Though her recording career had begun in the late 1970s with her eponymous debut album, it was with 1990's I Fell in Love that Carter's career really took off, with the album and title song topping the US country albums and singles charts, respectively. The album, which featured straight-ahead, retro-sounding country (her prior work had combined country, rock and roll and pop sounds), was among the first successes of the 1990s "neotraditionalist" movement in country. 1993's Little Love Letters featured the hit "Every Little Thing", which was accompanied by one of the top-rated music videos of the year.
Carter's winning stream ended with 1995's Little Acts of Treason, which, while critically well received, failed to achieve the commercial success of the Carter's two previous releases.
She also found limited amounts of fame with the song "It takes one to know me", which was released on the albums "Johnny Cash the Legend" and "Johnny and June duets". Originally recorded in 1977 with a full string backing group, it was lost in a tape collection in Hendersonville and uncovered in 2003. It was then remastered by her brother John Carter Cash. In the remastered version, John added his and his wife Laura's backing vocals and a guest appearance from Carlene herself - more than 35 years after she wrote and recorded the song.
She was played by Victoria Hester in the movie Walk the Line.
The track 'Every Little Thing' is also featured in the pinball machine 'Red and Ted's Road Show' released by Williams Electronic Games in 1994. Carter also does the voice of one of the main characters in the pinball game
Long Hard Fall
Carlene Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The leaves were gold and green
My baby's eyes were the saddest sight I'd ever seen
Two summers back I loved him
Two years I cried and tried
But I tell you, too many teardrops falling down cannot be dried
It's been a long hard fall
Long hard fall
So something came between us
A feeling cold as ice
By October there was frost and I knew our love was lost
November made me bitter
As the wind blew through my heart
Oh, so empty in the deepest darkest tiny part
It's been a long hard fall
Long hard fall
Long hard fall
There'd be snow come mid-December
And I'll be frozen to the bone
Oh, but by then it will all be over
It's been a long hard fall
It's been a long hard fall
Long hard fall
Long hard fall
It's been a long hard fall
Long hard fall
The song Long Hard Fall by Carlene Carter is a melancholic tune that tells the story of a failed relationship. The first verse paints a picture of a golden autumn day, but despite the beauty of the season, the singer's baby's eyes are filled with sadness. The relationship had its beginnings two summers ago, and the singer has spent two years trying to make it work despite the pain and heartache. The use of the repetitive line "too many teardrops falling down cannot be dried" emphasizes the futility of trying to fix something that is already broken.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that something has come between the couple. The feeling between them is as cold as ice, and by October, the frost sets in, signifying the end of their love. The bitterness in November reflects the singer's feelings of hurt and emptiness, despite the outside world still being full of life. By the time December comes, the relationship is over, and the singer is left alone in the cold.
Line by Line Meaning
It was sometime late September
The story of the song begins in late September as the leaves changed colors.
The leaves were gold and green
The leaves were transitioning between the colors of summer and fall.
My baby's eyes were the saddest sight I'd ever seen
The singer notices the sadness in her partner's eyes, which makes her feel heartbroken.
Two summers back I loved him
Two summers ago, the singer was happy and deeply in love with her partner.
Two years I cried and tried
The singer has been trying to keep the relationship going for two years now, despite the hardships.
But I tell you, too many teardrops falling down cannot be dried
The singer has shed too many tears and feels that they cannot fix the problems in the relationship.
So something came between us
Something significant happened to damage the relationship.
A feeling cold as ice
The singer describes the negative feeling that led to the break-up as being extremely cold and almost lifeless.
By October there was frost and I knew our love was lost
As time went on, the singer became increasingly aware that her relationship was beyond repair and had come to an end.
November made me bitter
During November, the singer's emotions turned bitter, mostly fueled by her broken heart and the cold weather.
As the wind blew through my heart
The singer describes how the cold weather affected her emotions, as if the wind was blowing through her heart.
Oh, so empty in the deepest darkest tiny part
After the break-up, the singer felt completely empty and lost, even in the smallest parts of her being.
There'd be snow come mid-December
The winter months continue, and the singer expects snow to arrive soon.
And I'll be frozen to the bone
The singer feels that the cold weather will make her feel even colder and more alone than she already does.
Oh, but by then it will all be over
By the end of the winter season, the singer hopes to have moved passed her heartbreak and pain.
It's been a long hard fall
The singer looks back on the past few seasons (summer, fall, and winter) and describes how difficult things have been.
Long hard fall
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the difficulty the singer has experienced throughout the year.
It's been a long hard fall
The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing one last time that the singer has had a tough year emotionally.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: CARLENE CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind