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)
Careless Love
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've fly through my head like wine
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love, oh love, oh careless love
In your clutches of desire
You've made me break a many true vow
Love, oh love, oh careless love
All my happiness bereft
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Trusted you now, it's too late
You've made me throw my old friend down
That's why I sing this song of hate
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Night and day, I weep and moan
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The Stanley Brothers' rendition of "Careless Love" is a poignant blues song about the destructive nature of love. The lyrics speak of the singer's experience with love, how it rushes through their head like wine, yet it has wrecked the lives of many, including the singer's own. The phrase "careless love" is used to describe the reckless abandon that one feels when they are head over heels in love, without regard for the consequences of their actions.
The singer admits to breaking true vows and having their soul set on fire by this love. However, the consequences of this love are dire. It has left them with blues in their heart, making them soulfully sing to themselves. The effects are long-lasting, leaving them to carry the weight of their actions until judgement day. The song ends on a note of regret, with the singer lamenting that love has brought the wrong person into their life and that they must pay for their sins.
"Careless Love" is a classic blues song that has been interpreted by many artists, including Bessie Smith, Lead Belly, and Billie Holiday. The song's origin is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the American South during the early 20th century. The Stanley Brothers' version of the song is a quintessential bluegrass rendition that showcases their vocal harmonies and instrumental prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, oh love, oh careless love
The singer addresses love and its careless nature
You've fly through my head like wine
Love has consumed the singer's thoughts just like wine does to the head
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
Love has ruined the lives of many young women
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love almost ruined the singer's life as well
In your clutches of desire
Love is depicted as a strong force that controls and manipulates people's desires
You've made me break a many true vow
Love has made the singer break their promises and commitments
Then you set my very soul on fire
Love has ignited a passion and desire within the singer that consumes them
All my happiness bereft
Love has taken away all of the singer's happiness
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Love has left the singer feeling sad and melancholic
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love has left the singer feeling lonely and isolated
Trusted you now, it's too late
The singer trusted love and now it's too late to turn back
You've made me throw my old friend down
Love has caused the singer to betray and hurt their old friend
That's why I sing this song of hate
The singer is filled with hate towards love because of the pain it has caused them
Night and day, I weep and moan
The singer is constantly sad and mourning the loss caused by love
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
Love has brought the singer the wrong partner, causing more pain and suffering
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The singer feels guilty for their mistakes and will pay for them in the future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM YORK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind