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)
HEY HEY HEY
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I awoke as the clock was strikin' four
But I didn't think that I'd meet you
And now as you walk through the door
Come sit here with me, little darlin'
And allow me to sing
I love you, sweetheart, I love you
As you stood there before me, I wondered
If I'd ever get you off of my mind
And the tears filled my eyes when you vanished
With your golden curls that hung down behind
Come sit here with me, little darlin'
And allow me to sing
I love you, sweetheart, I love you
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey
Won't you come back to me in my dreams, love?
Some dark night when I'm here all alone
Would you tell me sweetheart that you love me?
Some dark night when I'm here all alone
Come sit here with me, little darlin'
And allow me to sing
I love you, sweetheart, I love you
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey
The Stanley Brothers' song Hey! Hey! Hey! is a heartfelt lamentation about lost love. The lyrics convey the singer's longing for his former lover whom he saw in his dreams. He describes how he woke up at four in the morning with her image fresh in his mind. He is surprised to see her in reality and invites her to sit with him while he sings to her. The singer is overcome with emotions and tears fill his eyes as he watches his former lover disappear with her golden curls hanging down behind her. He longs for her to return to him in his dreams and tell him that she loves him.
The lyrics are evocative and well-crafted as they capture the melancholic mood of the song. The use of repetition in the chorus, with a simple and catchy "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey," elevates the song's emotional impact. The use of the term "little darlin'" adds a touch of endearment and affection to the song, making it more personal and sincere.
The song's theme is universal, and many people can relate to the singer's loss and longing for their former love. The lyrics are relatable, and the melody is captivating, making Hey! Hey! Hey! an enduring classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you last night in my dreams, love
The singer dreamt of his beloved and saw her in his sleep the previous night.
I awoke as the clock was strikin' four
The singer woke up from his dream at four in the morning.
But I didn't think that I'd meet you
The singer didn't expect to meet his beloved in real life after dreaming about her.
And now as you walk through the door
His beloved has entered the room, surprising the singer.
Come sit here with me, little darlin'
The singer invites his beloved to sit next to him.
And allow me to sing
The singer wants to sing a love song to his beloved.
I love you, sweetheart, I love you
The singer declares his love for his beloved.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey
A joyful exclamation to express the singer's emotions and enthusiasm for his beloved.
As you stood there before me, I wondered
The singer felt overwhelmed and amazed when he saw his beloved in person.
If I'd ever get you off of my mind
The singer is worried whether he can forget his beloved even though she is right in front of him.
And the tears filled my eyes when you vanished
The singer was emotional and cried when his beloved disappeared or left the room.
With your golden curls that hung down behind
The singer remembers the beautiful appearance of his beloved, which includes her long, curly hair.
Won't you come back to me in my dreams, love?
The singer wishes to dream about his beloved again and see her in his sleep once more.
Some dark night when I'm here all alone
The singer hopes to dream of his beloved on a dark night when he's feeling lonely.
Would you tell me sweetheart that you love me?
The singer wants his beloved to express her love for him in his dream.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey
The singer repeats his joyful exclamation to express how much he loves his beloved.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BRYAN G. FRYZEL, MELVIN CALHOUN, JOELL ORTIZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind