Billy Strings - "Tennessee Stud" | Fretboard Journal 

My only regret is not being able to give two votes thumbs up for this guy

When you’re only 28 years old but been playing guitar for the past 50 years

I never thought a Billy Strings could exist I'm 75 and thought I'd seen it all "the best of the best" Then along comes this Amazing kid. WoW "Son I hope you never forget that your gift is from God and make sure while you make all the money He allows you to, Too give Him the Honor He deserves. Kerry Lyons , Knoxville, TN

Dude is the cleanest, fastest flat picker I ever saw, and a voice to fit. You can't teach some things he does, it's a God given gift.

The people of appalachia did an amazing job of taking British & Irish folk and traditional music and making bluegrass. Bluegrass is easily one of the best genres of music, in my opinion. If I was American I'd be so proud of it!!

I can't even imagine how many hours of this kids life that has been devoted to learning the guitar... He is one of the best pickers I have ever seen...already a master at his craft

2:01... He taps his guitar on the word "thud". In this middle of this amazing performance he didn't ignore any details. Just amazing.

His playing is unbelievably clean

Like Doc, I don't think Billy knows he is destined to be a legend for all time. Just a humble guy doing something he loves. And we love it too.

Billy is very refreshing. Keeping Doc Watson's music alive a must. Thanks Billy.

Oh hell yes. That guitar will need a cigarette when it's over.

No-one has a bad word to say about this Michigan kid playing bluegrass. Not just a brilliant guitarist, an amazingly good singer. The Trolls are staying under their stones..

Nothing like listening to Billy Strings to cleanse my pallette of 2020

This was my favorite Doc Watson song. Doc’s hollering in Heaven now, to hear Billy play it. 🙏🎵🕊

The 276 people who thumbed down are just jealous that can't do that the young man has got super talent

My father and Jimmie Driftwood (the writer of this song) were friends when I was a kid. I fondly remember a late night on the porch of Jimmie and Cleda's house learning to play this song on the mouth bow. In my mind, nobody but Jimmie will ever do justice to this song but I have to say Billy comes pretty darned close.

An amazing man. I'm glad he is keeping the old songs alive.

I don’t know why everyone thinks he’s so good. I can play this in my sleep! When I wake up though that’s when it goes to hell lol damn what a picker!

Would go back to the 50s and 60s in a heartbeat. Today's country music is barely better than rap which I hate.

Hank Williams on crank !! Lol.. Hot damn son, that's the real deal and what's missing from all the corporate , force fed crap they call country. You are a note for sore ears Billy, and Baggie just kicks ass , lol, love that song,, don't ever let them turn you man,, God bless,

It's safe to say he has enough talent for a whole group of people.

Love his sly little smile after he says he whooped her brother an he whooped her pa! Too adorable!

I'm just a little boy and I love this song

I've been playing and listening to this song for forty years, but Billy's is my favorite version.

This is what real country music sounds like. Not this new modern country rock with a hick voice . Country music before 1960 sounded like this mountain music style , originally coming from Irish , Scottish and Welsh music.

Can’t wait to see that guitar 20 years from now…beaten to hell and back…still in this mans hands and still pumping out sweet soul.

Every so often I come back & watch this, I ask my son recently if he thought it'd be inappropriate to play this song at my funeral, Billy Strings singing of course. He said whatever I wanted..lol I'm 70 yrs old & I LOVE hearing this young man pick & sing.

These songs are American oral traditions. Thanks Billy for carrying the tourch and perserving American music

Love to see the youngins keepin the old music alive and well. He's a hell of a player!

I wonder if this kid gets tired of hearing what a genius he is.

I discovered Billy Strings about 7 months ago, and I love him so much, he plays the music I grew up on, we have tickets to see him in August 2024, in 3 months, yippee! He’s amazing 🤩

Billy Strings & Fretboard Journal, Please share this with our Miss Loretta Lynn. She feels that country music is dead....It's alive and well...It's just not the mainstream any longer. That's all. This is GREAT stuff ya'll.

Wanna see this guy, colter wall, Tyler Childers and sturgill Simpson on tour together. Could you imagine.

This is one of my favorite songs, It has been covered by many people and many, many, famous old school country stars. This could be the best version I have ever heard and that is a giant statement. Billy has a great voice and is a truly amazing guitar player. Thank you for uploading this.

I was barn and raised in Muhlenburg County Ky. Thumb picking was everywhere and everywhere you went there were decent musicians. I was playing by the age of five and although I grew with friends and family that could play and as a kid we would venture over to Ohio County and play and listen to bluegrass. But as I grew up and County Music turned into crud I took a different direction. For yrs now I've listened to and played Led Zeppelin, The Stones,. Guns and Roses, Ozzy, Aerosmith ECT. I still love the classic rock and metal it's in my blood but I have two boys that are excellent musicians. One is hard core and even more hard core than the old man and my other son is bluegrass. He plays mandolin, guitar, and upright bass. A year or so ago he was telling me about this Billy Strings and that if I appreciated great playing it wouldn't matter the genre. Well I figured what the heck I didn't want to be narrow minded so I did look him up and checked him out and within just a little bit I was a huge fan and it brought me back to my roots. It took me back to the first sounds that made me want to be a picker. Unfortunately it reminded me that there are those generational talents and that try as I may have it wasn't me. This kid is from another dimension. I am without fail awestruck each time I watch him play. He's no doubt the best I have ever heard and to boot i dig his style and vocals. Keep it up keep expanding and making other things your very own . Thank you Billy for the enjoyment you've brought to this old Rocker!!!!!!

Why can't all country music be like this?

DANG, I never thought anyone could out do Doc, but here I am singing along with it at the top of my lungs, Knowing that Doc is smiling down from heaven.

"He fell with a thud" {THUD} Nice touch.

This song brings tears to my eyes.

If I don’t stop watching this guy I’ll throw my guitar away

Doc Watson is up in the big ozone smiling right now. You gave a great old song new life. Keep pickin', my friend!

It must’ve hurt his mom giving birth to this kid holding a guitar

This dude deserves to be heard I've been listening to him the past few years and as a guitar player he is untouchable

Lawd a mercy, can this boy ever sing and play ! Hope he didn't sell his soul to the devil to play like that ! Stellar young man !!

Man his voice is from another era!

Man I wish Billy would record an album doing all these amazing solo covers on RU-vid. I want to be able to play like him one day

Doc is up in Heaven looking down and listening with a big smile on his face.

Thats so refreshing to hear country like that these days instead of that garbage they call country. This guy is so dang talented top it off

Some young kids are old souls. you know?

I do not like country music at all, but this is real music, even if it is country. It is refreshing to have no auto tune and see someone actually rip on a guitar. Thumbs up here

God bless Doc Watson for inspiring the gift to the world that is Billy Strings..

Along about eighteen twenty-five I left Tennessee very much alive I never would have got through the Arkansas mud If I hadn't been a-ridin' on the Tennessee Stud I had some trouble with my sweetheart's pa And one of her brothers was a bad outlaw I sent her a letter by my Uncle Bud And I rode away on the Tennessee Stud The Tennessee Stud was long and lean The color of the sun, and his eyes were green He had the nerve and he had the blood And there never was a horse like the Tennessee Stud One day I was riding in a beautiful land I run smack into an Indian band They jumped their nags with a whoop and a yell And away we rode like a bat out of hell I circled their camp for a time or two Just to show what a Tennessee horse can do The redskin boys couldn't get my blood 'Cause I was a-riding on the Tennessee Stud We drifted on down into no man's land We crossed that river called the Rio Grande I raced my horse with the Spaniard's foal 'Til I got me a skin full of silver and gold Me and a gambler, we couldn't agree We got in a fight over Tennessee We jerked our guns, and he fell with a thud And I got away on the Tennessee Stud I got just as lonesome as a man can be Dreamin' of my girl in Tennessee The Tennessee Stud's green eyes turned blue 'Cause he was a-dreamin' of a sweetheart, too We loped right back across Arkansas; I whupped her brother and I whupped her pa I found that girl with the golden hair And she was a-riding on the Tennessee Mare Stirrup to stirrup and side by side We crossed the mountains and the valleys wide We came to Big Muddy, then we forded the flood On the Tennessee Mare and the Tennessee Stud A pretty little baby on the cabin floor A little horse colt playing 'round the door I love that girl with the golden hair And the Tennessee Stud loves the Tennessee Mare

That guitar has such a pure tone, so fitting Billy.

I just found this youngster a couple of months ago and now it seems he's everywhere. What fun it is to watch him play. He's moved on from his original appearance to a more professional look and it suits him. I'm sure he will go far. I hope he stays away from the commercialized country garbage that's being produced now.

Its in Billy's blood, some people have it, some people don't, Billy got it all.

Take us home!! We need to keep our souls and our heritage! You the Bomb!! Music will save our sanity and keep us strong!

This reminds me of home how I miss those Tennessee mountains

billy is the chosen one

Don’t know how I landed here but I have been blessed.

Hes organic.A real talent, popularity from good honest passion and talent. Not a fake, mass produced, corporate made and controlled actor.

Billy has single handedly inspired me to start picking again. Much love billy!!!!!

God bless this kid, keeping real music alive

As natural as breathing....effortless mastery.

makes this this 68 yo think the future of country is in good hands :--)

Damn that guitar is gorgeous! Billy is the future of flatpicking and progressive bluegrass

This video is where I first heard Billy Strings couple years ago... I've prolly watched it close to 1000 times!

From an Arkansas hillbilly, thanks Billy strings. You add to " Our" heritage.

brings tears to my eyes every time from the sheer beauty of it

I've listened to this over a million times but it never gets old is that just me

This man has reinvented blue grass! True dude and one of the greatest musicians I have ever listened to. 😎🚬

Thank you for keeping my generation alive in music

What a loving tribute to Doc Watson, who Strings quite obviously idolizes! I only hope the kids who are nuts for his band's inane, contrived-sounding jamming are motivated to hear and support the music that inspired him...

Some of the most raw, natural flatpickin' ive seen in quite some time. Why am I just now discovering this fella?!👊

He is so amazing, I am not a fan of country, never thought I would love a song about a horse so much! Billy, you are doing it for me!♥️♥️♥️

This is a incredible, extremely expert level guitar playing and singing.

This is still one of my favorite (Grammy winner) Billy Strings tunes.

Just a beautiful rendition of this song! Best guitar playing on this ever!

My brother once met and played with Doc Watson many years ago. He used to play this for me, it one of my absolute favorite BG songs! Billy Strings you are awesome! Thanks for playing this one! 🙂

The thumbs down absolutely knows nothing about guitar picking....

Im 68 yrs old i think thats sweet rendition of that tune Thx Billy!

I have not ever heard anything like him. he is legit channeling the past and making incredible music!

All the practice,lessons and want to in the world alone can’t get someone to this level in my opinion. People like this guy and others are all just plain gifted.

Doc watson did this on Will the Circle Be Unbroken back in'73. Never thought I'd hear a better version...until today.

What a magic song , rip Johnny almighty cash ..... LOVE YOUR SONGS I REMEMBER THEM SILVER MORNINGS WHEN YOUR FACE HAS TURNED TO GRAY .but you never said your sory i still loved you even than , poetry bro wish u alll the best ,IF Ever visit ireland . you have a place to rest your bones , all chill out ...

As a guitarist who is also a fan of all genres (though bluegrass does hold a special place in my heart; Wildwood Flower was the first song I learned) this kid is fucking incredible. I don't care if you like bluegrass or not, he's ridiculously talented. You know why good bluegrass players have to be so talented? It's a genre without drums, because it developed in hollers and on front porches and at house parties. So you have to be a guitarist, while also making percussion with your guitar. Or banjo. Or mandolin. It's not an easy thing to do; try it. Crazy respect. Edit: Don't come at me with some kind of "a banjo is just a drum with strings over it" nonsense. As I said...go try it. =D

It's good to see someone who does this tune justice ! Doc and Jimmy Driftwood would like it!

Talent isn't a good enough word for this young man

So beautiful I should have long since been in bed I have to work at 6am and it’s 1 now but I just discovered this man and I’m addicted

I really dig it, the story telling in these songs is superb. From Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

I've heard him play this on other videos. This particular performance was so good, I literally started to cry. As a guitar player myself, seeing that kind of natural talent and fluidity leaves me in awe. I saw Doc and Merle perform this back in the 80's. They would be so proud of this guy.

Hell yes bring back real country

Just stumbled on this guy!!! Wow and wow again!!!

My co worker turned me on to this guy today. Amazing talent. :)

I like Billy’s rendition about as well as any I have ever heard. Jimmy Driftwood would give this a big thumbs up!👍

His voice just gets better and better.

Makes me proud just to be from the same planet!

Man , Roy Clark is clawing at his grave to jam with this KID!!!

When Billy Strings plays, Magic happens

"The Tennessee stud was long & lean, the color of the sun & his eyes were green"....damn, that part gives me chills.

I live 2-3 miles from the Jimmy Driftwood farm in Timbo Arkansas. My grandpa built and owned the Jimmy Driftwood Barn in Mountain View. My dad owned it after him. This version of this song is killer. I grew up listening to this song done several different ways.