The Significance of Sturgill Simpson’s ‘Dood & Juanita’ Album Title

Sturgill Simpson recently announced that his fifth and (potentially) final original album called The Ballad of Dood & Juanita will be released on August 20th via Thirty Tigers. A conceptualized work, Sturgill says of the album “I Just wanted to write a story— not a collection of songs that tell a story, but an actual story, front to back. [This album is] a rollercoaster ride through all the styles of traditional country and bluegrass and mountain music that I love, including gospel and a capella. It is a simple tale of either redemption or revenge.”
Though we don’t have any songs from the album at the moment—and don’t have any further information on it beyond the track list and album art—we can actually glean quite a bit from the title, including that this album will be a very personal work for Sturgill.
Dood and Juanita happen to be Sturgill Simpson’s grandparents.
Long-time Sturgill fans will already be somewhat familiar with Sturgill’s ‘Pawpaw’ Lawrence “Dood” Fraley. He appears at the beginning of Sturgill’s album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, giving a somewhat poorly enunciated introduction to the album at the beginning of the song “Turtles All The Way Down.”
Sturgill also mentions Dood in multiple songs in one capacity or another, including the song “Life Ain’t Fair and the World Is Mean” where Sturgill professes, “Pawpaw never stayed up raising hell with the Haggard Jones. But he raised a proud coal miner’s daughter and I’m proud to be her son.” (Note: the lyrics have varied in different versions of the song.)
And of course, Sturgill’s song “Hero” is about Pawpaw Dood directly.
Decided to write a song for my hero
Considering he’s done so much for me
He’s the one that pulled me up when I fell down so low
He’s the one that led me through the darkness when I could not see
Never met a man more gentle or any humbler
Never once heard him raise his voice or saw him mad
But I watched him break his back on coal and lumber
To give her everything she never had
Lawrence “Dood” Fraley was born on June 1, 1929 in the town of Hazard in Perry County KY, served in the Air Force, and like many individuals born in his time in Kentucky, spent time working in coal mines, including for the Falcon Coal Company. Lawrence had eight sisters and three brothers, and went on later to marry Juanita (Smith) Fraley. As Sturgill says in the song “Hero”:
Born on a summer day in some dark holler
Way back in the hills of Perry County
Well he grew up poor and he never saw a dollar
But a dollar ain’t no good in a coal camp anyway
Lawrence “Dood” Fraley died on March 15th, 2017. In eulogizing him, Sturgill said, “He was without a single doubt the greatest man and finest human being I will ever know in my time here on this Earth, and there will never, ever be another like him … My Papaw taught me to play country music and more importantly, he taught me to love country music. Above all else that has happened in my life and career … nothing comes close to knowing that he lived long enough to see it.”
Though Sturgill has filled in a few more of the blanks here and there in interviews and such, we really don’t know much more about Ol’ Dood or Juanita. But it appears we’re about to find out a lot.
What we do know is that many of Sturgill Simpson’s relatives are buried in a cemetery near the town of Jackson, Kentucky where Sturgill was born, and where Dood and Juanita spent many of their days. The name of the cemetery is “High Top Mountain,” which also is the name of Sturgill Simpson’s debut album. So as you can see, The Ballad of Dood & Juanita will bring the Sturgill Simpson saga full circle.
July 24, 2021 @ 10:25 am
I gotta check him out. Four articles on him this month alone. Maybe I am missing the boat. I will listen and see what I have been missing. No joke, I really will.
July 24, 2021 @ 11:23 am
I really love the two bluegrass releases. Honestly still waiting for Metamodern to click with me. I discovered Sturgill from the rock record which caught my eye, and being rather new to this new wave of independent country I really wanted to LOVE it. Kudos to Sturgill for the experimentation though.
Really looking forward to this release. A themed conceptual album of traditional country, mountain music and bluegrass is 100% my thing.
July 24, 2021 @ 9:13 pm
The guy is a great songwriter and singer! I’m relatively new to his work, but a big fan (though SOUND & FURY hasn’t clicked just yet). His covers of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” and When In Rome’s “The Promise” caught my attention because I love a good cover, but the bluegrass albums really reeled me in.
I don’t know if one can go wrong here, but Metamodern Sounds in Country Music and the Cuttin’ Grass albums are a fabulous place to jump in.
August 13, 2021 @ 8:20 pm
Look up his old band Sunday Valley on YouTube. High energy, garage-bluegrass
July 24, 2021 @ 11:36 am
wayne[sic],
Please don’t waste your time; you’ve done yourself a favor up until now. Triggliesha has been massaging Simpson’s prostate for durn near a decade at this point. He is in the running for the most overhyped performer in the history of C(c)ountry music, and has profited immensely off of the “at least it’s not as bad as Nashville” phenomenon, aka the “what’s old is new again” phenomenon.
Don’t let Triggliesha’s salad-tossing lure you into wasting your money.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:34 pm
Oh Honky, just because you give me a woman’s name doesn’t mean I’m gonna let you fuck me.
And I work in the world of publishing. Nobody is “profiting immensely,” but you sure do love to click and comment on the Sturgill articles.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:45 pm
…“Oh Honky, just because you give me a woman’s name doesn’t mean I’m gonna let you fuck me.“…
????????????
…”And I work in the world of publishing. Nobody is “profiting immensely,” but you sure do love to click and comment on the Sturgill albums.”…
I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about Simpson. He’s overhyped, and has profited immensely off being something new to young people.
I would never call you overhyped; just wrong a lot.
And, I swear I wasn’t gonna say anything, but then I read Wayne’s comment and decided to be neighborly.
But you’re right, I care a lot about Simpson. I’m not indifferent about him. I actively hate him musically, and will go out of my way to tell anyone who’ll listen.
July 25, 2021 @ 4:05 am
I’m probably inclined to disagree with you Honky, but I’m just wondering. I’ve seen you on here for a while now, and you don’t hate country music and actually have a firm grip on it.
So, …
What is it exactly that rubs you wrong about Sturgill Simpson (musically – the only thing I care about)? I won’t come back lashing at you, I won’t try to change your mind or try to show you you’re wrong. I just want an erudite, smart reason why you “hate him musically” as a country fan. I’m not joking, I’m seriously curious.
Thanks!
August 1, 2021 @ 11:38 am
Simpsons liberal politics are skewed and idiotic but he’s a great musician. You’re obviously just a hater. Hopefully he doesn’t ruin this album with his liberal garbage
July 25, 2021 @ 5:17 am
There is so much hate for this guy, and I find it hard to figure out why. I guess maybe because he is very experimental, so almost by definition he is going to have made something that isn’t for you. So did Neil Young, but he is also one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Now I’m not necessarily making a comparison here to Neil young.. yet. But to deny that Sturgill has written some very good songs is ridiculous. Just let go, pan bowl, I don’t mind, are all songs that cut right to the heart. And there are so many more great ones in his catalogue. This is coming from someone who doesn’t like Sturgill’s politics and sometimes cringes are his antics. I also don’t weigh very heavily the point about him “cashing in on the at least it’s better than Nashville stuff.” If he was trying to cash in on any trend at the expensive of quality of music, then he would certainly not be making bluegrass albums and experimental synth rock. Just my thoughts.
July 25, 2021 @ 8:25 am
Overall the reception for this new Sturgill Simpson album and his previous two bluegrass installments has been overwhelmingly positive. There is a small, but noisy contingent of people who permanently hate this guy, and look for any opportunity to twist off on him. That said, Sturgill did himself no favors with country fans with “Sound & Fury,” and some of his divisive comments at times. Hell, he called the guy who helped discover him and launch his career a “butthurt obsessed fan boy” while also trashing pretty much everyone else who gave him a step up early on before the big arena tour in 2020. But if you’re being an objective fan, then you have to call the balls and strikes as they come. The fact that some people are trashing this guy over an album we haven’t even heard yet is probably a good indication of just how objective they’re truly being.
And no, there is no profiteering scheme that involves traditional country and bluegrass. Sturgill–unlike his understudy Tyler Childers, or Cody Jinks, or Whiskey Myers—hasn’t even minted a Gold single yet.
July 25, 2021 @ 8:42 am
Trenton,
There is virtually zero hate for Simpson, outside of myself and a few others, which is probably why I’m so vocal about it.
July 30, 2021 @ 9:47 pm
Y’all need to shut the hell up and enjoy some good music. If it’s Sturgill, great. If it’s not, great. Bunch of butt-hurt baby acting bitches. Better ways to enjoy an evening
July 24, 2021 @ 1:35 pm
Dude you sound like a grade a loser. I would HATE to know you in the real world.
July 24, 2021 @ 2:17 pm
Yes, you definitely would, but since you don’t live in the real world, it’s probably not worth worrying yourself over.
July 24, 2021 @ 2:15 pm
King Honky,
Dang that was funny. I agree with your assessment of his popularity. However, I will listen to a song or two.
Why? Well, I will separate the song from the artist. Just like I would recommend others do on Morgan Wallen’s “Sand in my Boots” that has been released to radio. It is a fine song, well, by today’s standards.
July 24, 2021 @ 4:27 pm
Are you insinuating that Simpson is just emulating an old style for popularity/money? Because for someone with a handful of albums that vary as much as they do, it seems to me like he’s doing what he wants, and it obviously connected with a big audience.
I seem to be in the minority in that I don’t love Sturgill, but certainly don’t actively hate him like you do. I like some of the songs on Hightop and think Metamodern is a pretty cool and unique album, but still have never listened to Sailor’s Guide even once.
July 24, 2021 @ 4:39 pm
I wouldn’t try too hard to understand Honky’s posts or to find any rhyme or reason in them. He has shown over the years that his ability to assess music is laughable (for example, he has been on record fawning over Midland, and has talked down John Prine). All of his comments on here are troll jobs designed to ruffle feathers.
July 24, 2021 @ 6:40 pm
Travis,
That is not what I’m insinuating. In fact, I’m not insinuating anything. I’m directly stating that Simpson has benefited from the fact that there aren’t a ton of options if you want to hear some C(c)ountry music. Folks under 40, who aren’t rooted in C(c)ountry music history, believe that Simpson is somehow an innovator. They see him as some type of living legend, performing some edgy form of music they’re unfamiliar with, but are drawn to due to the rebellious, alternative nature of it.
Folks over 40, had grown so tired of mainstream Country music, that they became desperate for any taste of anything that wasn’t like the filth on the radio, and they also clung to Simpson. By the time he came along, the bar had gotten so low, that people were hailing him as a messiah figure. It was downright disgusting.
Basically Travis, what I’m saying, is that if Simpson came to Nashville in the 1960’s, Chet Atkins would’ve told him to come back when he learned how to sing. He’s not profiting maliciously. He loves the music. He’s profiting by default of the era he lives in.
July 24, 2021 @ 7:18 pm
“Darn kids think they know real country!? I’ll show them!”
July 24, 2021 @ 7:21 pm
I agree with Honky’s take here. His sound is very derivative, but I do enjoy the bluegrass cuts.
July 24, 2021 @ 9:33 pm
Yeah I’m not seeing the controversy in his take either.
July 25, 2021 @ 10:00 am
Travis, im closer to your take on him. For me, i like my hardcore twangers to keep it country. (Of course im a huge Southern Rock fan too, so call me a hypocrite) Simpson has been a puzzlement to me. His albums are musical ADHD and my take is hes a restless soul. Definitely a bit of a nut… Many musicians are. Who knows..his online comments have been at times rude and all over the map. But i dont find his personality to be a draw.
I understand Honkys viewpoint on his voice, its mumbly . .Honky also noted the “messianic draw” he seems to have on people, many of whom were never country music fans to begin with, and suddenly this guy was the epitome of Country Music to them..Thats always annoyed me to a degree as ive been a lifelong country fan of the many styles that define the genre. Also, ive seen him play live and my take was, he sounded like a rock and roll act, primarily, and the vocals were indecipherable. I honestly dont get why folks lose their minds over him, but he is a big draw, theres no doubt about it. For my money, there are plenty of other acts to focus on. But thats just me, i have friends that are all aboard the Simpson train…choo choo….
July 24, 2021 @ 7:56 pm
glad to see your handle back down here King Honk keepin em honest
July 24, 2021 @ 8:22 pm
Are you THE Lil Dale, or only a spokesperson for the Lil Dale organization?
Because if you are THE Lil Dale, I must say that I’m flattered to have your support.
July 25, 2021 @ 10:07 am
I subscribe to the have nothing nice to say, say nothing philosophy. However your comment shows me two things. One, you don’t subscribe to the same “say nothing” philosophy. Two, you are clueless. Sturgill’s songwriting is prolific and his chops are on par with some of the finest pickers on the planet.
July 25, 2021 @ 10:49 pm
Ignorant pos
July 27, 2021 @ 7:26 pm
You can tell by this person’s entire post that they are not someone to take seriously or listen to in any kind of way. In fact, whatever he says you should do the exact opposite.
July 30, 2021 @ 9:40 pm
Yeah don’t wanna sound like a prick, but you’ve been missing out. That’s ok, his music catalog is small so you have time to get caught up on it. Albeit small, it’s eclectic- bluegrass, country, a little jazzy r&b, progressive rock (with synthesizers!) he’s run the gamut. Distinctive voice and a progressive thinker. One can’t go wrong…
July 24, 2021 @ 11:22 am
Good on Sturgill for honoring his grandparents.
“a dollar ain’t no good in a coal camp anyway”
It’s this kind of breezy cynicism that makes me shake my head. My parents grew up in the same little small coal town. A dollar back then was about 90% more valuable than it is now. They didn’t stay in their little village, either. They spent most of their money in the town about 4.5 miles away, to which they often walked before they had cars.
I hope Sturgill sticks to facts, which are always more interesting than half-truths and posturing.
July 24, 2021 @ 11:31 am
I think it lays more on the notion of living in coal camps owned by the coal industry and having to shop in store owned by the coal industry. A “dollar” isn’t really good there. They pay you, yes, but the you have to spend the money they pay you and give it right back to them.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:30 pm
Yeah, I’ve always taken that line to mean either a dollar doesn’t do you any good because there’s nowhere to spend it, it doesn’t go very far at the company store that were notorious for selling stuff at exorbitant prices, or it was a “script” dollar, meaning you could only use it on company store items.
August 8, 2021 @ 3:09 am
Obviously you we’re not a member of the poor “coal camp” families in Perry County, Kentucky.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:11 pm
I’ve always interpreted this as more of a reference to company stores. Like your pay being docked to lower your debt to the store, like in “Sixteen Tons.”
July 24, 2021 @ 4:15 pm
I was going to post the same thing. I immediately thought of Sixteen Tons and ‘scrip’. Trig mentioned ‘script’ above, but I always saw it as scrip. I don’t know if that’s short or slang or just what it’s called.
July 26, 2021 @ 8:33 am
It’s called ‘scrip’ here in the UK. I think Trig made a slip of the finger, or of the mind.
Company scrip was massive in the UK in the Victorian age, when rich business owners would build model towns for their workers, complete with company shops that only accepted company scrip. These magnates tended to be Temperance types too, so these places often didn’t have pubs either. Sounds real jolly.
Don’t know if such currency is still used anywhere over here, never heard of it being used in my lifetime.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:14 pm
Forgive me for making assumptions, but your parents are likely a bit younger than Sturgill Simpson’s grandparents, correct? The article says Simpson’s grandpa was born in 1929. Until 1938, it was still completely legal to pay workers with scrip and those were also the Depression years when a dollar was hard to come by anywhere.
July 24, 2021 @ 2:54 pm
My grandfathers were born in 1886 and 1895. They were jacks of all trades, and had to be. They had lots of children. One fought at Chateau Thierry, got black lung, smoked all his life, and lived to be ninety-nine. The other was a miner, labor union organizer, and musician who could play any instrument he picked up. They humted, grew big gardens, and drove their wives crazy.
I’m glad Simpson had a hero like them.
July 24, 2021 @ 3:33 pm
I am glad he had a hero like them as well.
Too bad he is not nearly the man he claims his Grandfather was.
July 24, 2021 @ 4:37 pm
What makes him not the man his grandfather was?
July 26, 2021 @ 8:37 am
I’m still interested in what it is about Sturgill that makes him ‘’not nearly the man he claims his grandfather was’’. My interest is genuine. I will not reply to the answer. I’m curious as to what it could be.
August 1, 2021 @ 11:40 am
Simpsons liberal politics are skewed and idiotic but he’s a great musician. You’re obviously just a hater. Hopefully he doesn’t ruin this album with his liberal garbage
August 1, 2021 @ 11:42 am
I’d imagine his papaw wouldn’t agree with his liberal social justice bs, support of black lies matter, etc
August 1, 2021 @ 1:25 pm
Where are you getting hatred from my remark?
July 25, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Just for clarification a dollar back then ain’t worth shit today. If a coke was .15 cents in 1950 (or whenever) then it should be costing about the same today to the dollar. It’s called inflation.
July 24, 2021 @ 11:29 am
A themed conceptual album of traditional country, mountain music and bluegrass is just what the doctor ordered in my case! Gonna be a long haul waiting the rest of the year for the actual record though. And not the fruit loops color pressing. Black or nothing for me.
July 24, 2021 @ 11:37 am
Any samples of the album you can put up yet? Would love to hear a song or two.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:31 pm
Not yet, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t hear any before the release. Sturgill has said previously his albums are meant to be taken cohesively, and he doesn’t like releasing early singles.
July 24, 2021 @ 1:35 pm
Well shoot. Thanks anyway. I guess I will just have to wait until the album comes out.
July 24, 2021 @ 4:57 pm
I have been assuming that we wouldn’t hear any singles. That’s more Sturgill’s style than the slow drip that’s the industry norm. Oh, and for a concept album, it’s theoretically even more important to not release singles.
July 24, 2021 @ 12:45 pm
I’m looking forward to this one. Never was a big fan of his but the bluegrass albums were great and if this one is anything like those it’ll be good
July 25, 2021 @ 2:29 am
You sure don’t even like Sturgills first album High Top Mountain? I had the same problem cause I started with the latest album at that time metamodern and never got into it but when I listened to the first two albums everything changed and Hero might be one of the best songs I have heard ever, that was instant.
July 25, 2021 @ 8:21 am
Nope high top mountain never did anything for me. And unless I’m mistaken, Metamodern was his second album so you may have started with a sailors guide to earth
July 24, 2021 @ 4:51 pm
Never could get into his music. I’ve tried but no dice. Now, I love me some Tyler Childers. Hope he keeps putting out music for years to come.
Thankful for this website that has introduced me to so many artists I would have never known.
July 24, 2021 @ 5:56 pm
I thought his first two albums were good, but not mind blowing. I actually think Sailor’s Guide to Earth was his best, and one of my favorite albums in the past 10 years. I am not as critical as most are on here. I am really looking forward to this album. I think it sounds like a cool idea, but I’m a little skeptical of this acappella portion.
July 25, 2021 @ 6:12 am
Obviously most of y’all aren’t from Kentucky or southern West Virginia. The butthurt over the vocals has always been amusing to me. I have no problem understanding the words coming out of Sturgill’s microphone. Chris Knight either. News flash: Not every singer is gonna sound like George Strait or get sanitized by the Nashville Sound. I reckon many of the folks whining about the vocals are really just pissed about Sturg’s opinions on other issues, same as they usually are with Isbell.
July 25, 2021 @ 6:57 am
I reckon it’s not his accent. A lot of it is his singing, or more specifically – his microphone technique. You can hear it, and see it. Moving your head around, away from the mic, will do that. Chris Knight is perfectly understandable, by comparison. But sure, it’s probably his opinions…you cracked the case.
July 25, 2021 @ 8:41 am
D Ray White speaks the truth.
July 25, 2021 @ 9:00 am
….”Obviously most of y’all aren’t from Kentucky or southern West Virginia. The butthurt over the vocals has always been amusing to me. I have no problem understanding the words coming out of Sturgill’s microphone.”….
D Ray
This is the strangest take on this thread, considering that I’m the only person criticizing Simpson on this entire article, and Trigger’s response to me is pushing 40 likes. That(the like count) in and of itself affirms my point. People are obsessed and emotional over a performer that I’d be aggravated to pay a $5 cover charge for, and I find it disgusting.
C(c)ountry music is so thoroughly deceased, that THIS is what folks clamor for. It’s sad.
As for the accent thing. First off, I don’t detect much of an accent with Simpson; he just sounds like a 4th rate Waylon Jennings impersonator to me. Secondly, I’m a fan of hillbilly music going back to the 1920’s, so get the heck outta here with that crap. You want some good honky tonk music with a good accent, and not put on, give this a whirl, some pure Ozark gold.
https://youtu.be/hJFWlgPPpcU
July 25, 2021 @ 2:30 pm
You don’t like, but others do. I mean, saying he is terrible or not talented is just not true. However, doesn’t mean it has to be your cup of tea. I don’t love Turnpike Troubadours, but I would never say they aren’t talented and great musicians. I never understood arguing for somebody not to like something, because you don’t
July 25, 2021 @ 4:45 pm
“Damn kids! Get off my lawn!”
July 26, 2021 @ 7:56 am
I’ll bite. What’s with the “C(c)ountry” notation?
July 25, 2021 @ 4:23 pm
D Ray. You have one fucked up family of meth heads, and common criminals.
July 25, 2021 @ 8:22 am
Trig posts the most benign Stu article ever written, and they still can’t help themselves.
It’s an itch that apparently must be scratched, no matter how nonsensical the context.
July 25, 2021 @ 5:46 pm
It’s just one of many examples towards the genius of this guy. Panbowl speaks for itself. Not many “country singers” tell stories like that these days and I can’t wait to hear this one.
July 28, 2021 @ 10:08 am
The comments on this site makes me laugh, man. Some folks’ll be so black and white about stuff. You know, it’s okay to like some stuff about and artist and not others.
I saw Simpson in London on his S&F tour and he sucked. Like he really, really sucked. Then he gave an interview about that show and blamed the crowd. You know, like it’s not his job to move us, the people who paid to get in!
But nothing will remove “High Top Mountain” from my heart. The bluegrass records get better with every listen. My wife bangs “Sailor’s Guide…” like they’re gonna ban it next week.
The guy can be light and dark. Some interviews I read, he comes across as a jerk, some as a really decent guy (the power of editorial, anyone?). Maybe he’s genuinely both? Like we all are.
I’m looking forward to this record.
July 30, 2021 @ 11:01 pm
When Merle Haggard calls you on the phone and invites you to his house to share unrecorded music before he passed on to catch up with George you know the man has enormous talent, and im pationatly waiting for him to show us who he is. Been a favorite artist to listen to for quite some time. Loved how they blessed Yellowstone with his music aswell. Be awsome to see sturgill and Ryan Bingham have some old country together.