The original group consisted of Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter (A.P.; 1891-1960), his wife, Sara Dougherty Carter (autoharp and guitar; 1898-1979), and Maybelle Addington Carter (guitar; 1909-1978). Maybelle Carter (later popularly known as Mother Maybelle Carter) was married to A.P.'s brother Ezra (Eck) Carter. All three were born and raised in southwestern Virginia where they were immersed in the tight harmonies of mountain gospel music and shape note singing. Maybelle Carter's distinctive and innovative guitar playing style quickly became a hallmark of the group.
The Carters got their start on July 31, 1927 when A.P. convinced Sara and Maybelle (pregnant at the time) to make the journey from Maces Springs, Virginia to Bristol, Tennessee to audition for record producer Ralph Peer who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded.
In the Fall of 1927 the Victor recording company released a double-sided 78 rpm record of the group performing "Wandering Boy" and "Poor Orphan Child". In 1928 another record was released with "The Storms Are on the Ocean" and "Single Girl, Married Girl". This one proved very popular.
They stopped touring and recording in 1943.
In 1987, the three daughters of Maybelle Carter - June Carter (also known as June Carter Cash, following marriage to Johnny Cash), Helen Carter and Anita Carter, along with June Carter's daughter Carlene Carter, appeared as the Carter Family and were featured on a 1987 television episode of Austin City Limits along with Johnny Cash.
The Carters were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970 and were given the nickname "The First Family of Country Music". In 1988, the Carter Family was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and received its Award for the song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp honoring A.P., Sara, and Maybelle. In 2001, the group was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 2005, the group received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Carter Family III carries on the tradition. The group consists of A.P. Carter and Sarah Carter’s grandson Dale Jett, Maybelle Carter’s grandson John Carter Cash and his wife Laura Cash.
For more details, see the Carter Family biography at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carterfamily/peopleevents/p_carters.html
Broken Hearted Love
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could you truly turn away
Would it make your heart ache, darling
Not to see me night or day
I've been dreaming of you, darling
Dreaming of your eyes so blue
Take me back, for love I'm dying
Many a day with you I've rambled
Down by the shades of the deep blue sea
There you told me that you loved me
That you loved none else but me
I am dreaming of you, darling
Dreaming of your eyes so blue
Take me back, for love I'm dying
For I love none else but you
I will give you back your letters
And your picture I love so well
How it makes my heart ache, darling
Oh, 'tis hard to say farewell
I been dreaming of you, darling
Dreaming of your eyes so blue
Take me back, for love I'm dying
For I love none else but you
The Carter Family's song, "Broken Hearted Love," is a romantic ballad of lost love and regret. The song starts with the singer pleading with their lover not to let anything come in between them, asking if they would be willing to turn away from the relationship. The singer then confesses their love and willingness to do anything to win back the love of their life.
Throughout the song, there are recurring themes of dreaming and reminiscing about the past. The singer continuously dreams of their lover's eyes so blue, and recalls fond memories of the days spent together. This longing for the past is further intensified by the act of giving back letters and pictures of the beloved, a clear indication of a break-up or a separation. The closing lines of the song reveal the extent of the singer's love, as they declare that they love none else but their lover, and are dying for their love.
One of the key elements of the song is the melancholic melody that matches the lyrics perfectly. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a slow pace that evokes a feeling of sorrow and longing. The song's simplicity is also reflected in the sparse instrumentation, which includes only a guitar and a harmonica, allowing the lyrics to take center stage.
Overall, "Broken Hearted Love" is a song that captures the universal themes of lost love and heartbreak, presented in a simple and emotive manner.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you let her part us, darling
Do you trust me enough to not let another woman come between us?
Could you truly turn away
Are you capable of rejecting me completely?
Would it make your heart ache, darling
Would you be pained not to be with me day and night?
Not to see me night or day
If we're apart, will you miss me always and forever?
I've been dreaming of you, darling
You're the one I can't get out of my head.
Dreaming of your eyes so blue
I wish I could be lost in your gaze once more.
Take me back, for love I'm dying
I'm pleading with you to give me a chance to be with you again.
For I love none else but you
I'm not interested in anyone but you.
Many a day with you I've rambled
We have shared many memories together.
Down by the shades of the deep blue sea
I remember our walks by the ocean and how happy we were.
There you told me that you loved me
I remember when you declared your love for me.
That you loved none else but me
You made it clear that you only had eyes for me.
I will give you back your letters
I will return all of the things you have given me.
And your picture I love so well
The image of you that I cherish and adore.
How it makes my heart ache, darling
Saying goodbye is causing me great emotional pain.
Oh, 'tis hard to say farewell
Leaving you is the most difficult thing I have ever done.
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hazen Sweeney
BEAUTIFUL!