The War interrupted any thoughts of a musical career, and it was not until both brothers returned from the service that they were able to make their own mark in music -- ultimately ending up on WCYB Bristol, Tennessee, where they would remain for over ten years as stalwarts of the famed "Farm and Fun Time" radio show. Their music initially followed a more old time style favored by Mainer's Mountaineers, with Ralph playing the banjo in the old two-finger style, interspersed with old time clawhammer playing, before taking a stab at the new three-finger style popularised by Earl Scruggs.
They formed The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1946. They were perhaps the first band to adopt the new music style created by Bill Monroe in the mid-1940s that later became known as bluegrass. Carter played guitar and sang lead while Ralph played banjo and sang with a strong, high tenor voice. Their harmonies are much admired, and many consider Carter Stanley to be one of the greatest singers in the history of country music. The brothers also wrote many of their own songs and Carter had a particular knack for writing deceptively simple lyrics that portrayed strong emotion. The Stanley's style can best be described as a traditional "mountain soul" sound that remained close to the Primitive Baptist vocal stylings they learned from their parents and others near their southwestern Virginia home.
The early Stanley Brothers recordings on Rich-R-Tone (of Johnson City, Tennessee) included Pee Wee Lambert on mandolin. They later added an innovative touch to their traditional sound with the guitar solos of George Shuffler who often used a crosspicking style.
Carter performed briefly with Bill Monroe while Ralph was recovering from injuries received in an automobile accident in 1951. As bluegrass music grew less popular in the late 1950s, the Stanley Brothers moved to Live Oak, Florida to headline the weekly Suwannee River Jamboree radio show on WNER. The three-hour show was also syndicated across the Southeast. Otherwise the brothers performed together until 1966 (from 1961 on as a duo). After Carter's death Ralph revived the Clinch Mountain Boys and is still performing in 2006. Among the musicians who have played in the revived Clinch Mountain Boys are Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks, Curly Ray Cline, Jack Cooke, and Ralph Stanley II. Ralph's career received a big boost with his prominent role on the phenomenally successful soundtrack recording of the 2000 film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?." The Stanley Brothers were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1992.
Among the Stanley Brothers' best known recordings are:
* I'm A Man of Constant Sorrow (1950, Columbia)
* Rank Stranger
* Angel Band
* How Mountain Girls Can Love
* How Far to Little Rock? (novelty)
* Still trying to get to Little Rock (novelty)
* Ridin' That Midnite Train
* Clinch Mountain Backstep
* She's More To Be Pitied
* The Memory of Your Smile
* Love Me Darlin' Just Tonight
Clinch Mountain Boys Members
* Carter Stanley (guitar)
* Ralph Stanley (banjo)
* Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert (mandolin)
* Jim Williams (mandolin)
* Curly Lambert (mandolin)
* Leslie Keith (fiddle)
* Robert "Bobby" Sumner (fiddle)
* Les Woodie (fiddle)
* Ralph Mayo (fiddle, guitar)
* Chubby Anthony (fiddle)
* Art Stamper (fiddle)
* Joe Meadows (fiddle)
* Red Stanley (fiddle)
* Don Miller (fiddle)
* Vernon Derrick (fiddle)
* James "Jay" Hughes (bass)
* Ernie Newton (bass)
* Chick Stripling (bass)
* Mike Seeger (bass)
* Bill Napier (guitar, mandolin)
* George Shuffler (guitar, bass)
* Larry Sparks (guitar)
External links
* Ralph Stanley Discography
* Recording of "We Are Going to Paint the Town" from a 1958 Florida radio show (made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida)
* Podcast (mp3) of one of the Stanley Brothers' Suwannee River Jamboree raido show from 1958 (made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida)
A Lonesome Night
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our hearts were young and free
I left her there alone at night
I thought she was two-timin' me
On a lonesome night and far from home
I heard a mournful sound
The girl I love is callin' me
She thinks I turned her down
She said she had been true
But a jealous heart would not believe
Oh how I long for you
So now I'm on my way back home
Sweetheart do you still care
I promise never to leave your side
And your love I always share
These lyrics from The Stanley Brothers' song A Lonesome Night narrates a story of a past quarrel between two young, free-hearted lovers. In the middle of the night, they fought, and the singer left his partner, thinking she was cheating on him. Later on, while he was away from home, he heard a mournful cry that sounded familiar. To his surprise, it was the voice of his lover, who he thought had been unfaithful. She was calling out to him and begging him not to leave her alone. She claimed that she had been faithful, but his jealousy had led him to believe otherwise. The singer wants to return to his lover and make things right with her. He swears to never leave her again and to share her love forever.
The song captures the power of jealousy, the pain of an argument between lovers, and the redemption that can come from admitting fault and seeking forgiveness. It highlights the importance of communication in any relationship, especially during difficult times. The lyrics' theme has resonated with many listeners, making it a classic country song.
Line by Line Meaning
In the pale moonlight we quarreled one night
During a night illuminated by the pale light of the moon, we had an argument
Our hearts were young and free
We were young and unattached in those days, with no responsibilities or boundaries
I left her there alone at night
I departed and left her alone in the night darkness
I thought she was two-timin' me
I suspected that she was unfaithful to me with someone else
On a lonesome night and far from home
During a solitary and distanced from home night
I heard a mournful sound
I became aware of a moving and sorrowful noise
The girl I love is callin' me
The woman who I love is attempting to contact me
She thinks I turned her down
She believes that I rejected her
She begged me not to leave her there
She implored me to stay with her and not abandon her
She said she had been true
She proclaimed that she had been faithful and sincere
But a jealous heart would not believe
However, my envious emotions made it difficult for me to trust her
Oh how I long for you
I have a strong and persistent desire to be with you
So now I'm on my way back home
Therefore, I am returning to my place of residency
Sweetheart do you still care
My dear, have your feelings for me remained constant?
I promise never to leave your side
I vow to always remain by your side and never separate from you
And your love I always share
Also, I will always reciprocate your love and affection towards me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind