I accidentally came across this discussion...Barbara's last post nailed a lot of the bluegrasser's psychi. I came into this genre later in life (30s) and now play around 30 gigs a year in a traditional bluegrass band..."doing" the music is addictive (5 banjos here!).

An earlier post that noted "the words don't mean a lot" really missed it. It is the very phrasing of words in the most traditional bluegrass songs that grabs me...listen to Red Allen. Many of the new CDs by bands probably more talented vocally and instrumentally just leave you flat...they have not engaged the "earthy life" adequately to phrase it.

My 2 cents,

Gary in Grand Rapids (gmeadors@cornerstone.edu)