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
I'll Be Home Some Day
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who was just about to cross the swelling tide
I asked if he would do me a favor
Just take a message to the other side
If you see my savior, tell him that you saw me
When you saw me I was on my way
You may meet some old friends who may ask about me
Now you have to take this journey on without me
It's a debt that sooner or later must be paid
If you see my savior, don't forget to tell him
Don't forget to tell him what I say
You may chance to see my father or my mother
Or some friends who have gone before
You may chance to see my sister or my brother
But try and see my savior first of all
The Carter Family's song "I'll Be Home Some Day" is a powerful and emotional ballad about death and the afterlife. The song starts with the singer standing by the bedside of a neighbor who is dying and asking him to take a message to the other side. The message is simple, the singer asks the neighbor to tell their savior that they were on their way to him and that they will meet him someday. The song is about the singer's journey into the afterlife and their longing for home.
The lyrics are based on the Christian belief in the afterlife and the idea that death is a journey to meet their savior, who they long to see. The song is filled with poignant lines that evoke a sense of longing and hope, such as "Just tell them I'll be home someday" and "But try and see my savior first of all." The ultimate message of the song is that death is not the end, but rather a journey to a new beginning.
Throughout the song, the Carter Family's harmonies are hauntingly beautiful and full of emotion. The simplicity of the melody and the lyrics only serve to enhance the poignancy of the song. As the song draws to a close, the listener cannot help but feel moved by the depth of emotion and the universal human experience that the song captures.
Overall, "I'll Be Home Some Day" is a timeless classic that speaks to the human experience of death and the afterlife. The song's message of hope and longing for a better future is one that resonates with listeners across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing by the bedside of a neighbor
I was next to a sick neighbor
Who was just about to cross the swelling tide
Who was close to death
I asked if he would do me a favor
I requested a favor
Just take a message to the other side
Deliver a message to heaven
If you see my savior, tell him that you saw me
If you encounter my savior, inform him of my status
When you saw me I was on my way
I was in the process of leaving
You may meet some old friends who may ask about me
You may come across old friends who inquire about me
Just tell them I'll be home someday
Explain to them that I will return home eventually
Now you have to take this journey on without me
Now you must proceed without me
It's a debt that sooner or later must be paid
It is an obligation that eventually must be fulfilled
If you see my savior, don't forget to tell him
If you encounter my savior, remember to inform him
Don't forget to tell him what I say
Recount to him what I have said
You may chance to see my father or my mother
You may happen upon my parents
Or some friends who have gone before
Or some friends who have passed away
You may chance to see my sister or my brother
You may come across my siblings
But try and see my savior first of all
But prioritize seeing my savior above all else
Contributed by Nathaniel W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Carter Family Channel
This channel was created with admiration and to help keep The Carter Family music alive, and share with the world! please help me do this for as long as possible, no profit is made from this channel but you are welcome to show your love and support to the channel with any donations, https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8TNJ64TWNH9M2 any questions you have i am always happy to answer :) as the songs and footage are so old, time is spent to remastered them to the best possible quality, thank you Sara, A.P and Maybelle what you started back in 1927, you have meant so much to so many people and will always continue to, we miss you so much but what you left us will never be forgotten :)
Marvin Dockery
Always an enjoyment to hear these old ones.