The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded bet… Read Full Bio ↴The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. Their music had a profound impact on later bluegrass, country, pop and rock musicians, as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s.

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

For Lovin' Me
The Carter Family Lyrics

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Well I'm tired and so weary but I must go along
Till the Lord comes and calls calls me away oh yes
Well the morning's so bright and the lamb is the light
And the night night is as black as the sea oh yes
(There will be peace in the valley for me some day)
There will be peace in the valley for me dear Lord I pray
(There'll be no sadness no sorrow no trouble I see)
There will be peace in the valley for me (for me)

Well the bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame
And the lion shall lay down with the lamb oh yes
And the beast from the wild will be lead by a child

And I'll be changed changed from this creature that I am oh yes
(There will be peace in the valley

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are not actually from The Carter Family's "For Lovin' Me," but rather from a gospel song called "Peace in the Valley" that has been covered by various artists. The song expresses a longing for peace and rest from the weariness of life's struggles. The first verse describes the singer's exhaustion and the juxtaposition between the brightness of morning and the darkness of night. The recurring line "There will be peace in the valley for me" expresses the hope that someday there will be a release from earthly troubles.

The second verse imagines a world in which even the most fearsome animals are tamed and peaceful, and children are able to lead them. The line "And I'll be changed from this creature that I am" suggests that the singer is looking forward to a transformation or redemption. The song ultimately conveys the message that earthly struggles and conflicts will eventually be resolved in a final peaceful state.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I'm tired and so weary but I must go along
Although I'm exhausted, I have to continue on my journey.

Till the Lord comes and calls calls me away oh yes
I'll keep going until God calls for me to rest.

Well the morning's so bright and the lamb is the light
The start of a new day is beautiful and brings hope.

And the night night is as black as the sea oh yes
But the darkness that comes at night feels heavy and never-ending.

(There will be peace in the valley for me some day)
I hold onto the belief that one day there will be peace for me.

There will be peace in the valley for me dear Lord I pray
I pray to have peace in my life.

(There'll be no sadness no sorrow no trouble I see)
In that peace, I'll have no pain or problems.

There will be peace in the valley for me (for me)
This peace is meant for me and me alone.

Well the bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame
In this peace, even dangerous animals will be calm and friendly.

And the lion shall lay down with the lamb oh yes
Even the fiercest creatures will be peaceful and kind.

And the beast from the wild will be lead by a child
A child will lead even the wildest animals.

And I'll be changed changed from this creature that I am oh yes
This peace will even change me from the person I am now.

(There will be peace in the valley
Again, I hold onto the belief that one day there will be peace.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Tratore, Bluewater Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas A. Dorsey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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