Little Log Cabin by the Sea
The Carter Family Lyrics


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There is a precious volume all fingerworn and old
In that little log cabin by the sea
It is the old, old Bible, more precious now than gold
It's the Bible that my mother gave to me

It's the old precious Bible, blessed Bible
That she read in the cabin by the sea (by the sea)
It's that precious, precious Bible
That blessed, blessed Bible
The Bible that my mother gave to me
 
How often I have listened to the tempest howl and rage
'Round that little log cabin by the sea
My mother read of Jesus, who walked upon the waves
How Jesus calmed the stormy Galilee
 
It's the old precious Bible, blessed Bible
That she read in the cabin by the sea (by the sea)
It's that precious, precious Bible
That blessed, blessed Bible
The Bible that my mother gave to me
 
How often, oh, how often she read that glowing word
With the message from the precious word above
It told of faithful Daniel, who trusted in the Lord
While she led me in the pathway that she trod
 
It's the old precious Bible, blessed Bible
That she read in the cabin by the sea (by the sea)
It's that precious, precious Bible
That blessed, blessed Bible
The Bible that my mother gave to me
 
There is no other volume so precious as this book
It tells me how to live and how to die
It tells me of that city, oh, wondrous, wondrous book
And that I'll meet the loved ones bye and bye
 
It's the old precious Bible, blessed Bible
That she read in the cabin by the sea (by the sea)
It's that precious, precious Bible




That blessed, blessed Bible
The Bible that my mother gave to me

Overall Meaning

The Carter Family's song Little Log Cabin by the Sea is a beautiful ode to a cherished possession - a Bible that was gifted to the singer by her mother. The lyrics describe how the volume is not only an old, finger-worn book, but more valuable than gold itself. The singer emphasizes the importance of this specific Bible, the one that her mother gave her, over any other book in existence. The imagery of the tempest howling and raging around the cabin by the sea sets a perfect backdrop for the singer's mother to read of Jesus walking upon the waves and calming the stormy Galilee. The song speaks of how this Bible contains a glowing message from above, describing the faithful Daniel and leading the singer in the same path as her mother.


In the final verse, the singer notes that there is no other volume as precious as this book. It has taught her how to live and how to die, and reminds her of a wondrous city she will one day meet her loved ones in. The Bible represents something much more than just a religious text - it is a connection to her past, her family, and her home.


Line by Line Meaning

There is a precious volume all fingerworn and old
In the small log cabin by the sea, there is a treasured, worn-out, and ancient book


In that little log cabin by the sea
The cabin being referred to is located by the sea


It is the old, old Bible, more precious now than gold
The book in question is actually an old, valuable Bible that is worth more than gold


It's the Bible that my mother gave to me
The artist clarifies that the Bible was given to them by their mother


How often I have listened to the tempest howl and rage
Many times, the artist has listened to the stormy weather outside the cabin


'Round that little log cabin by the sea
The cabin described is situated near the sea, and the stormy narrative continues


My mother read of Jesus, who walked upon the waves
During these stormy nights, the singer's mother read Bible stories about Jesus, who famously walked on water


How Jesus calmed the stormy Galilee
The mother would read about how Jesus calmed the stormy waters of Galilee


How often, oh, how often she read that glowing word
The mother read the valuable and radiant Bible frequently


With the message from the precious word above
During these readings, she conveyed the important message from the celestial being, God


It told of faithful Daniel, who trusted in the Lord
One of the stories she would read about was Daniel, a character in the Bible who remained faithful and trusted in God


While she led me in the pathway that she trod
She guided and taught the artist through the same path of faith and trust in God that she followed


There is no other volume so precious as this book
The Bible is regarded as the most valuable and significant book


It tells me how to live and how to die
The Bible teaches not only how to live but also how to approach death


It tells me of that city, oh, wondrous, wondrous book
The Bible tells of a magnificent and astonishing city that is beyond comprehension


And that I'll meet the loved ones bye and bye
The artist believes that they will be reunited with their loved ones in the afterlife, as foretold in the Bible




Contributed by Sebastian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

clayp72

This goes Deep into my soul

Muffs 55mercury

This gives you the feeling of being in the back woods in the 1920s. Very surreal.

Kermit

Old school.

SnoDawg

Ya think ?

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