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
Happiest Days of All
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The waves and the winds are low
I thought of the days that are gone by, ma
Many long years ago
We lingered by the gently flowing billows
And watched the golden sunset fade away
And there among the sweet ocean breezes
Gathering up the shells from the seashore
Gathering up the shells from the sea
Those were the happiest days of all, ma
Gathering up the shells from the shore
When the waves are rolling on the ocean
And the golden moonbeams on the pebbles shine
At your cottage by the sea I'll come again, ma
When the waves are rolling gentle, sweetheart mine
Now I am growing up in years, ma
My locks are all silver and gray
But the vows that we made on the shore, ma
Are fresh in my memory today
Gathering up the shells from the seashore
Gathering up the shells from the sea
Those were the happiest days of all, ma
Gathering up the shells from the shore
No more bright shells we will gather
As the waves come dashing as of yore
She lies 'neath the white pebbled sand
Just covered up with shells on the shore
Gathering up the shells from the seashore
Gathering up the shells from the sea
Those were the happiest days of all, ma
Gathering up the shells from the shore
The Carter Family's song "Happiest Days of All" is a heartwarming tribute to memories of past happiness. As the song opens, the singer reflects on a stroll along the seashore, where waves and winds are gentle. This peaceful setting inspires fond memories of days gone by, when the singer and his or her partner, likely the singer's mother, would sit by the sea, watching the sunset and dreaming of the future. The imagery of the poem is full of natural beauty, such as the "sweet ocean breezes" and the "golden moonbeams on the pebbles."
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes that these were the "happiest days of all." The moments of gathering "shells from the seashore" were simple, yet filled with joy and love. As the singer grows older, memories of these moments remain vivid, almost as if they happened just yesterday. The final stanza is a poignant reference to the passing of time and the impermanence of things. The shells that once brought happiness now represent the memory of a loved one who has passed away, buried beneath the very shore from which the shells came. The song is a bittersweet reminder that memories can bring both joy and sorrow, but that the love and happiness felt in the past can never truly be lost.
Line by Line Meaning
I wandered today on the seashore
I took a walk by the sea today
The waves and the winds are low
The ocean is calm and the wind is gentle
I thought of the days that are gone by, ma
I reminisced about the past, mother
Many long years ago
It was a very long time back
We lingered by the gently flowing billows
We stayed by the softly moving waves
And watched the golden sunset fade away
And witnessed the sunset slowly disappearing
And there among the sweet ocean breezes
And in the midst of pleasant sea winds
We talked about our future wedding day
We discussed our upcoming wedding day
Gathering up the shells from the seashore
Collecting shells from the beach
Gathering up shells from the sea
Picking up shells from the ocean
Those were the happiest days of all, ma
Those were the most joyous days, mother
Gathering up the shells from the shore
Gathering shells from the beach
When the waves are rolling on the ocean
When the ocean waves are in motion
And the golden moonbeams on the pebbles shine
And the moonlight reflects off the pebbles
At your cottage by the sea I'll come again, ma
I'll visit your seaside home again, mother
When the waves are rolling gentle, sweetheart mine
When the waves are peacefully rolling, my beloved
Now I am growing up in years, ma
Now that I'm getting older, mother
My locks are all silver and gray
My hair has turned silver and gray
But the vows that we made on the shore, ma
But the promises we made at the beach, mother
Are fresh in my memory today
Are still vivid in my mind today
No more bright shells we will gather
We won't collect any more colorful shells
As the waves come dashing as of yore
As the waves come crashing like they used to
She lies 'neath the white pebbled sand
She rests under the sandy white pebbles
Just covered up with shells on the shore
Completely covered with shells on the beach
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Carter Family Channel
This channel was created to help keep The Carter Family music alive, and share with the world! please help me do this for as long as possible :) and please feel free to help support the channel with a donation, and any questions you have i am always happy to answer :) https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8TNJ64TWNH9M2
David Fraley
I love the Carter family music
Lee Glendening Koss
What a wonderful song!! I’m going to try to learn it! Thanks for posting this song.
The Carter Family Channel
Sounds great! cant wait to hear you :)
Lee Glendening Koss
Is your group a registered non-profit organization? I can donate only if it is.
The Carter Family Channel
Hi there, this channel is not made for profit only to help keep the Carter Family music and legacy alive, Carter Family music is copyrighted so no profit is made from the videos, the channel is not monetized, you don’t need to donate just support the channel by being a subscriber and enjoy the videos :) and please help me spread the Carter family music to as many people as possible.
Rambo Weed
AP