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 Church in the Wildwood
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No lovelier place in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dale
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dale
As the little brown church in the dale
How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning
To listen to the clear ringing bell
Its tones so sweetly are calling
Oh, come to the church in the dale
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dale
There, close by the side of the loved one
'Neath the tree where the wild flowers bloom
She sleeps, sweet love sleeps, 'neath the willow
Disturb not her rest in the tomb
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dale
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dale
The Church in the Wildwood is a heartfelt tribute to a place that holds an important place in the singer's heart. This song is about a church nestled in a valley surrounded by a wildwood. The singer speaks of how there is no other place that is as dear to their childhood as the little brown church in the dale. The song has three stanzas, each with a different theme.
The first stanza talks about the beauty of the church and the wildwood around it. The singer describes the church as the loveliest place in the dale and reminisces about their childhood, highlighting the church as a prominent feature of their memories.
In the second stanza, the singer speaks about the church's bell, that rings sweetly on a clear Sabbath morning. The bell's sound is so soothing that it invites people to come and join in worship. The singer urges the listeners to come to the church and witness its beauty for themselves.
The final stanza is a poignant one, where the singer speaks of a loved one who is buried close to the little brown church in the dale. The loved one sleeps peacefully under a willow tree, and the singer urges the listeners to respect the sanctity of the place and not disturb their rest.
Overall, The Church in the Wildwood is a tribute to the spiritual and emotional significance a place can hold in someone's life, and how it can be a source of comfort and solace to people in their times of distress and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a church in the valley by the wildwood
In the valley by the wildwood, there is a church.
No lovelier place in the dale
There is no place more beautiful than this in the dale.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
This spot is extremely important to my childhood and holds sentimental value.
As the little brown church in the dale
This little brown church in the dale is the most special place to me.
How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning
It is wonderful to hear the clear ringing bell on a clear Sabbath morning.
To listen to the clear ringing bell
It is delightful to hear the sound of the bell that rings so clearly.
Its tones so sweetly are calling
The bell's sound is calling people in a very pleasing way.
Oh, come to the church in the dale
Everybody should come and visit this important church in the dale.
There, close by the side of the loved one
My loved one is buried close to the church.
'Neath the tree where the wild flowers bloom
Under the tree where the wild flowers grow is where my loved one's body rests.
She sleeps, sweet love sleeps, 'neath the willow
My loved one is resting peacefully under the willow tree.
Disturb not her rest in the tomb
Please do not disturb the peace of my loved one in the tomb.
Oh, come to the church in the wildwood
It is very important to come to the church that is located in the wildwood.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
This church holds a special place in my childhood and is very dear to me.
Oh, come to the church in the dale
Everybody should come and visit the little brown church that is located in the dale.
No spot is so dear to my childhood
This little church in the dale is the most special and important place from my childhood.
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
louie branko
There's a church in the valley in the wildwood
No lovelier place in the dell
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dell
Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dell
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dell
How sweet on a clear sabbath morning
To listen to the clear ringing bells
Its gongs so sweetly are calling
Oh, come to the church in the dell
Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dell
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dell
There, close by the side of the loved one
'Neath the tree where the wildflowers bloom
She sleeps, sweet love sleeps 'neath the willow
Disturb not her rest in the tomb
Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dell
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dell
Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dell
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dell
Vanessa Santry-Edwards
My great grandmother used to sing this song all the time and it always brings a smile to my face.
David Preston
Hello Vanessa, how're you doing, I hope you are doing fine. I'm David from Houston, Texas. Where are you from? You seems like a real Country girl😊🌹
mavjimbo
What a great memory
Edward Brown
The Carter family......America's first family of country music. They are GREAT!
1chattygirl
These hymns not only connect me to God, but richly warm my heartfelt memories of my Daddy and Mother.
Cat Mama in YEG
I grew up listening to the Carter Family. The memories are flooding back to me. Thank God for our memories
Javier Monteagudo Soriano
Uno de mis temas favoritos de Country Gospel. La mejor versión junto con las de The Forester Sisters y The Statler Brothers.
The Carter Family fue de los primeros grupos en cantar en versión folk los principales temas de Country Gospel.
carrotjuse
I love the Carter Family. This was my mothers' favorite hymn. She had such a beautiful voice. Thank you for posting.
S L
Such a tune. 2 beers in and absoloutly loving it 🙌
Burton Capps
The Carter Family was one of the pioneers gospel music. The way they collected songs was brilliant. Thy traveled all over mountains and collected songs some of the songs were in those locations for years. Amazing.