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
The Bitter End
Carlene Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a vivid vision and one track dream
Her simple life felt incomplete
No roads to follow, no signs to seek
She leave her home far behind,
Maybe some change for the better
So sweet and kind, a southern girl
[Chorus]
On a trail of clues, hard as light
On a man she loved and now she cried
Trail of tears, caution to the wrench
Follow the heart to the bitter end
Follow the hear to the bitter end,
The bitter end
She found herself lost one night
The road back home, no where in sight
She tripped she fell, scattered and torn
Crippled by fear and chilled to the bone
She turned and looked back to where she had been
Carried on a cold Oregon wind
Southern girl little did she know
[Chorus]
Follow the heart to the bitter end
Follow the heart to the bitter end
The bitter end
The bitter end
The song 'The Bitter End' by Carlene Carter tells the story of a young girl who leaves her simple life behind to search for something more meaningful, but eventually finds herself lost and scared. The lyrics paint a picture of a girl who is determined to follow a particular path, despite not having clear directions, and the struggles she encounters along the way. The opening lines describe her as a silent girl, who has a vivid vision and one track dream. Even though her life feels incomplete, she has no roads to follow and no signs to seek. However, she decides to leave her home and set out on a journey, hoping that it will lead to some positive change.
As the chorus suggests, the girl embarks on a trail of clues towards the man she loves, only to end up crying and hurt at the bitter end. It is a warning to anyone who follows their heart without due caution that they risk ending up in pain and regret. The lyrics in the second verse further amplify this message, as the girl finds herself lost one night, with no way back home. She stumbles, and as she looks back to where she has been, the cold wind carries her away, further from what she had hoped to find.
Line by Line Meaning
A silent girl, about 15
An introverted girl who is 15 years old.
Had a vivid vision and one track dream
She had a clear vision and ambition for her life.
Her simple life felt incomplete
Despite leading a simple life, she lacked something important.
No roads to follow, no signs to seek
She had no clear path to follow or guidance for her dream.
She leave her home far behind,
She left her home far behind to achieve her dream.
Maybe some change for the better
She hoped that this change would be for the better.
So sweet and kind, a southern girl
She was a friendly and warm-hearted girl from the South.
Little did she know
She was unaware of what was to come.
[Chorus]
The following lines make up the chorus.
On a trail of clues, hard as light
She followed a path that was difficult to decipher, like a faint light.
On a man she loved and now she cried
She followed this path for a man she loved, who had caused her pain.
Trail of tears, caution to the wrench
Her journey resulted in pain and heartache, warning others to be cautious in love.
Follow the heart to the bitter end
She followed her heart despite the suffering it led her to.
She found herself lost one night
She became lost one night in her journey.
The road back home, no where in sight
She couldn't find her way back home.
She tripped she fell, scattered and torn
She stumbled and became physically and emotionally hurt.
Crippled by fear and chilled to the bone
Her fear paralyzed her, causing a physical reaction.
She turned and looked back to where she had been
She looked back at the life she had left behind.
Carried on a cold Oregon wind
Her thoughts were carried away by the cold wind of Oregon.
Southern girl little did she know
She was an innocent Southern girl who was unaware of what was to come.
[Chorus]
The following lines make up the chorus.
Follow the heart to the bitter end
She continued to follow her heart despite the hardships.
Follow the heart to the bitter end
Her journey led her to a bitter ending.
The bitter end
The ending of her journey was bitter and painful.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARLENE CARTER, MARK W. WINCHESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anne-Marie Schindler
une grande chanteuse de country