Doc Watson - Three Days with Doc

An excellent down home style DOCumentary done in 1976 by folk researcher A.L. Lloyd " 3 days with Doc Watson" shown on the BBC "Omnibus " series a few years ago.
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 -- May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded. He performed with his son Merle for over 15 years until Merle's death in 1985, in an accident on the family farm.

[@tinawatsonsevert2180]

this video reminded me of how blessed i am to have had these wonderful people in my life Doc Rosalee Merle my Grand Paw Willard and my Granny Ora this is a bitter sweet thing to watch it makes me smile and cry at the same time i walked down the same roads they did and played in the rooms they were in so gad to know i can see them again in heaven

[@williamtrakas3142]

Bless you and your family. Y'all mean the world to some of us.

[@davidlonergan7295]

Wow you are so lucky to come from this stock

[@gft3bird]

I’ve been listening to Doc my whole life and he just keeps getting better. The best ever! I’m glad I got to see him several times and I look forward to seeing him play again one day as well too!

[@francoispetit8687]

Hello Tina, Doc was very very important in my life, I discovered his music around 1968, and it was thanks to him that I learned and never stopped playing the guitar. I was born the same year as Merle, and their duo was great. Watson's name is definitely synonymous with American music, even in a small village in France. Friendship - Francois

[@songmansinatra120]

Doc was and is a national treasure

[@mma1st105]

Sometimes I really love the internet and this is one of those times.

[@tinlizzy7663]

I'm proud to be a 7th generation North Carolinian. I think the mountains of Western North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

[@blueridger28]

Fifth generation here from Ashe Co NC. I never get enough of Docs music!

[@furrylewis258]

"He tries to give them as much folk music as possible, in the hopes to stabilize them."

[@blueridger28]

I grew up just across the county line in Ashe county, we still revere this mans work and its played everywhere.

[@iangibbons4883]

as he is

[@delorestaylor8114]

My dad was a loyal fan of Doc. The “Down Home” music lounge was a regular stop when Doc was performing there. Pure country folk songs at their best. RIP Doc, thank you for the songs🙏🏻❤️🕊🐾🦌🌲

[@hotdoghokage]

Doc Watson is quite literally my hero of all time! He's the best I love him so much, rest in peace doc.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Doc is and always will be one of my heroes.

[@void4330]

Bluegrass Legend

[@markdundale2616]

I'm really gratefull find myself living in these mountains. After Years of living up n down the east coast from New York to Miami

[@faulderrr]

Doc is my hero.The cleanest picker and purist folk singer i have ever heard.

[@chumdm3]

This is the BEST thing on youtube. That banjo playing is the purest cleanest music you'll ever hear.

[@landonshanerthebanjokid5906]

I know I play clawhammer banjo

[@williamboyle5041]

That was just before Merle died in that farm accident - a tractor roll-over as I recall. What a shame! It took Doc a long time to recover from that loss... :-(

[@michaelsnyder6922]

I grew up as far away from bluegrass music as you can get except for a few family members who lived in what some might call the sticks. I had an uncle who happened to have an album with Doc Watson on it and he played it for me when I visited his farm one summer. Neat school year I told everyone about this amazing guitar player. They all assumed he played heavy metal. When they heard he played bluegrass they all thought I was an idiot for liking it. Still love it to this day.

[@kylewood4852]

I know this is five months old, but I’ll reply anyway they’re all idiots for not recognizing the amazing talent that is Doc Watson. The shit he played was far from simple and easy to do.

[@kylevernon9625]

As Also a fellow Kyle, I need to reply 7months late. Protect this man at all costs. If you recognized doc's genius at that age, you got the soul to save America 🤙

[@kylewood4852]

@@kylevernon9625 well, thank you fellow Kyle I appreciate that ha ha. There are so many forgotten musicians that resonate with me big time. I sure hope I can make a difference at least for America with my music and such. 🪕🙌

[@kylewood4852]

@@kylevernon9625 by the way, I completely forgot to ask, but did you ever have the honor to watch doc perform?

[@kylevernon9625]

@@kylewood4852 no man I wish I could've - I did see del mcCourey this weekend and the Gettysburg bluegrass festival, and it was mind-blowing how in sync he is with the band. He had to retune at one point during the show and asked for requests for the banjo and fiddle to play while he retuned - so I yelled out "I want your favorite doc Watson!" And he spoke directly to me about doc. My wife got me tickets for my birthday and it was one of the best nights in my life - someone uploaded videos of the festival and one of that bit in specific, I'll tag you in it!

[@nighthawkflyer7362]

The comments seem to be many that knew & lived near Doc. I'm a Boston guy who got exposed to Doc back in the 60's. We took it all in, the blues, folk, country, rock. I got to see Doc twice, once at Sanders Theatre at Harvard and once at the Decordova Museum in Concord, Ma. I have a lot of his music & instructional dvd's. I'll never live long enough to get as good as Doc because it's a gift from above like Doc says. So, it's now 55+ years later and I'm goin' back to the beginning of my life long love affair of music. I just purchased Doc "Live" from the Club 47 (1963) in Cambridge, Ma. Supah! Doc's music is so spiritual. I believe I have Doc & Allison Krauss singing Down in the Valley to Pray. It's like bein' in church.God bless all the friends, family & admirers of Doc's music. Pete Seeger also brought a lot of the No. Carolina folk music up north. The Lord blessed them both with long lives, but the music lives FOREVER! Thank you A. L. Lloyd for making this film. It's a fine, real life documentary, my FAV kinda film.

[@francoispetit8687]

Merci pour ce superbe commentaire. En France aussi, il était une grande vedette parmi tous ces jeunes guitaristes que nous étions. Il a marqué ma vie....

[@williamboyle5041]

I got to make dinner for Doc and Merle once in Ithaca NY when they came to play a concert at Cornell University! :-) Then we jammed a bit!

[@CosmicCountryboy]

William Boyle what'd you make for them?

[@rustyanderson675]

you were truly blessed to be part of this family - i saw Doc perform many times and no one could play bluegrass with more purity and joy than Doc. he is still my favorite and i wish him eternal peace.

[@daviddoyle4516]

Doc Watson,,,,,American,,,,,we miss you and your music Doc,,,Rest in Peace,,,,

[@dannydine5263]

+David Doyle Well put.A true American.Above judgemental opinion.God knows i could learn a lot about how to be a man from that man.God bless him.

[@als1023]

The roots of American music personified, thanks for posting . Excellent work by the BBC.

[@raw5742]

A shining example of a long gone time when the BBC knew how to make meaningful arts documentaries. The BBC don't make television like this anymore. We should also not have to pay a licence fee anymore.

[@jaysoneubanks579]

"On the Blue Ridge Mountains, where i'll take my stand." "Rifle on my shoulder, six shooter in my hand."

[@K131399]

Doc was/is/and always will be a natonal treasure. His contribution to American art is as relevant to anybody else I can think of, and that's not being overly dramatic because I love the man, listen to him talk and feel his spirit as it clobbers you with his gentle humbleness that, being a legit musical genius and an American TITAN, tells you everything you need to know about Doc. He should have been the biggest star in our society for decades but what makes him special to those us who love his stuff, is his exclusivity. Where I grew up, if someone didn't give you a Doc record, you'd never have heard of him, sadly.

[@Pickinbuddy]

God Bless Doc and Merle Watson....

[@cosmyccowboy]

around 2007 i saw a flyer where doc was playing in a small auditorium at a campground in lagrange georgia. now i wasnt quite sure who doc was but i knew i had read his name on the back of some nitty gritty dirt band albums so i thought i'd go see.... needless to say i was treated to an awesome experience like i'd never had before!!! i like to say my jaw hit my chest and stayed there for over an hour, my face hurt the next day from grinnin so much!!! his skin was almost translucent, there was a light shining out of him from the inside... he glowed!

[@francoispetit8687]

C'est un superbe commentaire. Doc a changé ma vie, et j'aime beaucoup quand vous dites qu'il brillait de l'intérieur, c'est étrange et fascinant.

[@TheMidnightModder]

27:20 When Doc sang "dog" that was the prettiest vibrato I've heard in a long time!

[@jeffreysiegel9125]

Your musical family has brought immeasurable joy to our somewhat weary world! Thank You

[@MrBadMonkey63]

That Hymn that Doc sang at the end gave me chills, such a haunting melody

[@anitahillis9735]

MrBadMonkey63 It's called "Am I Born to Die". It's on his "Out in the Country" cd. I was in tears by the end of the song. Simply doesn't get any better than this. Thank you for sharing. Love & miss Doc & Merle.

[@Wyrdo999]

Yes, it was like a dark Amazing Grace. Instead of going high ascending, he went down and a half step, and back to the note giving it a haunting quality, almost native American?

[@joannehack7588]

This is the finest video of the 20th century. Thank you

[@MrPatodon]

Simply the best! It's a privilege to hear a voice and a talent like that.

[@rodwarner]

Wonderful - haven't seen this before. Doc one of my favourite musicians/singers/human beings...

[@lynngraham2934]

I still love hearing him play and pick, he was a natural wonder.

[@kc4e841]

He came to a little town in the Idaho mountains with his son one summer. I remember he kept asking people to move away from the speakers so he could hear himself play. The place had no real sound system with monitors,and it was Packed. Very special night I will never forget!

[@daveh6627]

I'm glad I was lucky enough to see Doc in concert. I only wish I could have seen him more. Doc and his music are a true national treasure.

[@barek56]

I had the honor of meeting Doc's mother...though I have no memory of it...my father and Doc were acquaintances throughout Doc's early life...my predecessors grew up arouund the Blue Ridge and ran 'shine all their lives...we visited Doc's home in Deep Gap many times over the years...

[@rodrigoazure]

from across the world, I'm amazed with this story, this documentary and these people that are so far away and yet, so similar and relatable. we're all human, it's the best I can explain it

[@rosscampbell1173]

Thank you BBC.

[@JeffHochberg]

That’s one incredible documentary! He’s one of this worlds treasures! The people in the stills are some of the most beautiful hardened souls of this great country!

[@ciscokid516]

What a wonderful history of Doc Watson and southern music/people in general. I could watch and listen to Doc all day!!

[@susandrydenhenderson6234]

How wonderful.

[@cavemanyogi150]

OK I was today years old when I just found out Doc was blind, Are you fucking kidding me!!!! what a fucking bad ass!!!!

[@boosh90]

I've only recently started getting into Doc Watson's music and playing. A fascinating man, and an unbelievable player and performer. Great documentary. Thanks for sharing.

[@jeffcmo1957]

Perpective is everything. Easy/ Hard, Good/Bad, Success/Failure. This man should be held up as not only music legend but more importantly as incredible person. Wow what a great documentary. It doesn’t take many years back to realize how undeservedly easy we are in our today, Champagne problems. 14 years old and a job at a logging company.!? Most 14 yrs years old will not up get off the couch for a damn thing these days.

[@caryminnow]

enjoyed every minute of this. A great DOCument on Doc Watson ....his music will live forever

[@1buckeyejohn]

I loved to watch Nancy dancing.

[@donaldwood1731]

From Nova Scotia Canada This is the most satisfying video i have ever watched Love the front room dancing Brings back memories God Bless

[@pablpfanque]

I've loved his music for years. The more I learn about him, the more I love the man.

[@mileskendall1889]

“Sometime we would hide it. To get some peace ya know”. Haha mama knows best

[@MelGeo70]

I saw Doc and Jack Larwance In Cow Town NJ. In 98 . They both signed my guitar. Talked to both of them back stage. Great memories ...

[@theresapelham1918]

Such beauty in all of this I live in the country and the rolling soft hills in the Catskill Mountains I find myself grateful to have witnessed this gentleman sing and play at our local community college here on the Hudson I feel somehow a kin to all of this What a beautiful documentary Thank you

[@fredhaines575]

THANKS FOR SHARING

[@Chrisjwhit]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianpeters5555]

Atlantic Canada we love your music down there... If we close our eyes it would sound like ours

[@gregrogers8317]

April 1976 would have been ending my Junior year in High School. Little did I know a year and 1/2 later I would have been in College just a few miles up the hill from Deep Gap. From there my own musical adventure started. This was a Great Documentary that brought back a lot of memories of the music that I fell in love with in the same Hills as Doc. I think all of the guitar players including me ended up with a little Doc Watson in them :)

[@campb450]

That rambling hobo was just terrific. Sounds like Devil's Dream...

[@dandegenhardt6366]

Doc is the wittiest performer I've ever seen,

[@deadstrings77]

The song played at 5:15, is called "Windy and Warm". Next rpresented is "Coo Coo".

[@gonzaloperezhornos8656]

Thank you.

[@billdornan4379]

August 2023 ❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🇨🇦

[@quintonmcclellan3279]

Docs property is about 15 minutes over the hill from where my family and I live. The culture here is of its own. I will never leave sweet western nc.

[@llally02]

This is wonderful simply wonderful.

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

Such a lesson here. Doc’s speaking voice translates so well to song. He will humbly say that his family didn’t have much but I know they were blessed long before Doc was born. This is wonderful to watch and come back to whenever necessary. Again, the lesson is here for those who would listen. Thank you so much for capturing this treasure to the world.

[@danfry1669]

Doc was good on the banjo and mandolin as well.

[@HEADSUPBERKELEY]

Tina I know everytime I watch Doc I tear up as I guess I expected him to be there for us for the rest of my life so Thanks Be To God they filmed. I beem a listenin' since the third grade in North Carolina.

[@bananemitschale]

i really love his version of "Matty Groves" and i'd really like to hear a live version of that song, if anybody knows...

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Awesome old documentary about the greatest pioneer of bluegrass/flat picking who ever lived. Doc Watson started it all. He was the very 1st to bring the dreadnought acoustic guitar to the front of the bluegrass bands. Before that, the other instruments, particularly the banjo & fiddle, were heard the most, ( even the mandolin often seemed dominant over the acoustic guitar ) as the guitar held more of a laid-back rhythm duty, and very little solo spotlights were given to the guitar during those very early days. But Doc Watson changed all of that. ALSO: During one of the interviews in this documentary where Doc was speaking about his earliest memories of music being a 2 yr old sitting on his Momma's lap in church, listening to the people singing those old Gospel songs, and how pure & beautiful their voices were, I CAN ATTEST TO THAT PERSONALLY. I'm now 62 yrs old, and I can clearly recall way back in the 60's in north Alabama, as a kid myself, watching & listening to the Baptist Gospel singers........and how their gorgeous harmonies were absolutely some of the most beautiful singing voices ever heard. I don't have a racist bone in my body when I say how most people assume that it was/is the Black Christian churches who had/have the most beautiful Gospel singing. Well I'm here to tell you: the white Gospel singers from days of old in the Deep South were not only every bit as good, in some ways they were even better. Their voices & harmonies literally soared through the air like Spirits, and would literally give you goosebumps. Just recalling their sound still gives me goosebumps to this very day, even though I have not heard such beautiful singing & harmonies in decades. They were definitely singing in the Holy Spirit. And the most haunting yet beautiful of all, was during some funerals, where there was only this 1 particular man and woman singing. I really can't put my finger on it, and there's no words to describe how that 1 man and 1 woman could fill the air with such a hauntingly Glorious sound. A sound I will never forget as long as I live. I never knew that man & woman ( I don't even know if they were a married couple ), but they were often chosen by local families to sing at the funerals of loved ones who passed on. Hands down, they were the best I ever heard.........and even more importantly: how their singing FELT.

[@JosephRosenberger-wu5mm]

God bless Doc

[@YouLikePhishSticks]

Nothing like some doc when you need some time to think

[@francoispetit8687]

Si j'ai commencé à jouer de la guitare en 1968, c'est certainement grâce à Doc, et aux disques 33T que j'achetais à l'époque. Il a marqué ma vie....

[@grassbuff905]

DOC WATSON a joué (tout seul!) à Montréal vendredi le 3 décembre 1965 au campus de l'Université McGill: c'était FORMIDABLE!😃

[@mcstabba]

Great video! I love me some Doc and Merle! And also A.L. Lloyd who narrated the documentary, great folksinger and paramount to british folk song.

[@mma1st105]

I didn't know the narrator was folk singer. I'll be check him out. Thanks

[@Peter-rg4ng]

An amazing BBC documentary about a one of a kind musician and person. Thanks for sharing.

[@EricFlatpick]

Just wonderful, thanks for posting. It's great to have the ballads and the banjo pieces. Doc sounds so reflective and open as he talks here--masterful job, Mr. Lloyd and film team!

[@williampeacock9473]

I really enjoyed the video about Doc Watson and the history of the world and music of that day . When I heard Doc song I could feel the emotion . People back then really love one another and took time for family and friends . I wish that people could be that way now . But people now only care about them self. What a world we live in now days. May God bless us all is my prayer.

[@joannehack7588]

Oh my god- what a cold frosty morning

[@NEWFIEBOY1981]

love me some doc watson

[@djpeters5095]

Great documentary! Thanks ,Chrisjwhit for sharing it.

[@Chrisjwhit]

+dj peters You're welcome. I'm pleased so many people love it just as much as I do

[@charlesmccormick7061]

Chrisjwhit Summerstone Nursery Louisville Tennessee Summerstone Nursery

[@Stangil1]

Docs mom reminds me of my Grandma.

[@magicdave93]

Doc was the real deal very talented and all his music came from the soul god bless you Doc Watson.

[@ruffmike24]

Wow, what a throwback, brings back a lot of great memories.

[@zoilolobo]

Doc Watson: el mejor, THE BEST

[@journeyhome6046]

Fantastic! Thank you for posting

[@alanwatson3094]

I found this video fascinating. Knowing that I am distantly related to Doc, made it all the more so. I met Doc once, at a family reunion, back about 1960, nearly a half century ago. May his music live on!

[@ralex3697]

Wow, that is amazing Lucky you to say you are related to a legendary musician Love Doc’s work

[@francoispetit8687]

Hello Alan, Doc was very very important in my life, I discovered his music around 1968, and it was thanks to him that I learned and never stopped playing the guitar. I was born the same year as Merle, and their duo was great. Watson's name is definitely synonymous with American music, even in a small village in France. Friendship - Francois

[@DanLashbrookHotModGuitars]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@deathtomichaelknagge4397]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@CalebD413]

This is beautiful!

[@curtisscott02]

My heroes thanks for the video

[@joannehack7588]

🙏

[@RampagingLemur]

thank you so much, I would have never found it

[@RoryVanucchi]

Great. Doc is a symbol of simpler times

[@joannehack7588]

Praise the Lord . I have been resurrected

[@tnelson4593]

Very talented musician.He overcame a lot very resilient he never gave up. I watched a video of Doc his son and the Scruggs Earl and his sons at Docs house playing music together. I believe it was around 1972/1973. The harmony the music was just great. I enjoy listening to mountain music.I am from Michigan but somehow you just hooked on the music and the people of the mountains of Appalachia/Blue Ridge.The culture/traditions of the people I find it interesting. I just think it’s great.

[@avidaporvida]

Frosty morn. It can be found on 'The Watson Family' album. Great album!

[@aaronlebos]

Absolutely amazing....

[@Ievolovel]

Important stuff right here, folks.

[@TheSecretmuseum]

Fantastic thanks!

[@fetteclan]

Great documentary! Thanks for posting!

[@cadetmouse]

thanks for sharing Chris.....a great insight into the people and lives of the folks back in thee olde days, Doc is just fantastic as is all the playing on this fine but short documentary. I wish there was some more..thanks friend..

[@TheBlueYodelingDad]

Fascinating! What a great look at Doc's life. Thank you for sharing this.

[@jimajello1028]

God bless you Doc. I shall sing with you in Heaven by & by. It was great to spend time with you when I was 27. My guitar still writes & plays in the idiom of the fine songs you played for me in the wooden chapel there in DeLand Florida. You had the biggest, strongest hands I had ever shook as I bid you farewell. You are one of the kindest people I have ever met. For Doc - You have eyes like the starlight's shining on down to my heart's depths. You had only to meet me and you could see all that freed me. Well will you stay & strum while sing out of His Truth & will this help us see our paths defined? Oh Sweet Lord we do call you. As we live & die just to know you. (Vince James 1978)🌹

[@dandegenhardt6366]

Doc is a Mystic.

[@comment99]

Absolutely awesome! So enjoyed it. Very moving. Thanks for posting.

[@StringForJoy]

Thanks for posting this. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@howardreed5399]

PURE GOLD

[@1buckeyejohn]

Tina, you are indeed fortunate. I am Facebook friends with Karen, David H, Jay, and a few other you know. I see you post occasionally. Proud for sure. I'll be in Deep Gap to the diner the first week of August. Can't wait.

[@flyingfishnet]

its very unlikely that will happen, but if it helps pass the time speculating..... power to the memory. Personally speaking, the present is all I have to enjoy and that makes listening to this man more precious than than all the promises of people who are not special.