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
My Heart's Tonight in Texas
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strolled a couple out one evening was two sweethearts hand in hand
Was a rich man's pretty daughter and the lad she loved so dear
Though tomorrow they must part for many a year
My heart's tonight in Texas though I'm far across the sea
The band is playing "Dixie" and there's where I long to be
Dad says the earl I'll marry but although here is my hand
To Europe she was going to become a lady grand
Where her father hopes an earl, of course, she'll wed
But she went away next morning and her heart was true to Jack
But a letter came one day and this it read
My heart's tonight in Texas though I'm far across the sea
The band is playing "Dixie" and there's where I long to be
Dad says the earl I'll marry but although here is my hand
My heart's tonight in Texas by the silver Rio Grande
At a stately ball in England stood the Texas lad one night
The scenes were all splendid and the lights were dazzling bright
The earl knelt beside her asking her to be his bride
But her thoughts were by the silver Rio Grande
My heart's tonight in Texas though I'm far across the sea
The band is playing "Dixie" and there's where I long to be
Dad says the earl I'll marry but although here is my hand
My heart's tonight in Texas by the silver Rio Grande
The Carter Family's song "My Heart's Tonight in Texas" tells the story of a young couple who must part ways as the daughter of a wealthy man is sent off to Europe to become a proper lady and marry an earl. Despite the distance and the societal pressure to marry into nobility, the young woman remains true to her love for a Texas lad. Even as she attends a stately ball in England and is courted by the earl, her heart is still back in Texas by the Rio Grande.
The lyrics are filled with romantic longing and a sense of nostalgia for a simpler life. The band playing "Dixie" represents the traditional Southern music and culture that the young woman longs for, even as she is pulled towards a more refined and sophisticated life in Europe. The description of the silver Rio Grande adds to the imagery of a distant, idyllic home that the young woman yearns to return to.
Line by Line Meaning
In the distant state of Texas by the silver Rio Grande
There were two sweethearts, a rich man's pretty daughter and the lad she loved so dear, strolling by the silver Rio Grande in Texas.
Was a rich man's pretty daughter and the lad she loved so dear
The daughter of a wealthy man and her true love were together in Texas.
Though tomorrow they must part for many a year
They knew they would have to part ways the next day for a long time.
My heart's tonight in Texas though I'm far across the sea
Even though she was far away, her heart was still in Texas.
The band is playing "Dixie" and there's where I long to be
She missed the music and the atmosphere of Texas and wished to be there.
Dad says the earl I'll marry but although here is my hand
Her father wanted her to marry an Earl, but she had already pledged her hand to her true love.
My heart's tonight in Texas by the silver Rio Grande
Again, despite being far away, her heart still belonged to Texas and the place where she and her love were together.
To Europe she was going to become a lady grand
She was leaving for Europe in hopes of becoming a wealthy and high-class lady.
Where her father hopes an earl, of course, she'll wed
Her father was hopeful that she would marry an Earl while in Europe.
But she went away next morning and her heart was true to Jack
Despite leaving for Europe, her heart remained faithful to her true love, Jack.
But a letter came one day and this it read
She received a letter at some point.
At a stately ball in England stood the Texas lad one night
The Texas lad was at a grand ball in England at some point.
The scenes were all splendid and the lights were dazzling bright
The ball was breathtakingly beautiful.
The earl knelt beside her asking her to be his bride
The Earl proposed to her at the ball.
But her thoughts were by the silver Rio Grande
Despite the proposal, her thoughts were still with her true love in Texas.
Contributed by Jayden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hazen Sweeney
The purest music ever !
Tan YikWah
Really enjoyed listening to their great tunes.
Colin Haines
On the radio AP simply introduced it as a “very old number.” Wonder where they ever got it from
Andrzej Antczak
SŁAWA IM!
George Beattie
,great music, Bought, it in 1958