Breedloves's Folk Songs

DOOLEY

  • DOOLEY
    The Dillard’s are credited with freeing bluegrass music from the more traditional
    approaches usually associated with musical acts Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Flatt
    and Scruggs. Instead, brothers Rodney and Doug Dillard and original band mates bassist
    Mitch Jayne and mandolin player Dean Webb blended folk, country, and rock music
    elements to create a progressive musical style that heavily influenced such purveyors of
    the burgeoning country rock movement as the Byrd’s; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; the
    Flying Burrito Brothers; Poco; Michael Nesmith; and the Eagles, as well as the
    progressive bluegrass group New Grass Revival.
    The Dillard’s set out for Los Angeles in 1962, working odd jobs along the way to raise
    money. The band’s talent was recognized when they set up their instruments and began
    performing for free in the lobby of the Ash Grove folk club on the evening of a scheduled
    performance by the Greenbrier Boys. The band’s performance helped land them a
    contract with Elektra Records, and they set about recording their first album, “Back
    Porch Bluegrass”, which was released in 1963. Produced by Jim Dickson, who had also
    produced the bluegrass and country act the Kentucky Colonels, “Back Porch Bluegrass”
    established the Dillard’s as accomplished songwriters with such original songs as
    “Dooley” and “Old Home Place,” as well as loyal practitioners of several bluegrass
    standards.
    Dooley was a good ole man
    He lived below the mill
    Dooley had two daughters
    And a forty-gallon still
    One gal watched the boiler
    The other watched the spout
    And mama corked the bottles
    And ole Dooley fetched ’em out.
    Dooley slippin’ up the holler
    Dooley try to make a dollar
    Dooley give me a swaller
    And I’ll pay you back someday.
    The revenuers came for him
    A-sippin’ though the woods
    Dooley kept behind them all
    And never lost his goods
    Dooley was a trader
    When into town he’d come
    Sugar by the bushel
  • And molasses by the ton.
    Dooley slippin’ up the holler
    Dooley try to make a dollar
    Dooley gimme a swaller
    And I’l pay you back someday.
    I remember very well
    The day ole Dooley died
    The women folk weren’t sorry
    And the men stood round and cried
    Now Dooleys on the mountain
    He lies there all alone
    They put a jug beside him
    And a barrel for his stone.
    Dooley slippin’ up the holler
    Dooley try to make a dollar
    Dooley gimme a swaller
    And I’ll pay you back someday.

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