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 Foggy Mountain Top
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd sail away to the west
I'd sail around this whole wide world
To the girl I love the best
If I had listened what mama says
I would not have been here today
A-lying around this old jail house
A-weeping my sweet life away
Yeah, oh-lay-ee-oh, lee-oh-la-ee-ay
Lee-oh-lay-ee, lay-ee, oh-lay-ee
Oh, if you see that girl of mine
There's something you must tell her
She need not be foolin' no time away
To court some other feller
Oh, she's caused me to weep, she's caused me to mourn
She caused me to leave my home
For the lonesome pine and the good old times
I'm on my way back home
Yeah, oh-lay-ee-oh, lee-oh-la-ee-ay
Lee-oh-lay-ee, lay-ee, oh-lay-ee
Oh, when you go a-courtin'
I'll tell you how to do
Pull off that long-tailed roustabout
Put on your navy blue
Yeah, oh-lay-ee-oh, lee-oh-la-ee-ay
Lee-oh-lay-ee, lay-ee, oh-lay-ee
The Carter Family's song "The Foggy Mountain Top" is a classic folk tune about a man who yearns to be reunited with his love. He envisions sailing across the world to find her, but instead finds himself in jail, pining away for her. The song begins with the man imagining himself on a foggy mountain top, dreaming of sailing to the west to find his love. He regrets not following his mother's advice and finds himself confined to a jail cell, sorrowful for the mistakes he's made. He croons a mournful tune, expressing his desire for his true love.
The man urges those who cross his path to deliver a message to his love. He pleads with them to tell her not to waste her time courting other men and that his heart belongs to her. The man reflects on the pain that his beloved has caused him but resolves to return home to her. The song ends with a verse instructing young lovers on how to dress for courtship, providing a folksy glimpse into traditional courtship practices in earlier times.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was on some foggy mountain top
If I were in a difficult situation, like being on a foggy mountain top
I'd sail away to the west
I would do whatever it takes to get out of that situation, even if it means going far away
I'd sail around this whole wide world
I would travel far and wide to find a solution
To the girl I love the best
I would go to the person who means the most to me
If I had listened what mama says
If only I had followed the advice of my mother
I would not have been here today
I would not be in this difficult situation now
A-lying around this old jail house
I would not be stuck in this place, feeling low and defeated
A-weeping my sweet life away
I would not be crying and feeling sorry for myself
Oh, if you see that girl of mine
If you happen to come across the person I love
There's something you must tell her
Please pass on this message
She need not be foolin' no time away
She should not waste her time on someone else
To court some other feller
To pursue a relationship with another man
Oh, she's caused me to weep, she's caused me to mourn
She has made me very sad and upset
She caused me to leave my home
Her actions forced me to leave my home behind
For the lonesome pine and the good old times
I left everything behind for a sense of isolation and to relive the good old days
I'm on my way back home
I have decided to return home
Oh, when you go a-courtin'
When you are courting someone you like
I'll tell you how to do
I will give you some advice
Pull off that long-tailed roustabout
Dress nicely and appropriately
Put on your navy blue
Wear a classy suit or dress
Yeah, oh-lay-ee-oh, lee-oh-la-ee-ay
Refrain of the song
Lee-oh-lay-ee, lay-ee, oh-lay-ee
Refrain of the song
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: J BAIRD, TRADITIONAL, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tomleary9761
The Original Carter Family is probably the most influential, yet underrated musical group in history.
@DanFiebiger
I'm not even into country music all that much, but even I can recognize the purity and genius of these pioneers like The Carters, Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Sons of the Pioneers, and others of the same era. Pure America!
@gezzap182
Wow. That yodeling. Eerie yet beautiful.
@jgibs69
I'm only 42 years old, but how I love the Carter Family. The sound of Mother Maybelle's guitar is like a suave for my troubled soul.
@williehoffman9062
I have grew up with this music. The 78,s were my Grandfathers who died way back in 1961 when i was 8 years old
@63DW89A
I've listened to many excellent covers of this, including Flatt & Scruggs. But I don't think anyone can touch the original Carter Family version. Can't put my finger on it but somehow the Carters are just so unique and simple, yet superb. The energy and liveliness the Carters get out of only two instruments is astounding!
@richardciardo157
There are other versions of this on YouTube, sadly, some have more views, because this is one of the original Carter Family recordings. If you are truly interested in music, listen to this and many other of their original recordings for an insight into the origins of Rock and Roll. With many other influences, this is where those rhythms first came from. When you listen to this song and others of theirs in this context it is exciting and amazing! You are hearing some of these sounds for the first time if you can temporarily block out all that came after.
@eggtick
this is one of the great ones 5*****
@BoatpapaSandy
Listening to this reminds me of when I was young and my Dad took me to his old home in Scotland where there was a wind up gramophone and I played this every time I visited there. I don't know how the record wasn't worn through with the weight of the old sound arm but I have it now and it would still play if I could play 78's on my latest modern equipment although it is rather scratchy. Thanks for sharing.
@gabinorodriguez4517
Wow..one day I like to visit their Museum..