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
On the Rock Where Moses Stood
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Oh, in that day when the bells don't toll
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Sinners, run unto the Lord
Sinners, run unto the Lord
Now please don't let this harvest pass
And lose your soul at last
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
The four and twenty elders bowing all around the altar
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
The Carter Family's song On the Rock Where Moses Stood is a religious song that calls out to sinners to turn towards the Lord and repent. The lyrics talk about crying holy unto the Lord, which means to pray and give praise to God. The song emphasizes the importance of not letting the harvest pass and losing one's soul. It urges sinners to run to the Lord and stand on the rock where Moses stood. This line refers to the biblical story of Moses standing on a rock while the Israelites fought against the Amalekites. The song uses this imagery to encourage people to stand on a solid foundation of faith like Moses did during difficult times.
The line "The four and twenty elders bowing all around the altar" refers to the Book of Revelation in the Bible, where the elders are mentioned as worshippers around the throne of God. The song suggests that even in heaven, people continue to cry holy unto the Lord. Overall, the song is a prayerful call to sinners to seek redemption and turn towards God in times of trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
Crying Holy unto the Lord
We worship and praise the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds.
Crying Holy unto the Lord
We worship and praise the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds.
Oh, in that day when the bells don't toll
There will come a day when judgment will be passed without warning, and we must be ready to face it.
Crying Holy unto the Lord
We worship and praise the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds.
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
We call out to the Lord in praise and worship, recognizing His holiness and majesty.
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
We call out to the Lord in praise and worship, recognizing His holiness and majesty.
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
If we could, we would stand in the very same place where Moses once stood, to feel the presence of the Lord.
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
To stand on the rock where Moses stood would be a tremendous privilege and honor, as it is where Moses received the 10 Commandments from God.
Sinners, run unto the Lord
We implore all those who have sinned to seek forgiveness and redemption from the Lord.
Sinners, run unto the Lord
We implore all those who have sinned to seek forgiveness and redemption from the Lord.
Now please don't let this harvest pass
We urge sinners to turn to the Lord while there is still time, lest they miss the opportunity to reap the rewards of their faith.
And lose your soul at last
For those who continue to reject the Lord's love and mercy, the ultimate consequence will be the loss of their souls.
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
We call out to the Lord in praise and worship, recognizing His holiness and majesty.
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
We call out to the Lord in praise and worship, recognizing His holiness and majesty.
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
If we could, we would stand in the very same place where Moses once stood, to feel the presence of the Lord.
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
To stand on the rock where Moses stood would be a tremendous privilege and honor, as it is where Moses received the 10 Commandments from God.
Crying Holy unto the Lord
We worship and praise the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds.
Crying Holy unto the Lord
We worship and praise the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds.
The four and twenty elders bowing all around the altar
In the presence of the Lord, even the most powerful and revered individuals willingly bow down in reverence and submission.
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
We call out to the Lord in praise and worship, recognizing His holiness and majesty.
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
We call out to the Lord in praise and worship, recognizing His holiness and majesty.
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
If we could, we would stand in the very same place where Moses once stood, to feel the presence of the Lord.
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
To stand on the rock where Moses stood would be a tremendous privilege and honor, as it is where Moses received the 10 Commandments from God.
Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Seriously Syrian
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Oh, in that day when the bells don't toll
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
Sinners, run unto the Lord
Sinners, run unto the Lord
Now please don't let this harvest pass
And lose your soul at last
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
The four and twenty elders bowing all around the altar
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
GravityAngel
0:03 Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
Oh, in that day when the bells don't toll
Crying Holy unto the Lord
0:23 Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
1:03 Sinners, run unto the Lord
Sinners, run unto the Lord
Now please don't let this harvest pass
And lose your soul at last
1:23 Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
2:02 Crying Holy unto the Lord
Crying Holy unto the Lord
The four and twenty elders bowing all around the altar
Crying Holy unto the Lord
2:22 Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Crying Holy unto the Lord (Crying Holy unto the Lord Holy unto the Lord)
Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
2:51 Oh, if I could, I surely would (If I could surely would)
Stand on the rock (Praise God) where Moses stood (where Moses stood)
63DW89A
Searching YouTube I've heard several versions of this by modern singers. I won't name any of them as the versions are all very good. But ALL those modern versions sit well in the shadow of the Original Carter Family. This wonderful 1930 recording of the Carter Family is supreme to all. In 80+ years, no one has touched it yet.
Karl Heven
The Flatt&Scruggs version is great too, but more Bluegrass kinda way ofc.
Ryan Hulin
63DW89A so true! What were those other versions missing? Maybelle of course!
Randal mc'murphy
I am endlessly enchanted by these voices...
63DW89A
Amazing how timeless the Carter Family seems. In American Epic, Willie Nelson said, "When you hear the original Carter Family, you no longer need an explanation of why they are special".
Dan D. Dirges
a stunning masterpiece! I like when AP chimes in, Praise God!
Max Segovia
I'm obsessed with this part
TIM Heck
Sara always holds strong! I love where AP comes through, singing "Praise God!"
Waynedog1
Praise God Forever More!! Thank You For Sharing!! <3
alphacentauri
Love the way the man says praise GOD