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
Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the only one I love
When shall I see him, oh, no, never
Till I meet him in heaven above
Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
They told me that he did not love me
I could not believe it was true
Until an angel softly whispered
He has proven untrue to you
Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
Tomorrow was our wedding day
But, oh Lord, where is he
He's gone to seek him another bride
And he cares no more for me
Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
Oh, bury me under the violets blue
To prove my love to him
Tell him that I would die to save him
For his love I never could win
Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
The Carter Family's "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow" is a mournful song of lost love and broken promises. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer expressing sadness and sorrow for the only person they loved, who they will not see again until they are reunited in heaven. The chorus repeats the refrain of burying the singer under the weeping willow tree, so her lover may find her final resting place and perhaps weep for her.
In the second verse, the singer struggles to come to terms with the news that their lover does not love them anymore. It takes an angel's whisper to finally convince the singer that their lover has been unfaithful. The third verse reveals that tomorrow was supposed to be the singer's wedding day, but their lover has abandoned them for another woman. The final verse is a request to be buried under a different tree, the violets blue, as a final proof of love for the unfaithful lover who the singer would die to save.
Overall, "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow" is a haunting song that captures the sadness and despair of a broken heart that still longs for the love that has been lost forever.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is sad, and I'm in sorrow
I am feeling very sad and downhearted.
For the only one I love
The person I love.
When shall I see him, oh, no, never
I will never see him again.
Till I meet him in heaven above
I will only see him in the afterlife.
Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
I want to be buried under a weeping willow tree.
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
Specifically, under a weeping willow tree.
So he may know where I am sleeping
So he can find my grave.
And perhaps he will weep for me
And maybe he will cry for me.
They told me that he did not love me
It was said to me that he did not love me.
I could not believe it was true
I couldn't accept that it was true.
Until an angel softly whispered
But then, an angel whispered to me.
He has proven untrue to you
That he had been unfaithful to me.
Tomorrow was our wedding day
Our wedding was supposed to be tomorrow.
But, oh Lord, where is he
But I don't know where he went.
He's gone to seek him another bride
He's gone to find another woman to marry.
And he cares no more for me
And he doesn't love me anymore.
Oh, bury me under the violets blue
Instead, bury me under blue violets.
To prove my love to him
As a gesture to prove my love to him.
Tell him that I would die to save him
Let him know that I would sacrifice myself to keep him safe.
For his love I never could win
I could never win his love no matter what I did.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gravityangel1225
0:02 My heart is sad, and I'm in sorrow
For the only one I love
When shall I see him, oh, no, never
Till I meet him in heaven above
0:29 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
0:38 They told me that he did not love me
I could not believe it was true
Until an angel softly whispered
He has proven untrue to you
0:55 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
1:28 Tomorrow was our wedding day
But, oh Lord, where is he
He's gone to seek him another bride
And he cares no more for me
1:45 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
2:17 Oh, bury me under the violets blue
To prove my love to him
Tell him that I would die to save him
For his love I never could win
2:34 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
@gravityangel1225
0:02 My heart is sad, and I'm in sorrow
For the only one I love
When shall I see him, oh, no, never
Till I meet him in heaven above
0:29 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
0:38 They told me that he did not love me
I could not believe it was true
Until an angel softly whispered
He has proven untrue to you
0:55 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
1:28 Tomorrow was our wedding day
But, oh Lord, where is he
He's gone to seek him another bride
And he cares no more for me
1:45 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
2:17 Oh, bury me under the violets blue
To prove my love to him
Tell him that I would die to save him
For his love I never could win
2:34 Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
@jonah9046
Thanks for posting the lyrics. I really appreciate it :-)
@gravityangel1225
@@jonah9046 you're welcome
@michael.trotter
Thanks for posting the lyrics, but you do realize that they’re in the description right?
@toffee4544
What??? There's people that don't memorize it already??
@alaskawashere7037
I thought it was "perhaps he will wait for me" not "weep"
@JonathanSanger-mr8fv
The origins of modern country music recorded in 1927, wonderful.
@lornaharth7045
The best music ever. I am Australian but my grand-mother on my Dad's side was born and raised in America; Southern...I grew up playing and singing all the American folk and bluegrass and The Carter Family was the main. They truly are the history of American's south.
@kellymiller3432
That's very I interesting, tell us more about your heritage please, I'm from the appachian mountains
@brodiemcgrath3784
@@kellymiller3432 wow, that is excellent.