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
Sinking In The Lonesome Sea
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she went by the name of the Merry Golden Tree
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
And she sailed upon the lonesome sea
There was a little sailor unto his captain said
Oh captain, captain what'll you give to me
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
Two hundred dollars I will give unto thee
And my oldest daughter I'll wed unto you
If you sink them in the low and lonesome low
If you sink them in the lonesome sea
He bowed upon his breast and away swim he
Till he came the ship of the Turkish Reveille
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
As she sailed upon the lonesome sea
If it wasn't for the love of your daughter and your men
I would do unto you as I did unto them
I would sink you in the low and lonesome low
I would sink you in the lonesome sea
He bowed his head and down sank he
Farewell, farewell to the Merry Golden Tree
For I'm sinking in the low and lonesome low
For I'm sinking in the lonesome sea
The Carter Family's "Sinking In The Lonesome Sea" tells the story of a ship called the Merry Golden Tree sailing on the sea. A sailor proposes to his captain that he will sink another ship for a reward of two hundred dollars and the captain's oldest daughter's hand in marriage. He willingly agrees and the sailor swims to the Turkish Reveille, where he threatens to sink the ship if it wasn't for the love of the captain's daughter and men. Unfortunately for him, he ends up sinking in the lonesome sea as the Merry Golden Tree fades away.
The song's lyrics are full of melancholy and despair, and it tells the tale of greed and betrayal that led to the sailor's ultimate demise. The song is a powerful representation of how greed can lead to terrible consequences, and it also hints at the dangers of the sea.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a little ship and she sailed upon the sea
Introduction to the story, describing the setting of a ship sailing on the ocean.
And she went by the name of the Merry Golden Tree
Naming the ship adds personality and character to it.
And she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
The ship is sailing through a deep, lonely and melancholy part of the ocean.
And she sailed upon the lonesome sea
Repeats the previous line, emphasizing the loneliness of the sea.
There was a little sailor unto his captain said
Introducing a new character, a sailor who is talking to his captain.
Oh captain, captain what'll you give to me
The sailor is offering to do something for the captain in exchange for a reward.
If I sink them in the low and lonesome low
The sailor is proposing to sink another ship in the same dark part of the ocean.
If I sink them in the lonesome sea
Repeats the previous line, emphasizing the setting where the action will take place.
Two hundred dollars I will give unto thee
The captain agrees to the deal and offers a sum of money as compensation.
And my oldest daughter I'll wed unto you
As an additional reward, the captain promises to marry his daughter to the sailor.
He bowed upon his breast and away swim he
The sailor agrees to the deal and leaves to carry out the task.
Till he came the ship of the Turkish Reveille
The sailor finds the ship he is supposed to sink, named the Turkish Reveille.
As she sailed upon the low and lonesome low
The setting is repeated, emphasizing the dark and lonely part of the ocean where the ship is sailing.
If it wasn't for the love of your daughter and your men
The captain of the Turkish Reveille is grateful to the sailor for sparing their lives and acknowledges the sailor's love for his daughter and crew.
I would do unto you as I did unto them
The captain implies that he would have sunk the Merry Golden Tree just as the sailor intended to do to them.
I would sink you in the low and lonesome low
Repeats the previous line, emphasizing the danger of the ocean.
I would sink you in the lonesome sea
Repeats the previous line, emphasizing the loneliness of the sea.
He bowed his head and down sank he
The sailor accepts his fate and sinks into the ocean.
Farewell, farewell to the Merry Golden Tree
The sailor says goodbye to his ship before drowning in the lonely sea.
For I'm sinking in the low and lonesome low
The sailor repeats his fate and emphasizes the sadness and loneliness of it.
For I'm sinking in the lonesome sea
Repeats the previous line, emphasizing the dark and lonely setting of his death.
Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carterfamilychannel
This 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 :)
@youngc570
AP was an all time great singer too.