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)
Another Night
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to hear that lonesome sound
I'm all alone and so down hearted
Since my true love she ain't around
I hate to see the sun a sinking
Another night to toss and turn
Another night to dream about her
She had no cause to go and leave me
For I had never done her wrong
She left our home and little children
And with another she has gone
The children they are soundly sleeping
No they don't know that their mother's gone
What can I do when they awaken
I can't tell them that their mother's wrong
The Stanley Brothers' song "Another Night" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that captures the sadness and longing of a man who has been left by his true love. The lyricist uses imagery to help the listener picture the scene, as the wind blows around the cabin, and the man is all alone and heartbroken. The repetition of the phrase "another night" serves to emphasize the relentless nature of his pain.
The man is clearly struggling to come to terms with his lover's departure, and he is tormented by the thought of her with another man. The lyrics also touch upon the man's children, who are sleeping soundly, unaware of their mother's absence. The singer is unsure how to tell them the truth, and the line "I can't tell them that their mother's wrong" reveals a sense of protective love for his children.
This song speaks to the human experience of loss and heartbreak. It captures the powerful emotions that come with the end of a relationship and the longing for a lost love. The use of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, including the banjo and mandolin, helps to create an authentic Appalachian sound that is unique to the region.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind is blowing 'round the cabin
The wind is blowing around the cabin and it's making a lonesome sound
I hate to hear that lonesome sound
I don't like the sound of the wind as it's creating a sad atmosphere
I'm all alone and so down hearted
I'm lonely and feeling very sad
Since my true love she ain't around
My real love is not with me and it's making me upset
I hate to see the sun a sinking
I don't want to watch the sun set as it marks the beginning of another lonely night
Another night to toss and turn
Another restless night that I'll spend tossing and turning in my bed
Another night to dream about her
Another night where I'll dream about my missing love
Another night for her I yearn
I desire her presence and can't wait for her to come back
She had no cause to go and leave me
She had no reason to leave me
For I had never done her wrong
I haven't hurt or wronged her before
She left our home and little children
She left the house we share with our little children
And with another she has gone
She's gone with someone else and left me behind
The children they are soundly sleeping
The children are sleeping soundly and aren't aware of what's happening
No they don't know that their mother's gone
The kids are unaware that their mother has left
What can I do when they awaken
Once the children wake up, I won't know how to explain where their mother is
I can't tell them that their mother's wrong
I can't say anything that would make the children think their mother has done something wrong
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN CLARKE, TERRY SYLVESTER, TONY HICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oktwister
Now that’s “mountain” right there! Thanks for sharing.
@kelly5kayla5
Great song
@berniceatkins4500
Another good one.
@bradsparks6008
Sounds a tonne like can't you hear me callin by Del mccory