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 A Man Of Constant Sorrow
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen trouble all my days
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised
For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasure here on earth I find
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
It's fare thee well my own true lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that Northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave
It's fare you well to a native country
The places I have loved so well
For I have seen all kinds of trouble
In this cruel world no tongue can tell
Maybe your friends think I'm a stranger
My face your'll never see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
The lyrics to The Stanley Brothers' song I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow tell the story of a man who has experienced trouble and hardship throughout his life. He says farewell to his home state of Kentucky, acknowledging that he has no pleasure in this life and feels bound to continue rambling without any help or friends. He leaves behind his true love, acknowledging that he will likely never see her again as he embarks on a journey on the Northern railroad. He acknowledges that he may die while traveling, and tells his loved ones to bury him in a deep valley where he may rest for many years, perhaps while they move on and find new love.
The song's somber tone is matched by its haunting melody, which is punctuated by the mournful wail of the slide guitar. The lyrics are a reflection of the hardships that many people face in life, particularly in the time period when the song was written. The constant struggle to survive and make a living, as well as the physical and emotional tolls of life on the road, are all themes that are touched on in this song. However, despite the hardship, there is still a sense of hope and faith in a better life beyond the grave, as the man promises to meet his lover again on God's golden shore.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a man of constant sorrow
I have faced endless hardships and heartaches throughout my life
I've seen trouble all my days
I have encountered difficulties and obstacles throughout my entire existence
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
I am saying goodbye to the place where I was born and raised
The place where I was born and raised
The location where I entered into this world and spent my formative years
For six long years I've been in trouble
I have spent a substantial amount of time enduring hardships and struggles
No pleasure here on earth I find
I cannot find enjoyment or contentment in this world
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I am destined to wander through this harsh world
I have no friends to help me now
I am currently without any companions or allies to offer aid
It's fare thee well my own true lover
I must bid farewell to my significant other
I never expect to see you again
It is unlikely that we will ever meet again
For I'm bound to ride that Northern railroad
I am destined to journey on the Northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train
It is a possibility that I may perish during my travels on this train
You can bury me in some deep valley
My body may be interred in a remote valley
For many years where I may lay
I may remain there for a significant period of time
Then you may learn to love another
Over time, you may develop feelings for someone else
While I am sleeping in my grave
During the time that I am deceased and buried
It's fare you well to a native country
I must bid farewell to my homeland
The places I have loved so well
The locations that hold a special place in my heart
For I have seen all kinds of trouble
I have experienced many forms of hardships
In this cruel world no tongue can tell
The world can be a harsh and unforgiving place beyond what words can convey
Maybe your friends think I'm a stranger
Perhaps your acquaintances perceive me as a foreigner
My face your'll never see no more
It is unlikely we will ever cross paths again and you will never see me again
But there is one promise that is given
However, there is one assurance that I can offer
I'll meet you on God's golden shore
We will reunite someday in a place of heavenly bliss
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ErokLobotomist
So glad O Brother Where Art Thou came out. It introduced me to an entire world of amazing music. Nobody else in my family really listened to this kind of music, but it really hits me in the heart strings.
@mgsocketawe4555
sooooo agreee, never heard of these songs befor that movie. and the origins are better as the movie
@RickRogued
Bob Dylan
@apa_plainjane
you know it, brother. I discovered some of it a little earlier, but nobody gets to me as deep as Dr. Ralph.
@shawnpruitt4670
I'm so happy I grew up in Kentucky home to bluegrass music
@dennisfish28
Me too.. this music (and all the music in Man of Constant Sorrow) just creates an emotion all it's own
@jetw9810
It's funny how a song of sorrow can make me happy.
@johnnyrebel55
As a Dutch countryboy from Holland and a hobby farmer riding westernhorses on my own ranch this music strikes like lightning in my hart. Listened it on my phone while working on the land with the tractor. Man of constant sorrow. Reconise something in that yes. I really love this pure music and that is not only because the have my frontname.
@michaeltoohey1385
Although we are separated by long sea voyages, commencing with the migration from Friesland, this music evokes a shared heritage dating back many centuries, I write this from New Zealand.
@gangoffour6690
Billy Strings carries the torch today. High, mighty and proud. Billy is great.