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)
Dream of a Miner's Child
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miscellaneous
Dream of A Miner's Child
The miner was leaving his home for his work
He heard his little child scream.
He went to the side of the little childs bed
Oh daddy I've had such a dream.
For dreams do so often come true.
Oh daddy, dear daddy, please don't go away
I never could live without you.
I dreamed that the mines were all ablazing with fire
The workers all fought for they're lives.
Just then the scene changed and the mouth of the mine
Was covered with sweethearts and wives.
Oh daddy don't go to the mines today
For dreams do so often come true.
Oh daddy, dear daddy, please don't go away
I never could live without you.
Go down to the village and tell all of our dear friends
As sure as the dry sun does shine.
Theres something that going to happen today
Please daddy don't go to the mine.
Oh daddy don't go to the mines today
For dreams do so often come true.
Oh daddy, dear daddy, please don't go away
I never could live without you.
The Stanley Brothers' classic song "Dream of a Miner's Child" tells the story of a miner's child who has a nightmare about a mining disaster. The child begs his father not to go to work that day, fearing that the dream is a premonition of danger. The father tries to calm down his child, but the child's fears are too strong. Ultimately, the father goes to work, and the story ends on a somber note, with the child lamenting that he could not live without his father.
The song is a powerful commentary on the dangers of mining work and the emotional impact it has on families. The fear and uncertainty of the child are palpable, and the choice that the father must make between his livelihood and his child's safety is heart-wrenching. The lyrics remind us of the sacrifices that working-class families often make to provide for their loved ones, and the risks they take on a daily basis just to make ends meet.
Overall, "Dream of a Miner's Child" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that remains relevant to this day. It offers a glimpse into a time and place where mining was a way of life for many people, and the toll it took on individuals and families.
Line by Line Meaning
The miner was leaving his home for his work
The miner was leaving his house for work
He heard his little child scream.
The miner heard his young child scream.
He went to the side of the little childs bed
The miner went to the side of his child's bed.
Oh daddy I've had such a dream.
The child told the miner about a dream they had.
Oh daddy don't go to the mines today
The child begged the miner not to go to work today.
For dreams do so often come true.
Because dreams can sometimes become reality.
Oh daddy, dear daddy, please don't go away
The child begged their father not to leave them.
I never could live without you.
The child could not live without their father.
I dreamed that the mines were all ablazing with fire
The child had a nightmare about a fire in the mine.
The workers all fought for they're lives.
The workers in the dream fought for their lives.
Just then the scene changed and the mouth of the mine
The child's dream changed to the entrance of the mine.
Was covered with sweethearts and wives.
The entrance was filled with family members waiting for the workers.
Go down to the village and tell all of our dear friends
The child asked the miner to go tell their friends in the village.
As sure as the dry sun does shine.
The child believed what they dreamed was going to happen.
Theres something that going to happen today
The child believed something bad was going to happen that day.
Please daddy don't go to the mine.
The child begged the miner not to go to work.
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kurtz mistah
My old pal Carl Chatzky, was so very proud of this track!
Billy Q. Smith
Carl Chatzky left quite a legacy.