The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded bet… Read Full Bio ↴The Carter Family was a country music group that performed and recorded between 1927 and 1943. Their music had a profound impact on later bluegrass, country, pop and rock musicians, as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s.

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

Ring Of Fire
The Carter Family Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love is a burnin' thing,
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher,

And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet.
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down,
And the flames went higher,
And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

And it burns, burns, burns,
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

The ring of fire, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

Overall Meaning

The Carter Family's "Ring of Fire" is a poetic representation of falling deeply in love with someone, initially experiencing the sweetness and passion of that love, but then feeling the intensity and pain of the depth of those emotions. The song begins by comparing love to a burning thing that creates a fiery ring, an image that suggests both the all-consuming nature of passion and the potential for danger. The singer describes being "bound by wild desire" and falling into the ring of fire, falling headlong into a love that is beyond his control.

As the song continues, the imagery becomes more intense as the fire burns higher and higher, representing the growing intensity of the emotions that the singer is experiencing. At the same time, the lyrics suggest both pleasure and pain as the singer enjoys the "taste of love" while at the same time feeling the "fire go wild." Ultimately, the song suggests that the love that the singer is experiencing is both a source of great joy and a dangerous force that threatens to consume him.

Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of the complex emotions that can accompany falling in love, from the initial thrill and excitement to the deeper, more complicated feelings that can come with truly opening oneself up to another person. Through vivid language and evocative imagery, The Carter Family captures the intense and sometimes dangerous nature of passionate love, creating a poignant and unforgettable portrait of the human heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Love is a burnin' thing,
Love can be intense and consuming.

And it makes a fiery ring
Love can be all-consuming and create a powerful, unbreakable bond.

Bound by wild desire
The flames of love can be unpredictable and uncontrollable.

I fell into a ring of fire.
I became completely consumed by love, unable to escape its intense hold.

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I was overwhelmed by the intensity of love.

I went down, down, down
I fell deeper and deeper into love.

And the flames went higher,
My passion for you intensified and became stronger.

And it burns, burns, burns,
The feeling of being consumed by love is overwhelming and intense.

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.
The all-encompassing nature of love creates a powerful and unbreakable bond.

The taste of love is sweet
Being in love can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience.

When hearts like ours meet.
The connection between two people in love can be powerful and create a special bond.

I fell for you like a child
My love for you was pure and innocent, like that of a child's.

Oh, but the fire went wild.
But my feelings for you quickly became intense and out of control.

The ring of fire
The intense feelings of love and passion that surround a relationship.

And it burns, burns, burns,
The overwhelming and all-consuming nature of love is both powerful and dangerous.

The ring of fire
Love has the power to transform and consume us completely.

The ring of fire
The passionate and unbreakable bond that love can create.

The ring of fire
The intense and all-consuming nature of love.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: June Carter, Merle Kilgore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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