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
Two Sweethearts
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were telling of sweethearts they had
All seemed jolly except one lad
Who seemed downhearted and sad
Come join us, Ned, his comrades then said
Surely some girl has loved you
Then raising his head, proudly he said
One has hair of silver-gray
The other one is just like gold
One is young and youthful, too
The other one is aged and old
But dearer than life are they both to me
From neither would I part
One is my mother, God bless her, I love her
The other one is my sweetheart
My sweetheart is a poor working girl
Whom I'm determined to wed
Father said no, 'twill never be so
You must marry an heiress instead
Mother was young, she knows how it is
When father met her she was poor
Ned, don't fret, she'll be your wife yet
For he will consent, I am sure
One has hair of silver-gray
The other one is just like gold
One is young and youthful, too
The other one is aged and old
But dearer than life are they both to me
From neither would I part
One is my mother, God bless her, I love her
The other one is my sweetheart
The Carter Family's song "Two Sweethearts" tells a touching story about a young man named Ned who is torn between his love for his elderly mother and his working-class girlfriend. The song opens with Ned's friends asking him about his love life, assuming that he must have a sweetheart like the rest of them. However, Ned responds that he is in love with two people - one of whom is his mother and the other is his girlfriend. The song highlights the deep love that Ned has for both of these women and his determination to remain loyal to them both.
The lyrics go on to describe Ned's struggles to convince his father to allow him to marry his girlfriend, who comes from a lower social class. While his father has different plans for his son, Ned's mother understands what it's like to come from a humble background and so she supports his decision to marry the woman that he loves. In the end, Ned is able to convince his father to accept his girlfriend and the couple is able to begin their life together.
The song is a beautiful testament to the love that can exist between family members and romantic partners. It reminds us that love knows no boundaries and that we can be devoted to more than one person at a time. The Carter Family's haunting harmonies and poignant lyrics make "Two Sweethearts" a timeless classic that still resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
A crowd of young fellows one night at a ball
The song describes a group of young men who gathered at a ball one night.
Were telling of sweethearts they had
The men were talking about the romantic partners that they had.
All seemed jolly except one lad
Despite the cheerful mood of the group, one young man appeared somber and gloomy.
Who seemed downhearted and sad
The young man appeared to be upset and unhappy.
Come join us, Ned, his comrades then said
The other men invited the sad young man, Ned, to join in their conversation.
Surely some girl has loved you
The other men assumed that Ned must have had some romantic experiences and that he had been loved by someone.
Then raising his head, proudly he said
After a moment of contemplation, Ned spoke up and expressed his current situation.
I'm in love with two
Ned revealed that he had feelings for two different people.
One has hair of silver-gray
Ned described the first person he loved, who had gray hair.
The other one is just like gold
Ned described the other person he loved as someone who is precious and valuable to him.
One is young and youthful, too
Ned's first love is a young person, full of life and vitality.
The other one is aged and old
Ned's other love is an elderly person.
But dearer than life are they both to me
Ned expressed that he cherished both of these people deeply and equally.
From neither would I part
He felt that it would be impossible for him to choose between them or to lose either one.
One is my mother, God bless her, I love her
Ned revealed that his first love was his own mother, whom he loved and cherished deeply.
The other one is my sweetheart
Ned's second love was his romantic partner whom he planned to marry.
My sweetheart is a poor working girl
Ned's second love was someone who wasn't wealthy and came from the working class.
Whom I'm determined to wed
Despite any objections or obstacles he would face, Ned was fully committed to marrying his sweetheart.
Father said no, 'twill never be so
However, Ned's father strongly opposed the idea and prohibited the union from happening.
You must marry an heiress instead
Ned's father believed it was more important to marry someone wealthy and of high social status than to just marry for love.
Mother was young, she knows how it is
Ned's mother was able to relate to the situation, as she had married someone who was initially poor herself.
When father met her she was poor
Ned's mother was poor when she first met his father.
Ned, don't fret, she'll be your wife yet
Ned's mother reassured him that she believed his father would eventually come around and accepts the union.
For he will consent, I am sure
She was confident that with time and persuasion, Ned's father would eventually give his blessing to the relationship.
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Carter Family Channel
This channel was created to help keep The Carter Family music alive, and share with the world! please help me do this for as long as possible :) and please feel free to help support the channel with a donation, https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=8TNJ64TWNH9M2 any questions you have i am always happy to answer :) as the songs and footage are so old, time is spent to remastered them to the best possible quality.
Liz Nakazawa
Heartwarming, precious and pure! It truly doesnt get much better than this.
Keith McLaughlin
Outstanding
Adam Swift
2023?