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
Storms On The Ocean
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going away for a while
But I'll return to see you sometime
If I go ten thousand miles
The storms are on the ocean
The heavens may cease to be
This world may lose its motion love
Oh who will dress your pretty little feet
And who will glove your hand
Oh who will kiss your rosy red cheeks
When I'm in a foreign land
Papa will dress my pretty little feet
And Mama will glove my hand
You may kiss my rosy red cheeks
When you return again
Have you seen those mournful doves
Flying from pine to pine
A-mournin' for their own true love
Just like I mourn for mine
I'll never go back on the ocean love
I'll never go back on the sea
I'll never go back on my blue-eyed girl
'Til she goes back to me
The Carter Family's song The Storms Are on the Ocean portrays a story of a lover who has decided to leave his beloved temporarily. The lyrics suggest that he will be gone for a while, maybe even ten thousand miles away. However, he promises to come back to see her again. The chorus highlights the uncertainty that the world may face if he proves false to her, which suggests that he is committed to their relationship.
The next verse of the song is a conversation between the lover and his beloved. She asks him who will take care of her in his absence. He responds by saying that her parents will do so. The lyrics establish the lover's trust in the girl's parents and reflect the cultural values of the time. The lover desires to kiss her rosy red cheeks before he leaves, but the lyrics do not reveal whether the kiss happened or not.
The final verse mentions the mournful doves flying around, mourning their own true love, which implies that the lover empathizes with their pain since he is going through the same situation. However, he assures his partner that he will never go back to the sea without her. The song ends on a positive note, indicating the commitment and loyalty of the lovers towards each other despite their temporary separation.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going away to leave you love
I am leaving you, my love
I'm going away for a while
I will be gone for some time
But I'll return to see you sometime
But I promise to come back and see you again
If I go ten thousand miles
Even if I go a long distance away
The storms are on the ocean
There are troubles and challenges in the world
The heavens may cease to be
The world may end or change drastically
This world may lose its motion love
This world may stop moving and changing
If I prove false to thee
If I break my promise to you
Oh who will dress your pretty little feet
Who will take care of you while I am gone
And who will glove your hand
Who will hold your hand
Oh who will kiss your rosy red cheeks
Who will show you affection
When I'm in a foreign land
While I am in a faraway place
Papa will dress my pretty little feet
My father will take care of me
And Mama will glove my hand
My mother will hold my hand
You may kiss my rosy red cheeks
You can show me affection when you return
When you return again
When you come back to me
Have you seen those mournful doves
Have you noticed the sad birds
Flying from pine to pine
Moving from place to place
A-mournin' for their own true love
Looking for their loved ones like I miss you
Just like I mourn for mine
Just like I miss you
I'll never go back on the ocean love
I will never leave you again
I'll never go back on the sea
I will never travel far away again
I'll never go back on my blue-eyed girl
I will always be faithful to you
‘Til she goes back to me
Until you return to me as well
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MARK SPOELSTRA, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robinjohnson1485
My Grandma loved this music. Of course she was from West Virginia. RIP everyone.
@cheesydizzle2865
The Carter Family is from Virginia
@birkinsornberger263
@@cheesydizzle2865 That was their point in adding that to their comment.
@javiermonteagudosoriano7329
Y las voces de las Carter son las mejores que ha dado todo este amplísimo género musical
@Pickinbuddy
I've loved the Carter Family from the first moment I heard them in the mid 60s...
@javiermonteagudosoriano7329
Clásico tema excelente picking de Maybelline y voz de Sara Carter
@hazensweeney5633
Listen to Maybelle's great guitar !
@direfranchement
Interesting re-recording! Their first recording of this song from 1927 featured Sarah leading in an unnaturally high pitch. Sounds much better with her normal voice here.
@FuzzyDancingBear
I like the weirdness of that ultra high pitch
@SirCoughsalot
I disagree with Tea and Muffins that the pitch on the original recording was "unnaturally" high, but like most of the Carters' early recordings, Sara did sing at the top of her vocal range. I think both vocals are pretty good - this one is definitely mellower but lacks a little of the "oomph" of the early one. I like the trio vocal arrangement on this one better than the duet on the original, and Maybelle's guitar is a lot more audible.