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)
Harbor Of Love
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the Savior will welcome you home
Will you be prepared for the journey to Heaven
On the great ship that carries God's chosen ones home
Oh the water's so deep (oh the water's so deep)
On the river of Jordan (on the river of Jordan)
And the light shines so bright (and the light shines so bright)
And the midnight has passed (and the midnight has passed)
A new day is dawning (in Heaven on high)
Oh the great ship will anchor (oh the great ship will anchor)
In the "Harbor of Love"
If you're wandering in sin away from God's teaching
Won't you ask Him to show you the way
Fall down on your knees in a chapel next Sunday
And meet all your friends up in Heaven some day
The Stanley Brothers' song "Harbor of Love" is a religious gospel song with a clear message about death, judgement, and the afterlife. The first stanza speaks of the great judgement morning when the Saviour will welcome the believers home. The song then poses the question of whether one is prepared for the journey to heaven on the great ship that carries God's chosen ones home. The second stanza uses vivid imagery of the river of Jordan, the light shining bright from heaven above, and a new day dawning in heaven on high. The great ship will anchor in the "Harbor of Love," which symbolizes heaven.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and easy to understand. It is a call to those who may have strayed away from God's teachings to repent and seek salvation before it is too late. The message conveyed by this song is a staple of gospel music, reminding listeners of the importance of faith and leading a moral life. As one of the Stanley Brothers' popular songs in their repertoire, "Harbor of Love" is a testament to their ability to create memorable, moving gospel songs that resonate with people from all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's coming a time on the great judgment morning
One day, on the morning of judgment, there will be a time.
When the Savior will welcome you home
The Savior will welcome you to your home.
Will you be prepared for the journey to Heaven
Are you ready for the journey to Heaven?
On the great ship that carries God's chosen ones home
You will ride a great ship that carries God's chosen ones home.
Oh the water's so deep (oh the water's so deep)
The water is so deep. (The water is so deep.)
On the river of Jordan (on the river of Jordan)
On the Jordan River. (On the Jordan River.)
And the light shines so bright (and the light shines so bright)
The light is shining very brightly. (The light is shining very brightly.)
From the Heaven above (from the Heaven above)
The light is coming from Heaven. (The light is coming from Heaven.)
And the midnight has passed (and the midnight has passed)
Midnight has passed. (Midnight has passed.)
A new day is dawning (in Heaven on high)
A new day is coming in the high Heaven. (A new day is coming in the high Heaven.)
Oh the great ship will anchor (oh the great ship will anchor)
The great ship will anchor. (The great ship will anchor.)
In the "Harbor of Love"
It will anchor in the 'Harbor of Love'. (It will anchor in the 'Harbor of Love'.)
If you're wandering in sin away from God's teaching
If you are lost and away from God's teachings,
Won't you ask Him to show you the way
Will you not ask Him to guide you?
Fall down on your knees in a chapel next Sunday
Kneel down in a chapel next Sunday.
And meet all your friends up in Heaven some day
And one day, meet all your friends in Heaven.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R watkins
Ry Cooder has done a version of this great song on his new album The Prodigal Son, also well worth a listen!
Russell Fields
Oh thsnk u lord for peace i love this song
Jim Lovejoy
awesome
Ricky Edwards
Better than that remastered on here. Sounds like Ralph and Geroge on guitar
Russell Fields
Thank u lord
Lester Davis
Vozico
Russell Fields
The water is so deep on river jordan
Wanda Cantrell
love you sis an miss you