The brothers adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the 1940s as they began their career in gospel music. Their first foray into secular music was the minor hit "The Get Acquainted Waltz", recorded with Chet Atkins. Other hits included "Cash on the Barrelhead" and "When I Stop Dreaming". They joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 and stayed there until breaking up in 1963.
Their songs were heavily influenced by their Baptist faith and warned against sin. Ira Louvin was notorious for his drinking, womanizing, and short temper. He was married four times; his third wife Faye shot him four times in the chest and twice in the hand after he allegedly beat her. Although seriously injured, he survived. When performing and drinking, Ira would sometimes become angry enough on stage to smash his mandolin; otherwise his style was heavily influenced by Bill Monroe.
As of 1963, Charlie was making enough money that he was able to start a solo career, and Ira also went on his own.
Ira died on June 20, 1965, at the age of 41. He and his fourth wife, Anne Young, were on the way home from a performance in Kansas City when they came to a section of construction on Highway 70 outside of Williamsburg, Missouri where traffic had been reduced down to one lane. A drunken driver struck their car head-on, and both Ira and Anne were killed instantaneously.[4] At the time, a warrant for Ira's arrest had been issued on a DUI charge.
Country-rock band The Byrds recorded the Louvin-penned "The Christian Life" for their 1968 release Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
In 2001, the Louvin brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The tribute CD Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers, produced by Carl Jackson and Kathy Louvin and released in 2003, won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Country Album.
Although the brothers are still remembered today for their musical talent, they are also remembered for the unusual cover used for their 1959 album, Satan Is Real. Designed by Ira Louvin, the cover features the brothers standing in a rock quarry in front of a 12-foot-tall (3.7 m) plywood rendition of the Devil as several hidden tires soaked in kerosene burn behind them as fire and brimstone. While some reviewers count this as being one of the "greatest iconic album covers of all time", the cover can also be found today on several Web sites celebrating unusual or bizarre album covers. The cover has also become an Internet meme on a number of Web sites such as Fark.com, where it has been posted in discussion threads as an example of religious views of the era.
The opening bars of the album's title track "Satan is Real" can be heard at the beginning of Hank Williams III's "Medley: Straight to Hell / Satan is Real", on his Straight to Hell album of 2006. It is also excerpted in Will Ferrell's 2009 one-man Broadway show, You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush.
The River of Jordan
The Louvin Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we read that John The Baptist met Him there
And when John baptized Jesus in Jordan's rushing waters
The mighty power of God filled the air
I'm on my way to the River Of Jordan
Gonna wade right in to the rushing waters
I'm going down, I'm going down to the River Of Jordan
And let the cool waters cleanse my soul
King Naaman was stricken with dreaded leprosy
And he sent for the man of God to pray
But Elisha said to Naaman "go dip yourself in Jordan"
And let the cool waters wash your spots away
So he went right down to the River Of Jordan
He waded right in the rushing waters
He dipped himself, he dipped himself in the River Of Jordan
And the cool waters made him whole
The River Of Jordan is many miles away
And this mighty river I may never see
But I'll find myself an altar in an old-fashioned church
And my River of Jordan, that will be
Well, I'm on my way to the River Of Jordan
Gonna wade right in to the rushing waters
I'm going down, I'm going down to the River Of Jordan
And let the cool waters cleanse my soul
"The River of Jordan" by The Louvin Brothers is a gospel song that draws upon Biblical references to portray the significance of baptism in Christian faith. The song talks about the act of baptism that Jesus himself underwent, to cleanse oneself of sins and impurities, and attain spiritual purity.
The first verse illustrates the arrival of Jesus at the River of Jordan, where John The Baptist meets him and baptizes him in the rushing waters. The second verse narrates the story of King Naaman, who sought Elisha's help to cure his leprosy. Elisha directed him to dip himself in the River of Jordan, which healed him of his afflictions. The last verse declares the singer's intention to seek an old-fashioned church, where they can find an altar to perform the act of baptism and be cleansed of their sins.
Through these lyrics, the song emphasizes the significance of water baptism in the Christian faith as a means to attain salvation, forgiveness, and spiritual cleansing. The River of Jordan serves as a metaphor for the cleansing and rejuvenating power of baptism, an act of renewal that aids in purifying the soul.
Line by Line Meaning
To the River Of Jordan our Savior went one day
Jesus went to the River Of Jordan
And we read that John The Baptist met Him there
John The Baptist met Jesus at the River Of Jordan
And when John baptized Jesus in Jordan's rushing waters
John baptized Jesus in the fast-moving water of the River Of Jordan
The mighty power of God filled the air
God's power was felt at the River Of Jordan
I'm on my way to the River Of Jordan
I am going to the River Of Jordan
Gonna wade right in to the rushing waters
I will step into the fast-moving water of the river
I'm going down, I'm going down to the River Of Jordan
I will submerge myself in the River Of Jordan
And let the cool waters cleanse my soul
I hope that the refreshing water will purify my spirit
King Naaman was stricken with dreaded leprosy
King Naaman was very sick with leprosy
And he sent for the man of God to pray
He asked a holy man for help with his ailment
But Elisha said to Naaman "go dip yourself in Jordan"
Elisha instructed Naaman to wash himself in the waters of the River Of Jordan
And let the cool waters wash your spots away
Elisha believed the cold river would cleanse Naaman's sores
So he went right down to the River Of Jordan
Naaman went to the River Of Jordan
He waded right in the rushing waters
He stepped into the fast-moving water of the river
He dipped himself, he dipped himself in the River Of Jordan
Naaman submerged himself completely in the River Of Jordan
And the cool waters made him whole
The cold river cured Naaman of his sickness
The River Of Jordan is many miles away
The River Of Jordan is far from where I am
And this mighty river I may never see
I might never be able to visit the River Of Jordan
But I'll find myself an altar in an old-fashioned church
I will go to a traditional church
And my River of Jordan, that will be
The church I go to will be my River Of Jordan
Well, I'm on my way to the River Of Jordan
I am going to the River Of Jordan
Gonna wade right in to the rushing waters
I will step into the fast-moving river
I'm going down, I'm going down to the River Of Jordan
I am going to completely submerge myself in the River Of Jordan
And let the cool waters cleanse my soul
I hope the cold river water will purify my spirit
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAZEL HOUSER, HAZEL MARIE HOUSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind