, the two remaining original members, recruited resophonic guitar player Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singer Dudley Connell to join the band, and the reconstituted group recorded an album in 1996 and resumed live appearances.
For 25 years The Seldom Scene remained extremely popular in bluegrass circles even with the near-constant personnel changes. But the band was dealt what seemed a crushing blow in late 1996, when founder and leader John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack. The band again stopped recording and made no live appearances for some years. Duffey had been widely regarded as one of the most powerful and entertaining stage performers in bluegrass, and there was no one who could replace him.
Nonetheless, the band was simply too popular to disappear for good. Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member and a significant force in banjo music in his own right, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the band on mandolin. Initially the new Scene concentrated on live performances, but in 2000 the group recorded a new album, "Scene it All." The Seldom Scene continues to tour, and remains on the Sugar Hill label for future recordings.
The band currently consists of Dudley Connell (guitar/lead vocals), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals), and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals).
John Starling died in May 2019.
Discography
Act I (Rebel, 1972)
Act II (Rebel, 1973)
Act III (Rebel, 1973)
Old Train (Rebel, 1973)
Live At The Cellar Door (Rebel, 1975)
The New Seldom Scene Album (Rebel, 1976)
Baptizing (Rebel, 1978)
Act IV (Sugar Hill, 1979)
After Midnight (Sugar Hill, 1981)
At The Scene (Sugar Hill, 1983)
Blue Ridge with Jonathan Edwards (Sugar Hill, 1985)
15th Anniversary Celebration (Sugar Hill, 1986)
A Change Of Scenery (Sugar Hill, 1988)
Scenic Roots (Sugar Hill, 1990)
Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert (Sugar Hill, 1992)
Like We Used To Be (Sugar Hill, 1994)
Dream Scene (Sugar Hill, 1996)
Scene It All (Sugar Hill, 2000)
External links
Official site
Wait a Minute
The Seldom Scene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I hear you say you're goin' far away again?
Try to change it
I can't take the lonely nights without your love
Do you want the road
To get the music done and move along?
What good does it do
Wait a minute
Did I hear you say you're goin' far away again?
Try to change it
I can't take the lonely nights without your love
Rollin' along
And life's been good to you and even so
She comes to you
Late at nights the time you hear her say once again
Wait a minute
Did I hear you say you're goin' far away again?
Try to change it
I can't take the lonely nights without your love
Waitin' for you
Thirty days and nights without a rest
I got to hold on
Twenty-five to go and once again
Or I'll hear her say
Hey, wait a minute
Did I hear you say you're goin' far away again?
Try to change it
I can't take the lonely nights without your love
Wait a minute
Did I hear you say you're goin' far away again?
Try to change it
I can't take the lonely nights without your love
The Seldom Scene's song “Wait A Minute” is a tale of heartache and unrequited love. The singer is pleading with their lover not to leave them once again. The opening verse poses the question if they really heard their lover correctly and if they're actually leaving them again. The singer doesn't want to be alone and is desperate for their lover to stay.
The second verse suggests that their lover is a musician who is always on the road. The singer is trying to persuade their lover not to leave again to perform for an audience who is not worth it. The chorus repeats the opening verse, and it is clear that the singer is barely holding on, with their desperation taking center stage, as they cannot stand the thought of their lover leaving once again, leading to lonely nights.
In the final verse, the singer is counting down the days until their lover will be back. The last repetition of the chorus is undoubtedly the most heartfelt as the singer expresses they would have to hear their lover say they're leaving again if they go, which is something they cannot bear. The song is incredibly emotional, and the lyrics are a testament to the pain of losing someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait a minute
Hold on a second, I need to confirm what I just heard
Did I hear you say you're goin' far away again?
I think I heard you say you'll be leaving again, is that true?
Try to change it
I would like to encourage you to reconsider your decision
I can't take the lonely nights without your love
The thought of spending another lonely night without you is unbearable
Do you want the road
Do you prefer the life of a travelling musician?
To get the music done and move along?
To complete your musical obligations and quickly move on to the next show?
What good does it do
What is the benefit of playing your songs for someone who doesn't appreciate them?
Play your songs for her and hear her say?
Perform your music for her and only receive a negative response in return?
Rollin' along
Continuing to travel down the road of life
And life's been good to you and even so
Despite everything going well for you, there's still something missing
She comes to you
The thought of her comes to your mind
Late at nights the time you hear her say once again
During the late hours of the night, you can hear her voice repeating in your mind
Waitin' for you
I am patiently waiting for your return
Thirty days and nights without a rest
I have gone through thirty days and nights without any rest
I got to hold on
I need to continue to persevere and hold on
Twenty-five to go and once again
I have twenty-five more days to endure until you return again
Or I'll hear her say
Otherwise, I'll continue to hear her voice in my mind
Hey, wait a minute
Hey, I need to confirm something with you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Herb Pedersen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karel Fortis
Wait a Minute
chorus:
Wait a minute did I hear you say you’re going far away again
Try to change it I can’t take the lonely nights without your love
Out doin’ the road get the music done and move along
What good does it do play your songs for her and hear her say
(chorus)
You’re rolling along, life’s been good to you but even so
She comes to you late at night’s the time you hear her say
(chorus)
I’m waitin’ for you thirty days and nights without a rest
I gotta hold on twenty-five to go to hear you say hey
(chorus) repeat 3x
Roberta Kenworthy
John Duffy had the most beautiful voice in bluegrass music. He is sadly missed.
Carolyn Garman
Great sense of humor too.
J Singleton
His original band mate Charlie Waller( The Country Gentlemen) wasn't too bad either...or was Doyle Lawson...or John Starling. It was great growing up around DC...one time Bluegrass capitol of the country
Mitch Matthews
A voice in bluegrass that has never been replaced.
Charles k Harnage
Very true
melissa mongold
It just doesn't get any better than this!! There will never be another "Duffy"!! RIP John Duffy & Mike Audridge!!
John West
Sure it does, with John Starling, Tom Gray, and Mike Auldridge.
Michael Hall PhD
Very powerful and moving song, beautifully done by the Seldom Scene. Brings tears to my eyes...
Leo Papoliteo
John Duffy and the Seldom Scene. The best modern day Bluegrass band. I Miss John's wonderfull mandolin and high lonesome voice and sense of humor. I first herd the Seldom Scene in 1984 and have loved their sound so much. Ben Eldredge and Lou Reed is still holding the group together. So great, Thanks.
Zach
John Duffey was a great influence on me as a musician. He was an institution. His music lives on. This video from '96 was the same year he passed away. Sadly, his declining health shows in his eyes here... RIP John Duffey!