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
Cannon Ball Blues
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to make up all their lost time
From Buffalo to Washington
You can wash my jumper starch my overalls
Catch a train they call the Cannonball
From Buffalo to Washington
Enough to give a man these doggone worried blues
She's gone, she's solid gone
Yonder comes the train, coming down the track
Carry me away but it ain't gonna carry me back
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe
I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall
If luck don't change, I won't be back at all
My honey babe, I'm leaving you
The Carter Family's song Cannon Ball Blues talks about a dejected lover who is left by his partner and decides to board a train to move forward with his life. As he listens to the train approaching, he laments his lost love and the missed opportunities in their relationship. He mentions that the train is trying to compensate for the lost time probably referring to the speed of the train. In search of a new beginning, he plans to move to the Northern part of the country, and he hopes his luck will change. Despite leaving his old life behind, he is still haunted by the raw emotions of being left behind by his lover.
The song is a classic example of Country music and has been covered by numerous singers over the years. The lyrics reflect a common theme of lost love, heartbreak, and sadness. The message of the song is poignant, and the melody perfectly captures the emotions of the lyrics. The verses create vivid imagery of a broken-hearted man searching for solace, his journey on this train is not just physical, but it represents the move to a new phase of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, listen to the train coming down the line
The singer is calling attention to the train that can be heard coming in the distance.
Trying to make up all their lost time
The train is attempting to make up for lost time during its journey.
From Buffalo to Washington
The train is traveling the distance from Buffalo to Washington.
You can wash my jumper starch my overalls
The artist is asking someone to clean and stiffen their clothing.
Catch a train they call the Cannonball
The artist is suggesting taking a specific train that is known as the Cannonball.
From Buffalo to Washington
The Cannonball train also travels the same distance as regular trains from Buffalo to Washington.
My baby's left me, she even took my shoes
The singer's significant other left them and even took their shoes with them, causing the singer distress.
Enough to give a man these doggone worried blues
The situation of being left and losing shoes has caused the artist to feel extremely distressed or upset.
She's gone, she's solid gone
The artist is emphasizing that their significant other has left and is no longer with them.
Yonder comes the train, coming down the track
The artist sees the train in the distance and is drawing attention to it.
Carry me away but it ain't gonna carry me back
The singer is going to leave on the train, but they know they won't be returning.
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe
The artist is using terms of endearment to refer to their significant other who has already left them.
I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall
The singer is planning to go up north sometime within the upcoming season of fall.
If luck don't change, I won't be back at all
The singer doesn't expect to come back if their luck doesn't improve during their travels up north.
My honey babe, I'm leaving you
The singer is letting their significant other know that they are leaving them behind as they go up north.
Contributed by Jacob E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gravityangel1225
0:27 You can wash my jumper starch my overalls,
Catch the train they call the Cannonball,
From Buffalo to Washington:
1:07 Yonder comes the train coming down the track,
Carry me away, but ain't gonna carry me back,
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe.
1:47 My baby left me, she even took my shoes,
Enough to give me the doggone worried blues,
She is gone, she's solid gone.
2:26 I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall,
If luck don't change I won't be back at all,
My honey babe, I'm leaving you.
@hugeelen
Lyrics: You can wash my jumper starch my overalls
Catch a train they call the Cannonball
From Buffalo to Washington
Yonder comes the train, coming down the track
Carry me away but it ain't going to carry me back
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe
My baby's left me, she even took my shoes
Enough to give me these dog-gone worried blues
She's gone, she's solid gone
I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall
If luck don't change, I won't be back at all
My honey babe, I'm leaving you
@Sebastian-ch4ux
One of the best songs from this musicaly awsome family. Next summer my son and me goin to vistit the blue rich mountains and I hope to see a lot of the Carter Family there.
To all listeners here: God bless you.
Kind regards from eastern Germany.
@olligator22
My God! If you aren't patting your foot to this, there's something wrong with your sense of rhythm! The guitar work is absolutely incredible!! I played this over at least 10 times before I could get enough! It's one of the best recordings I have ever heard!!!!!
@user-su8si8hr8h
amen
@garymckechnietelevision5785
That tangy guitar in the intro, A.P.'s halting delivery, the 'Carter scratch' played by Maybelle, the line 'She's solid gone', the train-like rhythm... all of it makes this my favorite Carter Family song
@prestcoldandy910
Mine to gary its just superb
@derektitus8636
not sure if anyone gives a shit but if you're bored like me atm then you can stream all of the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my brother for the last couple of days xD
@dallasevan3847
@Derek Titus yup, have been using instaflixxer for since december myself :)
@johnstoops943
Tom Rush does a fantastic cover of this.
@user-su8si8hr8h
I think so
@franklesko2485
This is easily on my short list of all time favorite songs and recordings. AP rarely sang lead, but there is something so soothing and sensitive about his voice. And the interplay with the guitar is amazing. I could listen to this on repeat all day.