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)
If That
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That your love for me was never real
I could hold you but you'd be unhappy
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
I know that I will always go on caring
And my feelings now I must conceal
I still need you and I want you with me
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
When those lies about me were revealed
It's plain to see sweetheart you believe them
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
The lyrics to The Stanley Brothers' song "If That" speak to a sense of resignation and acceptance in the face of a failed love. The singer acknowledges that his love for his partner was not reciprocated, and that she seeks love and affection elsewhere. Despite still having feelings for her, he realizes that holding onto her would only bring her unhappiness. This acceptance of the inevitable is conveyed in the line, "But it's alright if that's the way you feel." The singer's emotions are complex, however, as he also acknowledges his ongoing feelings for her with, "I still need you and I want you with me" and "I will always go on caring."
The song speaks to the experience of heartbreak and the realization that love cannot be forced. The singer acknowledges the reality of the situation, even though it is painful, and tries to move on. This sense of acceptance and resignation is encapsulated in the song's refrain, which repeats the line, "But it's alright if that's the way you feel."
Line by Line Meaning
I don't blame you for I know you want him
I understand that you have feelings for someone else and don't blame you for it.
That your love for me was never real
I acknowledge that your love for me was not true.
I could hold you but you'd be unhappy
Even if I could have you, I know that you would not be happy with me.
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
I accept and respect your emotions and decisions.
I know that I will always go on caring
I will continue to have feelings for you and care about you.
And my feelings now I must conceal
However, I will have to hide my emotions from you.
I still need you and I want you with me
I still have a desire to be with you and need you in my life.
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
I respect your decision even if it hurts me.
I always knew some day I would lose you
I had a feeling that I would eventually lose you.
When those lies about me were revealed
I knew that when the rumors and lies about me surfaced, it would affect your feelings towards me.
It's plain to see sweetheart you believe them
It's clear that you have faith in those lies and rumors about me.
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
I understand and accept that you believe those lies, even if it's not true.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PEGGY STANLEY BLAND, RALPH STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind