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)
I’m Lonesome Without You
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
More than anyone will know
Until that day you found a new love
Then you said I'd have to go
Oh the road is rough and rocky
Since the day I last saw you
Another's won your heart forever
And I'm lonesome without you.
There's nothing left for me to do
For I've still got this memory of you
And the love that we once knew
My hope is now that you'll be happy
With the new love that you've found
But should you ever change your mind dear
Remember me I'll be around
The song "I'm Lonesome Without You" by The Stanley Brothers and The Clinch Mountain Boys is a poignant expression of heartbreak caused by a lost love. The lyrics reveal the singer's emotions ranging from nostalgia to despair. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about the past when they were young and in love with each other but fate had other plans. The singer is left alone, lonely and longing for the love that he has lost. The beauty of the song is that it is not just about the pain of separation, but it is also an expression of hope. The singer acknowledges that the road is rough and rocky since he last saw his love. However, he is still hopeful and leaves the door open to the possibility of rekindling their love. The last lines reveal the singer's attachment to his former love as he asks her to remember him if she ever changes her mind.
Line by Line Meaning
When we were young and loved each other
During the time we were younger and in love, our relationship was strong and profound.
More than anyone will know
Our love was intense and deep, beyond what outsiders could observe or grasp.
Until that day you found a new love
At some point, you discovered a new love interest besides me.
Then you said I'd have to go
You informed me that you were moving on and didn't want to continue our relationship anymore.
Oh the road is rough and rocky
The path I am currently on feels challenging and unstable without you by my side.
Since the day I last saw you
Ever since the last time I saw you, things have felt difficult and lonely.
Another's won your heart forever
You have chosen someone else as your long-term partner, and they now hold your affection.
And I'm lonesome without you.
I feel exceptionally alone and desolate without your presence and love.
On down this lonesome road I wander
I continue to travel along this solitary path without direction or clarity without you.
There's nothing left for me to do
I feel as though there are no options or opportunities for me to pursue now that our love is over.
For I've still got this memory of you
Despite everything, my memories of you and our relationship continue to linger within me.
And the love that we once knew
I can still recall the depth and intensity of the love we used to share.
My hope is now that you'll be happy
My current wish is for you to find happiness and contentment in your new relationship.
With the new love that you've found
I hope that the person you have chosen as your new partner brings you love and joy.
But should you ever change your mind dear
However, in the event that you have a change of heart, my affection for you will still be present.
Remember me I'll be around
I'll always be there for you, ready to support and love you if you ever need me in the future.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RALPH STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind