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 Wonderful City
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That beautiful sight to behold
When I shall awake some bright morning
In that city with streets of pure gold
My savior has gone to prepare it
For all who accept his grace
And that's why I know I'll be welcome
When I reach my home in that city
Shall I find you waiting up there
With the saints who have gone on before us
To that beautiful home so fair
My whole heart is set upon heaven
Where my savior's face I shall see
And live in the light of his glory
Throughout all eternity
Oh-de-lay-ee, oh-lay-ee, oh-lay-ee
He bids us to work in his vineyards
To toil for him early and late
What a glorious reward for our labor
To enter that beautiful gate
When I reach my home in that city
Shall I find you waiting up there
With the saints who have gone on before us
To that beautiful home so fair
My whole heart is set upon heaven
Where my savior's face I shall see
And live in the light of his glory
Throughout all eternity
Oh-de-lay-ee-hee, oh-lay-ee-hee, oh-lay-ee
The lyrics to The Carter Family's song The Wonderful City express the yearning and hope for the afterlife and the joyous reunion with loved ones in the heavenly city. The singer is waiting and watching with longing for the moment when they can wake up and find themselves in the city with streets of pure gold. The idea of streets made of gold comes from biblical texts like Revelation 21:21, which describe the new Jerusalem as "pure gold, like clear glass."
The belief in heaven and the afterlife is a common theme in many religious and spiritual traditions. The singer believes that their savior has gone ahead to prepare a place for them and that they will be welcome there if they accept his grace. They hope to be reunited with friends and family who have passed away and to dwell in the light of their savior's glory for all eternity.
The song also speaks to the idea of working hard in this life to earn a reward in the next. The singer refers to the parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20:1-16, where laborers who were hired late in the day were paid the same as those who worked all day. The promise of a glorious reward for their toil gives the singer hope and motivation to continue working for their faith.
Overall, the lyrics to The Wonderful City are a heartfelt expression of faith and hope for a better life beyond this world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waiting, watching and longing
I am eagerly anticipating the sight of the beautiful, wonderful city.
That beautiful sight to behold
The city is a breathtakingly gorgeous place to see and appreciate.
When I shall awake some bright morning
One day, I will wake up to the bright morning in that wonderful city.
In that city with streets of pure gold
The city is characterized by streets of pure gold.
My savior has gone to prepare it
Jesus Christ has gone ahead to prepare the city for all who accept his grace.
For all who accept his grace
Those who accept the grace of Jesus Christ will have a home in the wonderful city.
And that's why I know I'll be welcome
I know I will be welcomed into the city because I have accepted Christ's grace.
To a home in that wonderful place
I will have a home in the wonderful city.
Shall I find you waiting up there
When I reach the city, will I find you already there?
With the saints who have gone on before us
Will I be reunited with previous believers in the city?
To that beautiful home so fair
The home in the city is a truly beautiful and fair place to dwell.
My whole heart is set upon heaven
My entire heart and being is focused on getting to heaven.
Where my savior's face I shall see
In heaven, I will finally see the face of Jesus Christ.
And live in the light of his glory
I will live in the presence of God's glory and bask in its warmth.
Throughout all eternity
This experience will last for all of eternity.
He bids us to work in his vineyards
God calls us to work for him in his vineyards.
To toil for him early and late
We must work tirelessly for God, both early and late.
What a glorious reward for our labor
The reward we will receive for our hard work is nothing short of glorious.
To enter that beautiful gate
We will enter the gate to the beautiful and wonderful city.
Contributed by Arianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brendaprestage434
My dad's 91 and he loves this song. he love Jimmy Rodgers and he plays the guitar and sounds just like him and yodels just like him.I love to hear my dad sing.I'm going to have to find this song for him.he loves MR Jimmy Rodgers.
@rainymctrixie1
Love me some Sara. Jimmy great as well.
@italojalmeida
very beautiful song
@judylear3237
Thanks for posting...I didn't know that Jimmie sang with any of The Carter family...great old religious song...
@steveendicott1855
Sure,they were known as the Big Bang of Country Music! They all started together!
@Waynedog1
I love it <3
@peggymarsheck4926
Is this the recording when Maybelle Carter played the guitar leads because Jimmie was too weak to play?