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)
Death Is Only A Dream
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As we stand by the mystical stream
In the valley and by the dark river of death
And yet 'tis no more than a dream
Only a dream, only a dream
Of glory beyond the dark stream
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking
Why should we weep when the weary ones rest
In the bosom of Jesus supreme
In the mansions of glory prepared for the blessed
For death is no more than a dream
Naught in the river the Saints should appall
Though' it frightfully dismal may seem
In the arms of our Savior no ill can befall
They find it no more than a dream
Over the turbid and onrushing tide
Doth the light of eternity gleam
And the ransomed the darkness and storm shall out ride
To wake with glad smiles from their dream
The song “Death is Only a Dream” by the Stanley Brothers is a poignant reflection on the certainty of death, and an assurance that for those who have faith in Jesus, death is nothing more than a dream. The opening lines set the mood for the rest of the song, as the singers lament the inevitability of death with “tremulous breath,” suggesting a kind of fearful awe at the prospect of stepping into the unknown. Yet, in the same breath, they assert that death is “no more than a dream.” The repetition of this phrase throughout the song is a reminder that death is not final, that there is something beyond it.
The song offers consolation to those who have lost loved ones, urging them not to weep for the “weary ones” who have gone before, but to take comfort in the idea that they are now in the “bosom of Jesus supreme,” in a place of rest and peace. The second verse offers further reassurance, asserting that even the “dismal” dark river of death holds no terror for the “Saints” who are redeemed. With Christ as their guide, they can rise above the turbulence and reach the other side, where they will wake with “glad smiles from their dream.”
Overall, the song presents a Christian viewpoint on death that is both hopeful and bittersweet. While acknowledging the sadness of separation and loss, it offers the promise of a greater reward and a deeper union with God.
Line by Line Meaning
Sadly we sing and with tremulous breath
With a heavy heart, we sing and breathe shakily
As we stand by the mystical stream
Standing by a stream that seems magical and beyond our understanding
In the valley and by the dark river of death
Being situated in the lowlands near a foreboding and ominous river of death
And yet 'tis no more than a dream
Despite its terrifying appearance, it is ultimately not real
Only a dream, only a dream
Emphasizing the fact that it is nothing more than a dream
Of glory beyond the dark stream
The dream portrays a sense of triumph and glory beyond the darkness of the river
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking
How blissful is the rest and how joyous is the waking from the dream
Where death is only a dream
The dream reduces death to a mere illusion
Why should we weep when the weary ones rest
Why should we mourn when those who are tired find rest
In the bosom of Jesus supreme
In the arms of Jesus, who reigns above all
In the mansions of glory prepared for the blessed
In the heavenly abodes of the righteous, reserved for them by God
For death is no more than a dream
For even in death, there is only a dream
Naught in the river the Saints should appall
Nothing in the river should scare the Saints
Though' it frightfully dismal may seem
Even though it may appear incredibly gloomy and depressing
In the arms of our Savior no ill can befall
Being embraced by our Savior will protect us from harm
They find it no more than a dream
They realize that it is simply a dream
Over the turbid and onrushing tide
Above the murky and rapidly flowing river
Doth the light of eternity gleam
The light of eternity shines forth
And the ransomed the darkness and storm shall out ride
Those who have been freed will triumph over the darkness and storms
To wake with glad smiles from their dream
To wake up with joyous expressions on their faces, having emerged from the dream
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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