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

Sunshine in the Mountain
The Carter Family Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When our hearts are bound in sorrow
And it seems all help is gone
Jesus whispers do not falter
I will leave you not alone

Then somehow amidst my trials
How it is I cannot see
Then I hear a voice from heaven

Gently saying follow me

There is sunshine in the shadows
There is sunshine in the rain
There is sunshine in our sorrows
And our hearts are filled with pain

There is sunshine when we're burdened
There is sunshine when we pray
There is sunshine heavenly sunshine
Blessed sunshine all the way

Sometimes my friends forsake me
And I'm tempted to despair
Then I think of my dear savior
To lay his head his head nowhere

Oh it pays to follow Jesus
Just to learn of him each day
And I'll guarantee you my brothers
You'll have sunshine all the way

There is sunshine in the shadows
There is sunshine in the rain
There is sunshine in our sorrows
And our hearts are filled with pain

There is sunshine when we're burdened
There is sunshine when we pray

There is sunshine heavenly sunshine
Blessed sunshine all the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Carter Family's song "Sunshine in the Mountain" reveal a message of faith and hope in difficult times. The singer acknowledges that life can be full of sorrow and trials, but they find comfort in the belief that Jesus is always with them, even when it may be hard to see. They describe hearing a voice from heaven that gently encourages them to follow Jesus, providing them with the strength to carry on.

The chorus of the song, "There is sunshine in the shadows, there is sunshine in the rain, there is sunshine in our sorrows, and our hearts are filled with pain" suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope and light to be found. The lyrics emphasize that although it may be easy to feel alone and burdened, by following Jesus and leaning on him, we can find solace and joy in the midst of our struggles, both big and small.

In the final verse, the singer expresses the belief that it is worth it to follow Jesus and learn from him, guaranteeing that doing so will bring sunshine all the way. The overall message of the song is one of hope and trust in Jesus, even in the midst of difficulty.

Line by Line Meaning

When our hearts are bound in sorrow
When we are sorrowful and distressed

And it seems all help is gone
And there is no one to help us

Jesus whispers do not falter
Jesus reminds us to stay strong

I will leave you not alone
He assures us of His presence with us

Then somehow amidst my trials
Then in the midst of my difficulties

How it is I cannot see
How, I do not know

Then I hear a voice from heaven
I hear a voice calling out to me from Heaven

Gently saying follow me
Kindly urging me to follow Him

There is sunshine in the shadows
There is hope and light even in dark times

There is sunshine in the rain
There is hope and light even in difficult times

There is sunshine in our sorrows
There is hope and light even in times of sorrow