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
Oh
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My race is nearly run
My strongest trials now are past
My triumph has begun
Oh come, angel band
Come and around me stand
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
I've almost gained my heavenly home
My spirit loudly sings
The holy ones, behold, they come
I hear the sound of wings
Oh come, angel band
Come and around me stand
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Oh come, angel band
Come and around me stand
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
The Carter Family's song "Oh" is a gospel hymn about the end of life and the anticipation of going to heaven. The lyrics, sung from the perspective of the singer who is approaching death, reflect upon the trials he has faced in his life, and the ultimate triumph of being welcomed into heaven by the angels who will bear him away on their "snow white wings." The singer's journey to heaven is described as being almost complete, and his spirit sings out as he senses the holy ones coming for him.
The hymn's embrace of death as a natural and inevitable part of the human experience is a common theme in traditional gospel music, where the afterlife is seen as a reward for a life lived in service to God. The idea of being carried away on angel wings is a powerful image of the release from earthly suffering and the start of a new journey in the afterlife. The repetition of the chorus underscores the inevitability of death and the desire for a peaceful transition from this life to the next.
Overall, "Oh" speaks to the human experience of facing death with hope and anticipation, acknowledging life's challenges while affirming the promise of eternal life.
Line by Line Meaning
My latest sun is sinkin' fast
The end of my life is approaching rapidly
My race is nearly run
My time on earth is coming to an end
My strongest trials now are past
I have overcome the most difficult challenges in my life
My triumph has begun
I am about to experience the ultimate victory in my eternal life
Oh come, angel band
I am calling upon the divine beings to come to me
Come and around me stand
Surround me with your presence and comfort me in my final moments
Oh, bear me away on your snow white wings
Take me to my eternal home on your pure and holy wings
To my immortal home
Guide me to my everlasting abode
I've almost gained my heavenly home
I am almost at the doorstep of my eternal dwelling
My spirit loudly sings
I am filled with joy and excitement for my imminent arrival
The holy ones, behold, they come
The divine beings are approaching me
I hear the sound of wings
I can hear the fluttering of the angels' wings as they come near
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Carter Family Channel
The channel was created with admiration and to help keep The Carter Family music alive, and share with the world! please help me do this for as long as possible, no profit is made from this channel but you are welcome to show your love and support to the channel with any donations, https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8TNJ64TWNH9M2 any questions you have i am always happy to answer :) as the songs and footage are so old, time is spent to remastered them to the best possible quality, thank you Sara, A.P and Maybelle what you started back in 1927, you have meant so much to so many people and will always continue to, we miss you so much but what you left us will never be forgotten :)
peggy marsheck
Maybelle does a great job on guitar on this one. It's quite different than her usual Carter Scratch.
The Carter Family Channel
Yes it really does stand out then her next song was You Are My Flower, she did say she was influenced by Mexican music around this time, I loved it so much in 1970 when sara agreed to join maybelle on stage on the Johnny cash show to preform you are my flower 🥰
SirCoughsalot
Some really interesting guitar work from Maybelle on this one.
Linda Mills
Haven't heard this song before. Another marvel. X
Robert Mix
There's always that one more I haven't heard.