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 East Virginia Blues
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
North Carolina I did go
There I met a fair, young maiden
And her name, I did not know
On her hair was dark and curly
Cheeks were roses red
Oh, her breast she wore my clear leaf
I don't want your greenback dollar
I don't want your watch and chain
All I want is your heart, darling
Say you'll take ma back again
The oceans deep and I can't wade in
And I have no wings to fly
I'll escape, my blue-eyed, boat land
Float or roll me over time
I'll go back to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
I'll go back to East Virginia
Leave them north Carolina alone
The East Virginia Blues by The Carter Family is a traditional folk song that speaks to the pain of unrequited love and being far away from home. The song tells the story of a man from East Virginia who meets a beautiful woman in North Carolina, but doesn't know her name. He is taken with her dark, curly hair and her rosy cheeks. He longs to lay his head on her breast, where she wears a clear leaf. Despite his affection, the man knows that he cannot stay in North Carolina, and he must return to his home in East Virginia. He pleads with the woman to take him back, insisting that he doesn't want her money or material possessions, but only her heart.
The refrain of the song is a powerful one, repeating that the man will return to East Virginia and "leave them North Carolina alone." This line suggests that he has not found happiness in his time in North Carolina, and that the memory of the woman who captured his heart will continue to haunt him. The final verses are filled with melancholy, as the man describes how unreachable his love is, saying that he cannot wade into the ocean or fly with wings to reach her. He is resigned to his fate, knowing that he will forever carry the East Virginia Blues in his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in East Virginia
I originated in East Virginia
North Carolina I did go
I traveled to North Carolina
There I met a fair, young maiden
I encountered a beautiful, young woman
And her name, I did not know
I was unaware of her name
On her hair was dark and curly
She had curly, dark hair
Cheeks were roses red
Her cheeks were a bright red, like roses
Oh, her breast she wore my clear leaf
She adorned a clear leaf on her chest
Where I longer to lay my head
Where I wish to rest my head for eternity
I don't want your greenback dollar
I don't desire your money
I don't want your watch and chain
I have no interest in your possessions
All I want is your heart, darling
My only desire is your love, my dear
Say you'll take ma back again
Will you agree to reunite with me?
The oceans deep and I can't wade in
The seas are too treacherous for me to navigate
And I have no wings to fly
I lack the ability to fly, like a bird
I'll escape, my blue-eyed, boat land
I will depart, my blue-eyed, homeland
Float or roll me over time
I'm willing to be taken wherever, however
I'll go back to East Virginia
I shall return to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
North Carolina is not my true home
Leave them North Carolina alone
I have no reason to return to North Carolina
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Ziegler
I've been listening to the Carter Family for the past year, but hadn't heard this song yet. It starting playing on a Spotify playlist last night and stopped me dead in my tracks. This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
Peter Tjørnsted
Try the Nora Brown version. It's quite good.
Bruce Too
Another timeless performance by Maybelle and Sarah. They had a way of taking minor/modal melodies and making them major key, but compelling. Their singing and playing--this was way before tape recorders and multi-tracking. You are hearing a live "take" here. Many of these songs were around before the Carters recorded them, but they made them their own!
Mark Schmerling
Just found this on here last night. Thanks so much for posting it. It's sad and beautiful. Can't get enough of the Carter Family, or of Maybelle and her guitar. This must be very early Carter Family. Notice the traditional southern mountain pronunciation of hair, Carolina, etc. Wonderful. Thank you again.
Ken George
I can't remember the original Carter Family's word pronunciation ever changing; it was the way they communicated, either talking or singing. It was who they were. Now, Maybelle's daughters, not being imbued with local speech patterns, did not speak or sing that way, similar but not quite the same. I live in Middle Tennessee and was neighbors with 3 of Maybelle's daughters. They pretty much spoke as Middle Tennesseans.
vornavalley
Nothing like a Carter Family beat to lift me up.
Rex Zens
+vornavalley i hear ya
Richard Southern
It's kind of ironic to read about listeners finally hearing this song. In the 1960s I was a member of a folk quartet and this was one of our favorite songs and one of our most requested by those who knew our repertoire. Happy to hear about those just now finding it.
Ken Roche
Great voices and harmony
Shakeytunes
What a great song