Doc & Merle Watson: When Bob Dylan’s Love Song Wears the Legendary Flatpicking Garment
In the flow of American folk music, few collaborations have been more sacred and harmonious than that of the Watson father and son. Their 1980 concert in Rock Hill, South Carolina, was more than just an ordinary performance; it was a showcase of the living heritage of Deep Gap, North Carolina. There, Doc Watson – the blind artist with a keen ear and unparalleled flatpicking skills – and his son, Merle Watson, created a captivating new arrangement of Bob Dylan’s classic: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.”
The appeal of this performance lies in Doc Watson’s approach to 1960s music. With characteristic humility, he introduced Bob Dylan as someone who wrote “great songs” and invited Merle to showcase his masterful fingerstyle to lead the melody. This cover sheds Dylan’s original edginess in favor of a warm, rustic yet incredibly refined sound. The father and son’s guitars blend together, punctuated by T. Michael Coleman’s solid bass, transforming a melancholic farewell song into a self-assured monologue of travelers on a solitary journey.
More broadly, the concert’s repertoire is a veritable dictionary of American roots music. From country ballads and upbeat bluegrass to jazz standards like “Sweet Georgia Brown,” the Watsons have proven that music knows no boundaries. For middle-aged audiences and those who appreciate tradition, this 1980s film is not only a valuable musical document but also a testament to generational continuity: where the blind father finds light through his son’s guitar playing, and the son finds his roots through his father’s legacy.