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)
Cotton Eyed Joe
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy worked a man called Cotton Eyed Joe
Daddy worked a man called Cotton Eyed Joe
I could have been married long time ago
If it hadn't 'a been for Cotton Eyed Joe
If it hadn't 'a been for Cotton Eyed Joe
Old bull fiddle and a shoe-string bow
Wouldn't play nothin' but Cotton Eyed Joe
Wouldn't play nothin' but Cotton Eyed Joe
Play it fast or play it slow
Didn't play nothing but Cotton Eyed Joe
Didn't play nothing but Cotton Eyed Joe
Where do you come from where do you go
Where do you come from Cotton Eyed Joe
Where do you come from Cotton Eyed Joe
Come for to see you come for to sing
Come for to show you my diamond ring
Come for to show you my diamond ring
The song Cotton Eyed Joe by The Stanley Brothers tells the story of a man called Cotton Eyed Joe and the impact he had on the singer's life. The first two lines, "Do you remember Long time ago, Daddy worked a man called Cotton Eyed Joe", set the scene of a distant memory from the singer's past. The repetition of this line reinforces the importance of this memory to the singer. The third line, "I could have been married long time ago," suggests that the singer missed out on an opportunity because of Cotton Eyed Joe.
The chorus, "If it hadn't 'a been for Cotton Eyed Joe / I'd been married long time ago / Where did you come from, where did you go? / Where did you come from Cotton Eyed Joe?" further emphasizes the singer's frustration towards Cotton Eyed Joe. The repetition of the question "where did you come from, where did you go?" adds a sense of mystery to Cotton Eyed Joe's character.
The last three lines, "Come for to see you come for to sing / Come for to show you my diamond ring / Come for to show you my diamond ring" provide some context to the singer's story. It seems that he is attempting to woo someone by showing off his wealth, and is concerned that Cotton Eyed Joe is hindering his efforts.
Overall, Cotton Eyed Joe is a memorable character in the singer's life who seems to have caused both frustration and missed opportunities. The song addresses the question of where he came from and where he went, but ultimately leaves this unanswered.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember Long time ago
Do you recall the past, when events took place a while back?
Daddy worked a man called Cotton Eyed Joe
My father was employed under a man known as Cotton Eyed Joe
Daddy worked a man called Cotton Eyed Joe
My father was employed under a man known as Cotton Eyed Joe
I could have been married long time ago
I could have tied the knot a while back
If it hadn't 'a been for Cotton Eyed Joe
If Cotton Eyed Joe had not come into the picture
If it hadn't 'a been for Cotton Eyed Joe
If Cotton Eyed Joe had not come into the picture
Old bull fiddle and a shoe-string bow
An old bass instrument and a bow made from a shoestring
Wouldn't play nothin' but Cotton Eyed Joe
Only played the tune of Cotton Eyed Joe and nothing else
Wouldn't play nothin' but Cotton Eyed Joe
Only played the tune of Cotton Eyed Joe and nothing else
Play it fast or play it slow
Played the tune of Cotton Eyed Joe, whether quickly or slowly
Didn't play nothing but Cotton Eyed Joe
Played only the tune of Cotton Eyed Joe and nothing else
Didn't play nothing but Cotton Eyed Joe
Played only the tune of Cotton Eyed Joe and nothing else
Where do you come from where do you go
Where did you come from, and where are you going now?
Where do you come from Cotton Eyed Joe
Where did Cotton Eyed Joe originate from?
Where do you come from Cotton Eyed Joe
Where did Cotton Eyed Joe originate from?
Come for to see you come for to sing
I came to visit you and share a song
Come for to show you my diamond ring
I also came to display my diamond ring
Come for to show you my diamond ring
I also came to display my diamond ring
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Van Dyke Parks, Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind