Can the Circle Be Unbroken
The Carter Family Lyrics
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On one cold and cloudy day
And I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Lord, I told the undertaker
Undertaker, please drive slow
For this body you are hauling Lord
I hate to see her go
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Went back home
Lord, my home was lonesome
Miss my mother she was gone
All my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
The Carter Family's song "Can the Circle Be Unbroken" is a poignant reflection on the aftermath of losing a loved one. The lyrics describe the singer standing by a window on a "cold and cloudy day" and seeing a hearse roll by to take away their mother's body. They then ask the question "can the circle be unbroken?" suggesting that the loss of their mother has disrupted the natural cycle of life and death.
The singer pleads with the undertaker to "please drive slow" as they hate to see their mother go. This is a poignant moment, as the singer recognizes the finality of death and their inability to stop it. They then describe following their mother's body to the grave and trying to be brave, but ultimately being unable to hide their sorrow.
The final verse describes returning home to a house that feels lonely without their mother. The singer notes that all of their siblings are crying and the home is "sad and lone." The repetitive refrain of "there's a better home a-waiting in the sky, Lord, in the sky" provides a glimmer of hope and comfort amidst the grief.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing by the window
I was standing by the window.
On one cold and cloudy day
It was a cold and cloudy day.
And I saw the hearse come rolling
I saw the hearse arrive.
For to carry my mother away
The hearse was there to take my mother's body.
Can the circle be unbroken
Can we be reunited with our loved ones one day?
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
Perhaps in the afterlife.
There's a better home a-waiting
There's a peaceful place waiting for us.
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Maybe heaven.
Lord, I told the undertaker
I asked the undertaker.
Undertaker, please drive slow
Please drive slowly.
For this body you are hauling Lord
The body you are carrying.
I hate to see her go
I'm sad to see her leave.
I followed close behind her
I followed the hearse behind her.
Tried to hold up and be brave
I tried to remain strong.
But I could not hide my sorrow
But my sadness was visible.
When they laid her in the grave
When they put her in the ground.
Went back home
I returned home.
Lord, my home was lonesome
My home was very lonely.
Miss my mother she was gone
I miss my mother who has passed away.
All my brothers, sisters crying
All my siblings are also mourning.
What a home so sad and lone
My home is now sad and lonely.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alvin Pleasant Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@briansmith8730
From the Book of Luke, chapter 24:
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee."
I can't think of a more comforting question! "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" This life is only a small fraction of eternity and the same relationships formed here will carry over into eternity. "Til death do us part" is a man-made phrase that has no basis in scripture or reason.
@sevenguardians7517
That mountain music is something in its own
I play the banjo professionally I love it
A lot of people think there isn’t culture in the USA however there is you just have to know where to look
We contributed
Bluegrass
Jazz
Blues
Soul
Funk
Rock
Ragtime
Dixieland
Barbershop
Country
Grunge
Tejano
Gospel
R&B
Emo
Ska
traditional indigenous music from the hundreds of Native American tribes
All of that came from America and just the US down south in Latin America there’s another bucket full of styles of music
@CR-de1pq
I was standing by my window
On one cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
I said to that undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this lady you are carrying
Lord, I hate to see her go
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Oh, I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
I went back home Lord, my home was lonesome
Missed my mother, she was gone
All of my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
@jimmygu3
I love the way they jump a beat on “by and by” and “in the sky”. That nuance has been lost in modern versions.
@ambientpizzavstheworld883
Yea it’s right there, bam!
@tomlawhon6515
I heard that jump all the time in church signing growing up, especially when I lived in Appalachia between the ages of 8 and 13.
@shirleys765
@Danielle Kruse sad to hear this. I thought of all places, Tennessee would still recognize this..
@johnwinstondarby
Others will hear and follow the older way
@JesseBlueEads
It’s extraordinary how little folks today understand the nuance of this music. The academic world of music gets so obsessed with exploring “out” that it misses beauties that are already in.
@ryant282a
As an only child who recently lost his beloved mother and absolute best friend in my life, this beautiful song has really hit hard for me. I wept during the entire song.
@brrrrr256
I'd like to say that it gets better, but it doesn't.
@briansmith8730
From the Book of Luke, chapter 24:
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee."
I can't think of a more comforting question! "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" This life is only a small fraction of eternity and the same relationships formed here will carry over into eternity. "Til death do us part" is a man-made phrase that has no basis in scripture or reason.
@beastbee0118
@Brain Dead damn