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
Single Girl Married Girl
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's going dressed so fine
Oh, she's going dressed so fine
Married girl, married girl
She wears just any kind
Oh, she wears just any kind
Single girl, single girl
Oh, she goes to store & buys
Married girl, married girl
She rocks the cradle & cries
Oh, she rocks the cradle & cries
Single girl, single girl
She's going just where she please
Oh, she's going where she please
Married girl, married girl
Baby on her knees
Oh, baby on her knees
The lyrics to The Carter Family's "Single Girl Married Girl" are a perfect reflection of the differences between a single girl who has the freedom and independence to dress the way she pleases, go where she wants and buy whatever she likes, compared to a married girl who has to take care of a family and dedicate her life to her husband and child. In the first verse, we see how a single girl puts effort into dressing up and is mindful of her appearance when she steps out, while a married girl doesn't bother about her looks and wears whatever is comfortable. The second verse highlights the different priorities of both girls, where the single girl spends her time shopping and running errands, while the married girl is busy nursing her baby and doing household chores like rocking the cradle. In the final verse, we witness the single girl's freedom to go anywhere she pleases, while the married girl is limited by the needs of her child.
The contrast between the single girl and the married girl in the song is a testament to the societal norms of the early 20th century when women were expected to get married, start a family and dedicate their lives to taking care of their husbands and children. The song emphasizes the fact that a woman's life changes drastically after marriage and how she has to sacrifice her independence for the sake of her family.
Line by Line Meaning
Single girl, single girl
Being unattached gives a sense of freedom, there's no other half to consider.
She's going dressed so fine
As a single woman, one has the liberty to dress up just for herself and not worry about anyone else.
Married girl, married girl
Being married means there's another person to consider, to look after and to take care of.
She wears just any kind
After marriage, priorities change and dressing up fancy isn't as important as dressing up to meet the needs of the household.
Single girl, single girl
Being unattached means one has the time to run errands and go out without having to worry about other obligations.
She goes to store & buys
A single woman can simply go to the store and buy what she wants, without having to consult anyone else.
Married girl, married girl
After marriage, looking after the child is the primary focus, even more than one's own needs.
She rocks the cradle & cries
A mother has to juggle various roles and emotions, including soothing her child and dealing with her own emotions.
Single girl, single girl
Being unattached means one can go anywhere they want, without having to worry about anyone else.
She's going just where she please
A single woman can simply pick a place and go there without having to consult anyone about the destination or itinerary.
Married girl, married girl
After marriage, the needs of the child come first and foremost, and the mother has to adjust her schedule accordingly.
Baby on her knees
A mother has to constantly attend to the needs of her child, which can include carrying them around so that they can be soothed or fed.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: A.P. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jillv4006
There is such a sadness in her voice, you can almost hear all the troubles that she’s lived through; it’s like she’s swallowing down the tears and heartaches of all the sad women who’ve gone before her in the shadow of that old mountain.
@ryanstapleton6953
My grandfather Roy Elam taught this song to Sara carter
@carterfamilychannel
Wow thank you for sharing this! he was a lucky man to of met her! did he tell you much about her? this song was such a big milestone and sara was not happy about singing it, back in 1927 women never did songs without a man or sang about things like that. sara recorded this song without AP.
@ryanstapleton6953
Him and Sara were both from copper Creek over from Hilton's in mocassin they made music and even courted a little when she's was 14 or 15 but he said AP was such a fine man he left her alone (along with AP giving him 2 dollars) Roy was a wonderful fiddle player and have the 2 fiddle he used when the my made music
@carterfamilychannel
@@ryanstapleton6953 wow what a great story! thank you for sharing it, i know she moved back to copper creek when she and AP separated maybe she and roy got together again? just think if roy never let AP take Sara the carter family would never of come to be.
@ryanstapleton6953
Around the time she came back Roy wife Ollie had just passed away and he never had another woman. He would often say I had one good woman and no other can take her place . He had his lungs burned up in the first world war and lived a painfully hard life after the early 30s
@ryanstapleton6953
He was so sick he couldn't feed and it was winter time Ollie got out to feed and caught pneumonia and passed away
@TallRingo
Sara’s voice sounded a lot different in their 1935 version. I like this one much better!
@thorkellofnamdalen4382
Godless brought me here....good song.
@finallythere100
It's an iconic song, really good. But it is rather Godless. Sara Carter said later she did not want to sing it. (Rather be a married girl with a baby ion my knee than a single girl buying things.!) 😃