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
Something Got a Hold of Me
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When first I heard of a people who claimed
This old time religion was real
I says I'll go down and look at the crowd
It's just the weak minded I feel
But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
There's something got a hold of me
I went right down to sit at the door
And the devil said don't you go in
I said I'll go in for that cannot hurt
And sit as far back as I can
About that time he got up to leave
And he looked right down upon me
He told everybody how mean I had been
Not thinking so much of me
They sing and shout and they all clapped their hands
And they all got down on their knees
When the fire came from heaven it fell right on me
And then I fell to the floor
So now I've learnt and there's no need to doubt
That the old time religion is real
I have a spirit I'll never forget
That something got a hold of me
The Carter Family’s song, Something Got a Hold of Me, tells a story of a skeptic who initially dismisses the idea of religion, until something unusual and powerful happens to them. The song begins with the singer explaining how they had heard of a group of people who claimed that a certain religion was real. He decides to investigate and goes to see them, expecting to find nothing noteworthy. However, he soon discovers that something remarkable had taken place.
The singer describes how he was first hesitant to enter the gathering, but the Devil (a personification of his doubts and fears) encouraged him to go inside. Once he is inside, he becomes part of the crowd and begins to join in with their singing and shouting. Suddenly, he is struck by a spiritual force and falls to the ground, lost in the experience. He ends the song by affirming that he has learned that the old-time religion is real and that he has become a believer.
The song reflects the theme of the transformative power of religion and the powerful impact it can have on individuals. It also highlights the struggle between doubt and belief, with the singer initially hesitant to embrace religion, only to be overcome by its power.
Line by Line Meaning
When first I heard of a people who claimed
When I first heard of people who believed in old time religion
This old time religion was real
They believed that this religion was genuine and true
I says I'll go down and look at the crowd
I decided to go and observe the people who followed this religion
It's just the weak minded I feel
I believed that people who followed this religion were not strong-minded
But something got a hold of me
However, something happened and I was moved by their religion
Yes something got a hold of me
Something inside me was stirred and touched by their beliefs
I went there to fight but on that night
I was prepared to argue with them, but that night...
There's something got a hold of me
I experienced something that had a profound impact on me
I went right down to sit at the door
I sat near the entrance
And the devil said don't you go in
The devil tried to discourage me from going inside
I said I'll go in for that cannot hurt
But I decided to ignore him and go inside anyway
And sit as far back as I can
I sat in the back to observe without drawing attention to myself
About that time he got up to leave
At that moment, the devil tried to leave the room
And he looked right down upon me
But he saw me and singled me out
He told everybody how mean I had been
He exposed my shortcomings and faults to everyone present
Not thinking so much of me
He didn't care about my feelings
They sing and shout and they all clapped their hands
The people there began to sing, shout, and clap their hands
And they all got down on their knees
They all knelt down to pray
When the fire came from heaven it fell right on me
Suddenly, I felt a spiritual sensation that overwhelmed me
And then I fell to the floor
This experience was so powerful, it caused me to fall down
So now I've learnt and there's no need to doubt
Now I understand and have no reason to question what I experienced
That the old time religion is real
I believe that old time religion is genuinely true
I have a spirit I'll never forget
I carry with me the spiritual experience I had that night
That something got a hold of me
The experience was so profound and meaningful, and that it had an enormous impact on me.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN FIELDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adolf Ryan
Something Got A Hold Of Me
When first I heard of a people who claimed
This old time religion was real
I says I'll go down and look at the crowd
It's just the weak minded I feel
But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I went there to fight but on that night
There's something got a hold of me
I went right down to sit at the door
And the devil said don't you go in
I said I'll go in for that cannot hurt
And sit as far back as I can
About that time he got up to leave
And he looked right down upon me
He told everybody how mean I had been
Not thinking so much of me
They sing and shout and they all clapped their hands
And they all got down on their knees
When the fire came from heaven it fell right on me
And then I fell to the floor
So now I've learnt and there's no need to doubt
That the old time religion is real
I have a spirit I'll never forget
That something got a hold of me
Mrimpossibro
Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved
Creepy Lobster
wonder what A.P's up to right now
Mark Stanberry
OH MY... My mother, a native-born arkie that married an Oklahoma cowboy, used to sing this at church where we attended in Bacliff, TX back in the 70s, I remember several people singing along with her...this is the FIRST TIME I've heard the original... Thanks for posting!!!
jpmace321
one of the best songs every recorded
baasting
Hi! That's really nice to hear! I think it's good that this song wakes up old memories for you:-) ~Baasting
Daniel Champion
Remember running across this song in a revival songbook belonging to my grandmother
haralaboskesa
This man was a genious
chev6art
....but was a recluse. The minute he found out he was famous (which happened one day when he went into Gate City, Va. to shop at a hardware store), he despised it and preferred, eventually, managing a grocery store over being a famous musician. His fall from the scene reminds me a lot of Syd Barrett's without the drugs. Except Maybelle succeeded a time or two to get him back on stage; the last time was in 1951- -9 years before he passed away.
chick mcgee
AMEN
Adolf Ryan
Something Got A Hold Of Me
When first I heard of a people who claimed
This old time religion was real
I says I'll go down and look at the crowd
It's just the weak minded I feel
But something got a hold of me
Yes something got a hold of me
I went there to fight but on that night
There's something got a hold of me
I went right down to sit at the door
And the devil said don't you go in
I said I'll go in for that cannot hurt
And sit as far back as I can
About that time he got up to leave
And he looked right down upon me
He told everybody how mean I had been
Not thinking so much of me
They sing and shout and they all clapped their hands
And they all got down on their knees
When the fire came from heaven it fell right on me
And then I fell to the floor
So now I've learnt and there's no need to doubt
That the old time religion is real
I have a spirit I'll never forget
That something got a hold of me