Jo Serrapere left in 2003 and plays now with the Willie Dunns. By the end of 2003 the line-up became KC Groves on mandolin and guitar, Abigail Washburn on banjo, Rayna Gellert on fiddle and Kristin Andreassen, guitarist, fiddler, and clogging. All the band members are co-vocalists. There was no permanent bass player.
Call it old-time for our times: with their infectious energy, undeniable charisma, sharp musicianship, and unique repertoire of original and traditional songs, Uncle Earl is bringing the string band legacy proudly into the modern era.
How Long
Uncle Earl Lyrics
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How long. Oh, how long.
My old man, his suit is red. When he dies, gonna kill me dead.
How long. Oh, how long.
My old man, he wears blue. When he dies, gonna kill me too.
How long. Oh, how long.
My old man, he's dressed in white. When he dies, gonna be all right.
How long. Oh, how long.
I got a man in a bluegrass band. Loves me like no other can.
How long. Oh, how long.
I got a man, he picks the five. Loves me right, oh man alive.
How long. Oh, how long.
My old man, he's long and tall. He got somethin' make a panther squall.
How long. Oh, how long.
I got a man in every state. Some are good. Some are great!
How long. Oh, how long.
Uncle Earl's song "How Long" is a deeply introspective and somewhat dark look at the singer's relationships. The main theme of the song is the comparison between the loyalty of her bulldog and the fickle love of her human relationships. The singer's man is contrasted with her beloved bulldog who, in stark contrast, is faithful and unwavering in his devotion to her.
The song's chorus "How Long" is a repeated query that could be interpreted as the singer questioning the length of the time until her relationships end, or maybe a rhetorical question that contemplates the nature of love and devotion. Throughout the rest of the song, the singer sings about her old man and the actions he will take upon his death. Alluding to the physical descriptions he's been given, it seems that the singer may fear for her safety if her current or former lovers were to pass away. Interestingly, the singer also sings about other men in her life and the various ways that they love and serve her.
Overall, Uncle Earl's "How Long" is a complex reflection on the nature of love and relationships. The singer's comparisons of her bulldog's loyalty to her human relationships reveal a deep insecurity and sense of loneliness that is pervasive throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a man and a bulldog too. Man don't love me but the bulldog do.
I have a partner and a loyal pet dog, but unfortunately my partner does not love me as much as my dog does.
My old man, his suit is red. When he dies, gonna kill me dead.
My partner wears a red suit and if he dies before me it will deeply affect me emotionally.
My old man, he wears blue. When he dies, gonna kill me too.
My partner is known to wear blue and if he passes away before me it will take a toll on me emotionally just like it did when my previous partner died.
My old man, he's dressed in white. When he dies, gonna be all right.
If my partner passes away while dressed in white, it will bring peace to my mind and soul.
I got a man in a bluegrass band. Loves me like no other can.
I have a partner in a bluegrass band who loves me unconditionally and in a unique way that no one else can match.
I got a man, he picks the five. Loves me right, oh man alive.
I have a partner who plays the five-string banjo and loves me in an extraordinary way that makes me feel alive.
My old man, he's long and tall. He got somethin' make a panther squall.
My partner is tall and has an ability that can be compared to the sound of a panther that is capable of instilling fear in others.
I got a man in every state. Some are good. Some are great!
I have partners in every state of the country, and while some of them are good, some are truly great.
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.