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
East Virginia Blues
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
North Carolina I did go
There I met a fair, young maiden
And her name, I did not know
On her hair was dark and curly
Cheeks were roses red
Oh, her breast she wore my clear leaf
I don't want your greenback dollar
I don't want your watch and chain
All I want is your heart, darling
Say you'll take ma back again
The oceans deep and I can't wade in
And I have no wings to fly
I'll escape, my blue-eyed, boat land
Float or roll me over time
I'll go back to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
I'll go back to East Virginia
Leave them north Carolina alone
The Carter Family's song "East Virginia Blues" is a classic example of a traditional folk song. The song is a sad tale of love and separation. The song follows the story of a man who was born in east Virginia but moved to North Carolina. While he was there, he met a beautiful young lady, but he never learned her name. The man describes her as having dark curly hair and reddish cheeks, and she wore a bright leaf on her breast.
The man confesses his love to her, telling her that he doesn't want any of her possessions, but he wants to be with her again. He tells her that the ocean is too deep for him to wade in, and he doesn't have wings to fly. He suggests that he'll escape to his "blue-eyed boat land" and float or roll over time.
The man then declares that he will leave North Carolina and go back to East Virginia where he belongs. He bids farewell to North Carolina and sets his sights on returning home to reconnect with his love. Overall, the song is a story of desire and heartbreak, and it paints a vivid picture of life in the rural parts of the eastern United States in the early years of the 20th century.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in East Virginia
I originated from the state of East Virginia.
North Carolina I did go
I went to North Carolina after being born in East Virginia.
There I met a fair, young maiden
I met a beautiful and youthful lady when I was in North Carolina.
And her name, I did not know
I did not know the name of the beautiful young lady I met.
On her hair was dark and curly
The lady I met had dark and curly hair.
Cheeks were roses red
The cheeks of the lady I met were reddish and resembled the color of roses.
Oh, her breast she wore my clear leaf
The lady I met wore the clear leaf that belongs to me on her chest.
Where I longer to lay my head
I wished to lay my head where the lady wore the clear leaf on her chest.
I don't want your greenback dollar
I am not interested in your money.
I don't want your watch and chain
I am not interested in your possessions.
All I want is your heart, darling
All I desire is to possess your heart, my beloved.
Say you'll take ma back again
Please agree to come back to me, my dearest.
The oceans deep and I can't wade in
The ocean is too deep for me to wade in.
And I have no wings to fly
I cannot fly as I have no wings.
I'll escape, my blue-eyed, boat land
My escape from North Carolina will be through a boat ride over the blue colored sea.
Float or roll me over time
Let time pass and let life take its course.
I'll go back to East Virginia
I will return to East Virginia.
North Carolina ain't my home
North Carolina is not my homeland.
I'll go back to East Virginia
I will return to East Virginia.
Leave them north Carolina alone
I will leave North Carolina and the things that happened there in the past.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Ziegler
I've been listening to the Carter Family for the past year, but hadn't heard this song yet. It starting playing on a Spotify playlist last night and stopped me dead in my tracks. This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
Peter Tjørnsted
Try the Nora Brown version. It's quite good.
Bruce Too
Another timeless performance by Maybelle and Sarah. They had a way of taking minor/modal melodies and making them major key, but compelling. Their singing and playing--this was way before tape recorders and multi-tracking. You are hearing a live "take" here. Many of these songs were around before the Carters recorded them, but they made them their own!
Mark Schmerling
Just found this on here last night. Thanks so much for posting it. It's sad and beautiful. Can't get enough of the Carter Family, or of Maybelle and her guitar. This must be very early Carter Family. Notice the traditional southern mountain pronunciation of hair, Carolina, etc. Wonderful. Thank you again.
Ken George
I can't remember the original Carter Family's word pronunciation ever changing; it was the way they communicated, either talking or singing. It was who they were. Now, Maybelle's daughters, not being imbued with local speech patterns, did not speak or sing that way, similar but not quite the same. I live in Middle Tennessee and was neighbors with 3 of Maybelle's daughters. They pretty much spoke as Middle Tennesseans.
vornavalley
Nothing like a Carter Family beat to lift me up.
Rex Zens
+vornavalley i hear ya
Richard Southern
It's kind of ironic to read about listeners finally hearing this song. In the 1960s I was a member of a folk quartet and this was one of our favorite songs and one of our most requested by those who knew our repertoire. Happy to hear about those just now finding it.
Ken Roche
Great voices and harmony
Shakeytunes
What a great song