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
He Never Came Back
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She registered up at Smith's Hotel as Miss Ada Brown
She said she was just 25 and that she was in love
With a young lad about 16, she called him her turtledove
The wedding day at last arrived, the birds did merrily sing
He touched her up for a hundred to go out and buy the ring
He's been gone for a year or more
That sassy young thing better have that ring
When we meet on that beautiful shore
I went down to a restaurant as hungry as a bear
And a raving thief I did, I grabbed the bill of fare
The waiter said, now what for you, a piece of steak, I said
He taken my order and bowed his head and slowly walked away
The Carter Family's song "He Never Came Back" tells a tragic story of a 49-year-old woman who comes to town disguised as a 25-year-old woman named Miss Ada Brown. She claims to be in love with a young man of 16 who she calls her "turtledove." The two were planning to get married and had set a date for their wedding. On the day of the wedding, the young man was entrusted with a hundred dollars to go out and buy the wedding ring. Unfortunately, he never returned. He had vanished without a trace and was never seen or heard from again.
The sorrowful chorus of the song states that "He never came back, no, he never came back. He's been gone for a year or more. That sassy young thing better have that ring when we meet on that beautiful shore." The grieving woman is holding on to the hope that her beloved will return, but the lyrics suggest that it is unlikely. The song is a cautionary tale about deception, heartbreak, and the consequences of misplaced trust.
Overall, "He Never Came Back" is a poignant and emotional song that tells a sad tale of love that was never meant to be. It serves as a reminder of how fragile relationships can be, and how important it is to be truthful and transparent with those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
An old Jane about 49 came in to view the town
An elderly woman around age 49 arrived in town
She registered up at Smith's Hotel as Miss Ada Brown
She checked into Smith's Hotel using the name Miss Ada Brown
She said she was just 25 and that she was in love
She claimed to be 25 years old and said she was in love
With a young lad about 16, she called him her turtledove
She claimed to be in love with a 16-year-old boy, whom she referred to as her 'turtledove'
The wedding day at last arrived, the birds did merrily sing
On their wedding day, the birds were singing happily
He touched her up for a hundred to go out and buy the ring
He borrowed $100 from her to buy the wedding ring
He never came back, no, he never came back
The boy never returned, and is still missing
He's been gone for a year or more
The boy has been missing for over a year
That sassy young thing better have that ring
The woman better still have the wedding ring the boy borrowed the money for
When we meet on that beautiful shore
When they meet again in the afterlife
I went down to a restaurant as hungry as a bear
I was very hungry and went to a restaurant
And a raving thief I did, I grabbed the bill of fare
I jokingly took the menu from the waiter as if I were a thief
The waiter said, now what for you, a piece of steak, I said
The waiter asked what I wanted to eat, and I requested a steak
He taken my order and bowed his head and slowly walked away
The waiter took my order and walked slowly away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB BOGLE, NOLE EDWARDS, MELVIN TAYLOR, DON WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BB-iw4tp
I can't describe how much I love this song.
@frymahhide1982
love the lyrics, love how Sarah sings it, I play this over and over
@jukejackie1
Love love their sound...awesome Tune!
@christopherbrian8638
Hi 😊
@billbrown8006
Love this song great singing
@jamesmurphy-walsh8966
This song evokes something in me like I’ve lived in these times in a past life it is so comforting.
@rondatxny
Love this song!
@charleyseegers4468
I grew up listening to the carter family , this was one of the first songs i learned to play guitar and sing..
@BB-iw4tp
I'm back here listening to this again. Love it so much, eyes are streaming.
@lisahatfield9327
Mine are too ❤💔❤