The (Blue) Eyes Have It: My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin (#9)

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What am I doing up this early? Oh, yeah. I got used to it on vacation....plus, I have a lab appointment in an hour. So I’ll start the day with music! Here’s the next song on the list of favorites that have those gorgeous blue eyes in the title. #9: My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’ - Bill Monroe It’s funny what these countdowns do for me in the way of education. I’ve heard this song for so many decades at so many bluegrass festivals by so many different bluegrass acts (even when Monroe was still alive) that I always assumed it was one of his “golden era” tracks. Ha ha ha, NO. This song only dates to 1977. Yes, I realize that there’s a couple of generations that’s grown up since then, but it’s in my lifetime, and it’s certainly not “bluegrass standard” age the way something like “Blue Moon of Kentucky” or “‘Tis Sweet to Be Remembered” would be. But that’s the interesting thing about bluegrass. While modern “country” music singers know more about the Cure’s Robert Smith than country’s Carl Smith, bluegrass is still paying homage to the founding father. I think there’s only one “first generation” bluegrass musician left (Jesse McReynolds of Jim & Jesse), and once he goes things might change. I mean, I’ve seen the changes (last year the Gibson Brothers covered R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” [no, you don’t want to hear that, R.E.M. fans], and Dailey & Vincent now tour with a drummer [which is a big no-no in the bluegrass world]); and, as I pointed out in a presentation at the country music conference a few years ago, bluegrass is now starting to have songs about how bluegrass doesn’t sound like “bluegrass” anymore (Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice won “song of the year” for “A Far Cry From Lester and Earl,” bemoaning the changes in bluegrass). So far, however, the musicians who aren’t staying true to the roots have been kind enough to rename themselves (Sam Bush, another Kentuckian, is called the father of newgrass, which is more modern “bluegrass”-ish music). But that’s a pet peeve for another time. Just enjoy (well, everyone except Andria, this’ll make your brain hurt like those Martians listening to Slim Whitman ) this Bill Monroe classic. My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’ Written by Bill Monroe Recorded by Bill Monroe From Bill Monroe Sings Bluegrass, Body and Soul, 1977 I need an answer: