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 Poor Orphan Child
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Papa and mama's dead
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
See all the many children now
Poor little boys and girls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
But now we see those wandering curls
Hang careless 'round their brow
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
O Savior, every orphan bless
Wherever they may roam
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
The Carter Family's "The Poor Orphan Child" tells a heartrending tale from the perspective of an orphan who has lost their parents and is in need of basic necessities such as clothes and food. The song expresses the pain and fear felt by the orphan child who has been robbed of their parents' love and protection.
The song begins with the orphan child's voice, described as low and faint, which speaks of the death of their parents. This sets the tone for the rest of the song and highlights the vulnerability of the child. The lyrics call upon the Savior to lead the orphaned child by the hand and guide them to a place where they can be cared for and protected. The words "gently lead them by the hand" emphasize the importance of treating the child with kindness and compassion.
The second half of the song shifts to the plight of many orphaned children who find themselves alone without a loving hand to guide them. The lyrics lament the loss of a mother's love, and describe how their wandering curls now hang carelessly on their brow. The song concludes with a prayer for every orphaned child to be blessed and for those who offer them help, as well as for the orphan's home.
Overall, "The Poor Orphan Child" is a poignant song that touches on the theme of loss, grief, and the resilience of the human spirit. It speaks to the importance of treating children, especially those who have lost their parents, with love and care.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a low faint voice that says
I can hear a quiet voice from a poor orphan child who is in need of food and clothing because their parents have died
And it comes from the poor orphan child
The voice that I hear is from a child who is an orphan and lacks the necessities of life
That must be clothed and fed
The child requires clothing and food in order to survive
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Please help and guide these children, leading them through life towards a better place
Till they all reach that glittering strand
May they all one day reach a place of comfort and joy, free from the struggles and pains they face
See all the many children now
Look at all the children who are suffering in the world
Poor little boys and girls
These children are impoverished and lack basic needs
Who want that mother's loving hand
These children crave the affection and care of a mother figure
To smooth their golden curls
They desire the nurturing touch of a mother figure who will take care of them
But now we see those wandering curls
However, instead of being cared for, we see these children neglected and left to fend for themselves
Hang careless 'round their brow
Their curly hair is unkempt and they lack basic grooming and hygiene
They say to us, my papa's dead
These children are tragically aware that their father has passed away
And I've no mother now
They have also lost their mother and have no parental figures to care for them
O Savior, every orphan bless
Please bless and care for every orphan in the world
Wherever they may roam
No matter where they go, please be with them
Bless every hand that lends them aid
Please bless and thank every person who helps these children in need
And bless the orphan's home
Please bless and protect every home and institution that supports orphans
Contributed by Cole A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
paradiddleday
I hear a low faint voice that says
Papa and mama's dead
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
See all the many children now
Poor little boys and girls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
But now we see those wandering curls
Hang careless 'round their brow
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
O Savior, every orphan bless
Wherever they may roam
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
Neil Pringle
Those harmonies are incredible. There’s no getting away from how REAL the sound is either. Unbeatable.
paradiddleday
I hear a low faint voice that says
Papa and mama's dead
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
And it comes from the poor orphan child
That must be clothed and fed
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
See all the many children now
Poor little boys and girls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Who want that mother's loving hand
To smooth their golden curls
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
But now we see those wandering curls
Hang careless 'round their brow
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
They say to us, my papa's dead
And I've no mother now
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
O Savior, every orphan bless
Wherever they may roam
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Bless every hand that lends them aid
And bless the orphan's home
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Savior, lead them by the hand (Savior, lead them by the hand, yes, gently lead them by the hand)
Till they all reach that glittering strand
David Ruffin
Beautiful
Teddyb1939
Some of the best music I've heard for years , so lovely, AP Carter just right. great harmonies.
yougooddog
Old man Carter is the olive in this perfect Martini called the Carter Family. What a pleasure it is to listen to this.
LoopingMadman
The AP warble
Matthew Bischoff
They really took it to another level over what Vernon Dalhart was pumping out in the early 20s.
Laboiteatests
+Matthew Bischoff Can you give examples ?
Tan YikWah
Timeless great tune,thanks!
Floobee
one of America's greatest gifts to the world