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 Will Never Marry
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind it did whistle, and the waters did roar
I heard a fair damsel make a pitiful sound
It sounded so lonesome in the waters around
I never will marry, or be no man's wife
I expect to live single all the days of my life
The shells in the ocean shall be my death bed
She plunged her fair body in the waters so deep
She closed her blue eyes in the waters to sleep
My love's gone and left me, the one I adore
She's gone where I never will see her anymore
I never will marry, or be no man's wife
I expect to live single all the days of my life
The shells in the ocean shall be my death bed
The fish in deep water swim over my head
The Carter Family's song "I Will Never Marry" tells the tale of a woman who has chosen a life of solitude. The singer of the song is walking along the shore when she hears the lament of a woman who is singing about her decision to live a life without a husband. The woman describes how she will never marry or be anyone's wife, and that "the shells in the ocean shall be my death bed" and "the fish in deep water swim over my head."
The woman in the song has made a decision to live a solitary life, and she seems at peace with it. She feels no need to conform to societal expectations or to find a partner to complete her. Although her choice might seem sad or lonely to some, it is clear that she is content with her decision and is willing to live out her life on her own terms.
The message of this song is one of self-determination and individual freedom. It encourages the listener to live life on their own terms and to not be held back by societal expectations or pressure from others. The woman in the song is a symbol of strength and resilience, and her choice to live as she wishes is something to be admired.
Line by Line Meaning
One morning as I rambled all down the seashore
As I aimlessly walked along the beach one morning,
The wind it did whistle, and the waters did roar
The wind was blowing hard and the water was crashing onto the shore making loud noises,
I heard a fair damsel make a pitiful sound
I heard a beautiful woman making a sad sound,
It sounded so lonesome in the waters around
Her cries sounded so sad in the midst of the noisy waves,
I never will marry, or be no man's wife
I have decided to never get married or become someone's wife,
I expect to live single all the days of my life
I anticipate spending the rest of my life alone and unmarried,
The shells in the ocean shall be my death bed
When I die, I will rest among the shells in the ocean as if it were my burial place,
The fish in deep water swim over my head
The fish in the deep water will swim above my body as they would above a buried corpse,
She plunged her fair body in the waters so deep
She threw herself into the deep water,
She closed her blue eyes in the waters to sleep
She closed her eyes and let herself drift off to eternal sleep in the water,
My love's gone and left me, the one I adore
The person I love has left me, the one I cherish,
She's gone where I never will see her anymore
She's gone to a place where I will never be able to see her again.
Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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 ❤💔❤