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
It'll Aggravate Your Soul
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
It'll aggravate your soul
We left Maces early in the night
Expect to get married before daylight
So many things happened to hinder our flight
Arrived at The Bristol at 11 o'clock
The parson was there right on the spot
We found that the license had been forgot
It aggravated my soul
We went for the license in an automobile
Run so fast couldn't see the wheel
No on can explain how bad I did feel
It aggravated my soul
We stayed all night at The Bristol Hotel
Just to make folks think we were swell
Next morning they put it in the Bristol Herald
It aggravated my soul
And when the new style books comin' around
She begin's to get ready to go to town
You know right then she's milliner shop bound
It'll aggravate your soul
She wants a new coat and a hobble skirt
And you can't get in for the youngun's and dirt
And when she gets out, oh how she will flirt
It'll aggravate your soul
And when the person gather round your head
You'll think of what your dear old mother said
With a pain in you back and heart and head
It'll aggravate your soul
Now young men take warning from me
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
It'll aggravate your soul
The Carter Family's "It'll Aggravate Your Soul" is a classic country song about the perils of marriage and the difficulties that come with it. The song serves as a warning to young men not to take their girlfriends to Tennessee in order to get married because of the potential problems that they might face. The lyrics are cautionary, reflecting the often-frustrating reality of love and marriage, as the singer recounts how their wedding plans were repeatedly hindered by unforeseen circumstances.
Throughout the song, we hear about the inconveniences that the singer and his bride-to-be encountered on their way to their destination. Whether it was forgetting the marriage license, having to rush to get it in an automobile, or staying in a fancy hotel because they wanted to make a good impression, it seems like everything that could go wrong did. The chorus of the song, "It'll aggravate your soul," serves as a mantra of sorts, reminding us that love and marriage can be sources of frustration and contention.
The song also speaks to the challenges that women face in marriage, particularly as it pertains to fashion and society's expectations. The bride-to-be is described as wanting a new coat and hobble skirt, despite the singer's protests that they can't afford it. When she finally emerges from the milliner's shop, she is said to "flirt" in a way that is presumably inappropriate or unwelcome, adding to the singer's frustration.
Overall, "It'll Aggravate Your Soul" is a humorous and lighthearted look at the challenges of love and marriage, as well as the societal expectations placed upon women in relationships. It serves as an important reminder that while love can be wonderful, it is not without its difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Come all of you people take warning from me
Listen to me, everyone, and heed my advice
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
Don't bring any girls to get married in Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
If you marry and can't agree on things
It'll aggravate your soul
It will make you very unhappy
We left Maces early in the night
We departed Maces in the early night
Expect to get married before daylight
We expected to marry before daylight
So many things happened to hinder our flight
Many things happened to stall our plans
It aggravated my soul
It made me very unhappy
Arrived at The Bristol at 11 o'clock
We arrived at The Bristol at 11 in the evening
The parson was there right on the spot
The pastor was present right away
We found that the license had been forgot
We realized that the license had been forgotten
It aggravated my soul
It made me very unhappy
We went for the license in an automobile
We drove to get the license in an automobile
Run so fast couldn't see the wheel
It ran so fast we couldn't see the wheels
No on can explain how bad I did feel
No one can explain how bad I felt
It aggravated my soul
It made me very unhappy
We stayed all night at The Bristol Hotel
We spent the whole night at The Bristol Hotel
Just to make folks think we were swell
Just to give people a good impression of us
Next morning they put it in the Bristol Herald
The next morning they published it in the Bristol Herald
It aggravated my soul
It made me very unhappy
And when the new style books comin' around
And when the new fashion magazines come around
She begin's to get ready to go to town
She starts to prepare to go into town
You know right then she's milliner shop bound
You know then she's headed to the hat shop
It'll aggravate your soul
It will make you very unhappy
She wants a new coat and a hobble skirt
She wants a new coat and a tight-fitting skirt
And you can't get in for the youngun's and dirt
You can't go because of children and dirt
And when she gets out, oh how she will flirt
And when she returns, oh how she will flirt
It'll aggravate your soul
It will make you very unhappy
And when the person gather round your head
And when people hover around you
You'll think of what your dear old mother said
You'll recall what your dear old mother told you
With a pain in you back and heart and head
With pain in your back, heart, and head
It'll aggravate your soul
It will make you very unhappy
Now young men take warning from me
Young men, take heed of my advice
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
Don't bring any girls to get married in Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
If you marry and can't agree on things
It'll aggravate your soul
It will make you very unhappy
Contributed by Gabriel M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GravityAngel
0:18 Come all of you people take warning from me
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
It'll aggravate your soul
0:34 We left Maces early in the night
Expect to get married before daylight
So many things happened to hinder our flight
It aggravated my soul
0:49 Arrived at The Bristol at 11 o'clock
The parson was there right on the spot
We found that the license had been forgot
It aggravated my soul
1:19 We went for the license in an automobile
Run so fast couldn't see the wheel
No on can explain how bad I did feel
It aggravated my soul
1:35 We stayed all night at The Bristol Hotel
Just to make folks think we were swell
Next morning they put it in the Bristol Herald
It aggravated my soul
1:50 And when the new style books coming around
She begin's to get ready to go to town
You know right then she's milliner shop bound
It'll aggravate your soul
2:21 She wants a new coat and a hobble skirt
And you can't get in for the young gun's and dirt
And when she gets out, oh how she will flirt
It'll aggravate your soul
2:37 And when the person gather round your head
You'll think of what your dear old mother said
With a pain in you back and heart and head
It'll aggravate your soul
2:52 Now young men take warning from me
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
It'll aggravate your soul
GravityAngel
0:18 Come all of you people take warning from me
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
It'll aggravate your soul
0:34 We left Maces early in the night
Expect to get married before daylight
So many things happened to hinder our flight
It aggravated my soul
0:49 Arrived at The Bristol at 11 o'clock
The parson was there right on the spot
We found that the license had been forgot
It aggravated my soul
1:19 We went for the license in an automobile
Run so fast couldn't see the wheel
No on can explain how bad I did feel
It aggravated my soul
1:35 We stayed all night at The Bristol Hotel
Just to make folks think we were swell
Next morning they put it in the Bristol Herald
It aggravated my soul
1:50 And when the new style books coming around
She begin's to get ready to go to town
You know right then she's milliner shop bound
It'll aggravate your soul
2:21 She wants a new coat and a hobble skirt
And you can't get in for the young gun's and dirt
And when she gets out, oh how she will flirt
It'll aggravate your soul
2:37 And when the person gather round your head
You'll think of what your dear old mother said
With a pain in you back and heart and head
It'll aggravate your soul
2:52 Now young men take warning from me
Don't take no girl to Tennessee
For if you get married and don't agree
It'll aggravate your soul
wesley hill
I too, feel such sadness for this man; if not for him, would there ever be the great Carter Family legacy that we all love and cherish today? Thank you A.P. ; without you, there would not be, the Carter Dynasty.....he needs to get more credit!
amy osgood
Little late to respond, but I agree 100%! There was a story I read about them that said A.P. would walk miles talking to people to hear the songs of the area. This is where they got a lot of there material.
Teddyb1939
Music doesn't get much better than this,[ in any genre, ] So easy & gentle, no histrionics or extremes, Just magic.
Carol Swallows
Teddyb1939 j
TM Rezzek
Nice one! A simple arrangement on guitar that brings out the loneliness without becoming sappy. And A.P.'s vocals are perfectly pitched--he doesn't force the listener to feel the blues.
rancherodave
Damn I love the old original carter family recordings, sounds like he is preaching this song from experience. What a family Legacy.
HDN1956
For some reason all the songs sung by A.P. are those I love most. I can't believe that no moving pictures survived, Fox or Pathe or whoever must have covered them in their weekly editions.
Haldun TARGAN
Soulfull,nice song sung by a great voice..RIP pal...
waterhead001
What a great song! Thanks for posting:)