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Doc & Merle Watson — Hesitation Blues
Album: Steal This Disc
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1351









Released: 1984
Length: 2:42
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Well, nickel is a nickel, I said, dime is a dime
I need a new gal, she won't mind
Tell me how long do I have to wait
Can I get you now, I said, must I hesitate?

The eagle on the dollar says, 'In God we trust'
You say you want a man
You wanna see that dollar first
Tell me how long do I have to wait
Can I get you now, I said, must I hesitate?

Well, if the river was whiskey, said, I was a duck
You know I'd swim to the bottom, Lord
And never come up
Tell me how long

Well, rocks in the ocean, said, fish in the sea
Knows you mean the world to me
Tell me how long do I have to wait
Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesitate?

Well, the hesitation stalker's got the hesitation shoes
You know, Lord, I got them hesitation blues
Tell me how long do I have to wait?
Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesitate?

Said, can I get you now
How long must I hesitate?
Comments (71)add comment
What a track!
Come on, more! 
Willie does a superb version with Asleep at the Wheel.
 the_jake wrote:

The lyrics sung in the song do not match those listed to the left.
Looks the posted lyrics would work in the song though.



So many versions of these traditional songs, with different lyrics.
 aneal300 wrote:

Doc and Merle toured quite a bit of small venues in Georgia in the late 70s and the 80s. I saw them at an outdoor venue once, then twice when they played a college bar in Atlanta. Very up close and personal.  Although not really known as a bluegrass/folk bar, I also saw John Prine at the same bar at least twice. I was still in school and knew that I was hearing something important from these guys. Such was my 15 minutes of fan fame. 




You lucky duck!!  I wish I was there!!     
wow! never heard their version. well familiar with Jorma and HFTs   
I thought this was the Soggy Bottom Boys but I was wrong.
Oh, oh! Now I've got to pause Radio Paradise and hear Willie's version!
Check out Willie's version.
Doc and Merle toured quite a bit of small venues in Georgia in the late 70s and the 80s. I saw them at an outdoor venue once, then twice when they played a college bar in Atlanta. Very up close and personal.  Although not really known as a bluegrass/folk bar, I also saw John Prine at the same bar at least twice. I was still in school and knew that I was hearing something important from these guys. Such was my 15 minutes of fan fame. 
i imagine merle's death had something to do with new found success in the music industry.. like throwing crazy parties and doing stoopid stunts..or maybe something sinister to do with the disc heist clearly easter egged in the name of the album just one year before the mysterious farm death..i dunno
Electric Hot Tuna does a fine version.
Jelani wrote:
 
 

I'd like to hear a Heavy Metal version of this...
The original Country Rap, yeah!
The guitar loves these men.
 bronorb wrote:
I am so used to the Hot Tuna version of this song.
This is great.


 This is so much better than that. Hot Tuna was the only version I knew until recently , via RP.

You got love this disc jockey! We just went from the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to Doc Watson. I love it!
The lyrics sung in the song do not match those listed to the left.
Looks the posted lyrics would work in the song though.
Would have loved to see the Watsons live.  I imagine Doc was very proud of his son, and loved playing with him.  With my kids growing up, I certainly enjoy doing things with them better than without.
Shades of Jerry Jeff Walker? They are playing together now.
 Clif wrote:
I saw Doc along with David Holt just a few months ago. He still sounds great and the show was very good.
 
I wonder if that was the same tour I saw Doc and David. It was one of the most magical shows I saw. 
 StfuDonny wrote:
Guilty pleasures! 
 
Don't feel guilty!!  
Guilty pleasures! 
 zurcronium wrote:
Good song, but Tennessee Stud is far better. 

 
Also Little Omie Wise
I have to draw the line somewhere. And that somewhere. Is here.
Doc Watson. Dr. John. Only thing miss'n is Professor Longhair.
Love Doc Watson.  I wish I had gotten to see him play before he passed away, he used to come through town pretty frequently.
 GeneP59 wrote:
HAPPINESS!

 {#Guitarist}  {#Bananajam}

 

{#Music} Shweet !!!
ohhhhhhhh no not more I'm off
Boy did that ever kill the vibe.
this is very nice, thanx Bill

Hot Tuna does this very well too on their first album 
HAPPINESS!

 {#Guitarist}  {#Bananajam}
love me sum pickin!
 run4more wrote:
Shades of Jerry Jeff Walker?

 
I would say that JJW is a shade of the Watsons. All good, just one is more recent than the others.
At least a 10.
{#Sunny}{#Crown} {#Guitarist}
Good Stuff!
Shades of Jerry Jeff Walker?
Good song, but Tennessee Stud is far better. 
This is the kind of stuff that makes me PSD or switch to itunes or Pandora!! Make it stop!!{#Stop}
Rest in Peace, Doc. Larry Rice, Dan Tyminski, Mark O'Connor, even Garcia—they all sit at Doc's feet.
Mahvelous!  {#Bananajam}
Toe tappin!!!!!{#Bananapiano}
 Misterfixit wrote:
Sounds like the song I used to sing when I was dating Patty back in high school.  See, I went to public school and she went to a Catholic school.

Didn't work out.

 Sure it did.


That Ryko CD, "Steal This Disc", was full of little gems like this one!
Now this is Old Timey...hell yes!
Sounds like the song I used to sing when I was dating Patty back in high school.  See, I went to public school and she went to a Catholic school.

Didn't work out.

I am so used to the Hot Tuna version of this song.
This is great.


oooh, now this is a bit good! {#Bananasplit}
Brings to mind Jerry Jeff Walker

Awesome!{#Sunny}


It\'s just more feel good music. Thank God for feel good music.
I saw Doc along with David Holt just a few months ago. He still sounds great and the show was very good.
long live independent internet radio!
We need more of this type of greatness here at RP!!!
HELL YEAH! Doc & Merle Watson - Hesitation Blues Bob Dylan - The Levee's Gonna Break Imogen Heap - Glittering Cloud Beatles - I Want You (She's So Heavy) long live independent internet radio!
Darlington wrote:
Doc's still touring. Saw him a couple of years ago in a 200 (plus or minus) seat Opera House in Newberry, SC. Wonderful evening. Voice still sounds strong and a marvelous sense of humor. If you get a chance to see him, not to be missed.
I saw the two of them together back in the early eighties at a small club here. Seating for perhaps 50 people. We were sitting at a table right in front of the stage. It was an amazing evening.
Don't hear a lot of songs that rhyme "log" and "dog" any more. Music sure has changed, hasn't it?
How I love those finger pickin good licks!
Now pick it, son!
I highly recommend the "guitar album" for major picking thrills. make jorma look ham handed.
love this tune! Hopefully some Jorma will follow? :)
Doc's still touring. Saw him a couple of years ago in a 200 (plus or minus) seat Opera House in Newberry, SC. Wonderful evening. Voice still sounds strong and a marvelous sense of humor. If you get a chance to see him, not to be missed.
'Bout time you played this again! C.
Kind of cleaned the palate after Lucinda Williams.
Of course Doc Watson can do no wrong. It took me a while to recognize this song. I have heard it a thousand times from the first Hot Tuna album which really cooks. Both versions are 5 star tunes.
:D ... :D ... :D ... :D
Nice addition to the playlist . . . thanks