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 Ain
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I ain't going to work tomorrow
For it be a wet, rainy day
I'm a-going to leave this country
I'm a-going around this world
I'm a-going to leave this country
For the sake of one little girl
Well, she told me that she loved me
Now she's got her back turned on me
And she's courting whoever she please
[Instrumental break]
Well, I lost my money in gambling
And I lost my name, you see
I am nobody's darling
And nobody cares for me
Well, I ain't going to work tomorrow
And I may not work next day
Well I ain't going to work tomorrow
For it be a wet, rainy day
Don't you hear my banjo ringing
Don't you hear this mournful sound
Don't you hear those pretty girls laughing
Standing on the cold, cold ground
I'll hang my head in sorrow
I'll hang my head and cry
I'll hang my head in sorrow
As my darling passes by
Well, I ain't going to work tomorrow
And I may not work next day
Well I ain't going to work tomorrow
For it be a wet, rainy day
[Instrumental break]
The lyrics to The Carter Family's song "I Ain't Goin' to Work Tomorrow" express the singer's feelings of heartbreak and worthlessness after losing all his money in gambling and being abandoned by the woman he loves. He declares that he won't go to work tomorrow, or maybe even the next day, because the weather is bad and he has lost all motivation to work. Instead, he plans to leave the country and travel the world for the sake of forgetting his troubles and the woman who broke his heart. The singer's banjo playing and the laughter of pretty girls only further emphasize his sorrow and loneliness. Despite his attempts to escape his problems, however, he remains unable to forget the woman he loves and continues to feel sad and powerless.
Overall, the song presents a bleak and hopeless depiction of the singer's life and emotions. He has lost everything that mattered to him, including his money, his reputation, and the love of his life. His decision to avoid work and travel instead may seem like an escape, but it is ultimately futile because he cannot escape his heartache and loneliness. The lyrics are a poignant reminder of how loss and heartbreak can affect one's entire life and outlook on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
And I may not work next day
I might not work tomorrow, who knows what might happen?
Well I ain't going to work tomorrow
I am not going to work tomorrow because the weather calls for rain.
For it be a wet, rainy day
It will be a rainy day tomorrow so I'd rather stay home and not work.
I'm a-going to leave this country
I want to leave this country and travel around the world.
I'm a-going around this world
I want to travel around the world and explore new places.
For the sake of one little girl
I am leaving my country for the love of one girl.
Well, she told me that she loved me
This girl I love told me she loves me too.
And it give my poor heart grief
But she also broke my heart and caused me great pain.
Now she's got her back turned on me
She has now turned her back on me and doesn't love me anymore.
And she's courting whoever she please
She is now dating whoever she wants, without any regard for my feelings.
Well, I lost my money in gambling
I lost all my money due to gambling and took a big risk.
And I lost my name, you see
I lost not just my money but also my reputation.
I am nobody's darling
Nobody likes me or cares for me.
And nobody cares for me
I have no one who loves me or cares for me.
Don't you hear my banjo ringing
Can't you hear the sound of my banjo being played?
Don't you hear this mournful sound
It is a sad and mournful tune being played on my banjo.
Don't you hear those pretty girls laughing
Can you hear those girls laughing at me for being alone.
Standing on the cold, cold ground
These girls are standing on the cold ground, enjoying themselves while I am sad.
I'll hang my head in sorrow
I will feel sad and dejected.
I'll hang my head and cry
I will be so upset that I won't be able to control my tears.
As my darling passes by
The girl I love will pass by me, which makes me even more emotional.
Well, I ain't going to work tomorrow
I am still not going to work tomorrow, despite everything that has happened.
And I may not work next day
Who knows what tomorrow holds and whether or not I will work then.
For it be a wet, rainy day
Regardless of what happens, tomorrow will still be a rainy day.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hazensweeney5633
Beautiful guitar by Mother Maybelle Carter .
@mavjimbo
As always
@hawthorneguy
I've always loved this one. The lyrics let your mind fill in the blanks. Most of the folk songs etc. that I like leave room for the imagination.
@raymondbuxenstein1075
Guess we all have an opion
@chuckjeffery944
Totally Wonderful...nuf said. Thanks for posting.
@spoonful1018
Love it - God bless Mother Maybelle
@VocalKupetz
great music...love the guitar...and trying to do my best to learn it....
@thepincushionman7063
Nice! Love to watch live music!
@spiritwolf851
This is the best version because I believe this is the original version
@mavjimbo
OG is almost always the best