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
The Cannonball
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Catch the train they call the Cannonball,
From Buffalo to Washington:
Yonder comes the train coming down the track,
Carry me away, but ain’t gonna carry me back,
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe.
Enough to give me the doggone worried blues,
She is gone, she's solid gone.
I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall,
If luck don't change I won’t be back at all,
My honey babe, I'm leaving you.
The Carter Family's 1930 song "The Cannonball" is a traditional country blues tune featuring simple instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics. The song tells the story of a man who is struggling with lost love and decides to leave his hometown and take the train known as the Cannonball to start anew.
The singer's lover has left him, causing him great sadness and worry. He sings of his former lover taking even his shoes, leaving him feeling empty and alone. The man decides to take the Cannonball to Washington, leaving behind everything he knows and loves, including his former flame. The song's chorus features a repetitive melody with the lyrics, "Yonder comes the train coming down the track, Carry me away, but ain’t gonna carry me back, My honey babe, my blue eyed babe." This repetition reinforces the idea of leaving behind the past and starting anew.
Overall, "The Cannonball" portrays the sadness and longing associated with lost love and the desire to find a new beginning. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and the song resonates with listeners who have experienced heartache and the desire to start over.
Line by Line Meaning
You can wash my jumper starch my overalls,
You can do my laundry and make sure my clothes are clean
Catch the train they call the Cannonball,
Board the train known as the Cannonball
From Buffalo to Washington:
Travelling from Buffalo to Washington on this train
Yonder comes the train coming down the track,
The train is approaching down the track
Carry me away, but ain’t gonna carry me back,
Taking me away on this train, but I won't be returning
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe.
Term of endearment for the person being addressed
My baby left me, she even took my shoes,
My significant other has left me and even took my shoes with them
Enough to give me the doggone worried blues,
This situation is causing me a great deal of worry and sadness
She is gone, she's solid gone.
She has left and is not coming back
I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall,
I am planning on travelling north this autumn
If luck don't change I won’t be back at all,
If I'm not lucky, I may never return
My honey babe, I'm leaving you.
Addressing the person being left behind
Contributed by Bentley S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gravityangel1225
0:27 You can wash my jumper starch my overalls,
Catch the train they call the Cannonball,
From Buffalo to Washington:
1:07 Yonder comes the train coming down the track,
Carry me away, but ain't gonna carry me back,
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe.
1:47 My baby left me, she even took my shoes,
Enough to give me the doggone worried blues,
She is gone, she's solid gone.
2:26 I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall,
If luck don't change I won't be back at all,
My honey babe, I'm leaving you.
@hugeelen
Lyrics: You can wash my jumper starch my overalls
Catch a train they call the Cannonball
From Buffalo to Washington
Yonder comes the train, coming down the track
Carry me away but it ain't going to carry me back
My honey babe, my blue eyed babe
My baby's left me, she even took my shoes
Enough to give me these dog-gone worried blues
She's gone, she's solid gone
I'm going up north, I'm going up north this fall
If luck don't change, I won't be back at all
My honey babe, I'm leaving you
@Sebastian-ch4ux
One of the best songs from this musicaly awsome family. Next summer my son and me goin to vistit the blue rich mountains and I hope to see a lot of the Carter Family there.
To all listeners here: God bless you.
Kind regards from eastern Germany.
@olligator22
My God! If you aren't patting your foot to this, there's something wrong with your sense of rhythm! The guitar work is absolutely incredible!! I played this over at least 10 times before I could get enough! It's one of the best recordings I have ever heard!!!!!
@user-su8si8hr8h
amen
@garymckechnietelevision5785
That tangy guitar in the intro, A.P.'s halting delivery, the 'Carter scratch' played by Maybelle, the line 'She's solid gone', the train-like rhythm... all of it makes this my favorite Carter Family song
@prestcoldandy910
Mine to gary its just superb
@derektitus8636
not sure if anyone gives a shit but if you're bored like me atm then you can stream all of the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my brother for the last couple of days xD
@dallasevan3847
@Derek Titus yup, have been using instaflixxer for since december myself :)
@johnstoops943
Tom Rush does a fantastic cover of this.
@user-su8si8hr8h
I think so
@franklesko2485
This is easily on my short list of all time favorite songs and recordings. AP rarely sang lead, but there is something so soothing and sensitive about his voice. And the interplay with the guitar is amazing. I could listen to this on repeat all day.