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
Lonesome Valley
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've got to walk it by ourselves
There's nobody here can walk it for us
We've got to walk it by ourselves
My father's got to walk this lonesome valley
He's got to walk it by hisself
There's nobody here can walk it for him
My mother's got to walk this lonesome valley
She's got to walk it by herself
There's nobody here can walk it for her
She's got to walk it by herself
All sinners got to walk this lonesome valley
They've got to walk it by theirselves
There's nobody here can walk it for them
They've got to walk it by theirselves
Everybody's got to walk this lonesome valley
We've got to walk it by ourselves
There's nobody here can walk it for us
We've got to walk it by ourselves
The lyrics to The Carter Family's song "Lonesome Valley" speak to the idea that everyone must go through their own struggles and difficulties in life, and that ultimately, we must face these challenges alone. The repetition of the phrase "We've got to walk it by ourselves" emphasizes this idea, emphasizing that no one can do it for us. Each verse highlights a different person- father, mother, and sinners- who must face their own unique obstacles in life, but ultimately, all must walk their own path.
The song can be interpreted as a message of personal responsibility and resilience. No matter who we are or what we face, we must find the strength within ourselves to keep going, even if it means walking a lonesome path. The song's simple melody and repetitive lyrics create a sense of unity and solidarity, reminding us that we are all in this together, even when we must walk the path alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's got to walk this lonesome valley
No matter who you are, everyone has to face difficult times and struggles in life that they must deal with on their own.
We've got to walk it by ourselves
There's no one to rely on or help us during these hard times - we must face them alone.
There's nobody here can walk it for us
We cannot expect anyone else to go through our personal struggles or difficulties - we must face them on our own.
We've got to walk it by ourselves
We must accept that we are solely responsible for dealing with our own struggles and challenges in life.
My father's got to walk this lonesome valley
The struggles in life are not limited to a particular gender, even fathers must face their personal challenges.
He's got to walk it by hisself
No one else can take responsibility for his struggles - he must face them on his own.
There's nobody here can walk it for him
His struggles are personal and unique to him – no one else can take on this responsibility.
He's got to walk it by hisself
He must accept that he is responsible for facing his own struggles in life and no one else can do it for him.
My mother's got to walk this lonesome valley
Mothers, like fathers, must face their own unique personal struggles in life.
She's got to walk it by herself
No one can take on her struggles or difficulties for her - she must face them on her own.
There's nobody here can walk it for her
Ultimately, she is responsible for facing her personal challenges in life and no one else can take that responsibility.
She's got to walk it by herself
She must accept that she is responsible for dealing with her own struggles and challenges in life.
All sinners got to walk this lonesome valley
No one is exempt from facing the struggles and difficulties in life, regardless of their past mistakes or sins.
They've got to walk it by theirselves
Even for those who have made mistakes or sinned in the past, they must still face their own difficult times and struggles on their own.
There's nobody here can walk it for them
Their personal struggles and difficulties are unique to them - no one else can take on that responsibility for them.
They've got to walk it by theirselves
They must accept that they are solely responsible for dealing with their own struggles and challenges in life as a result of their past mistakes or sins.
Everybody's got to walk this lonesome valley
This line serves as a reminder that personal struggles are something we all face at some point in life - no one is exempt from this reality.
We've got to walk it by ourselves
The only way to deal with these struggles is to face them head-on, and take responsibility for our own challenges and difficulties.
There's nobody here can walk it for us
Despite the love and support we may receive from others in our lives, ultimately we must take responsibility for facing our own struggles and challenges.
We've got to walk it by ourselves
Ultimately, it is up to us to face our own struggles in life and take responsibility for our own personal growth and development.
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
toasteh
Legend! Thanks buddy! Fantastic version!
T4TexasTom
Love it.
Melanie
I love it when Helen June and Anita Carter sings it
toasteh
Let me know if you have had any luck finding the version they got in the game. Its just so good.
simone blue
i really liked this
no♤
Fun fact, this song was made because A.P. Carter, the man, liked to walk. A lot.
pbstudabaker
Hard core country,
The Ink Pit Ox
Inspired the epic soul song from O Brother
Messofanego
No problem :)
Clay Bassford
Bill Callahan brought me here