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)
It's Alright If That's The Way You Feel
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 of The Stanley Brothers' song "If That's The Way You Feel" are about heartbreak and acceptance. The singer acknowledges that the person they love no longer loves them and has found someone else. They understand that their love was not genuine and that they cannot make them happy. However, the singer still feels attached to this person and wants them to stay, even though they know it is not practical. The lines "I still need you and I want you with me / But it's alright if that's the way you feel" show that the singer is trying to come to terms with the end of the relationship and is willing to accept the other person's decision.
The song also touches on the theme of betrayal. The line "I always knew some day I would lose you / When those lies about me were revealed" suggests that there were rumors or gossip about the singer that led the other person to lose trust in them. The singer is disappointed that their partner believed the lies and did not give them a chance to explain themselves. However, they ultimately accept that the relationship is over and that they must move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't blame you for I know you want him
I know you want someone else, so I understand why you don't want to be with me.
That your love for me was never real
You were never truly in love with me, so I can't expect you to stay.
I could hold you but you'd be unhappy
I could try to keep you with me, but I know you wouldn't be truly happy.
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
Even though it hurts, I accept your decision if that's how you truly feel.
I know that I will always go on caring
Even though we're not together, I will still care about you.
And my feelings now I must conceal
I will keep my emotions hidden, even though it's difficult.
I still need you and I want you with me
I still have feelings for you and wish we could be together.
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
Despite my wishes, I respect your decision and will try to move on.
I always knew some day I would lose you
I always had a feeling that you would leave me eventually.
When those lies about me were revealed
I think the lies that were spread about me had an impact on our relationship.
It's plain to see sweetheart you believe them
I can tell that you believe the lies, even though they're not true.
But it's alright if that's the way you feel
Even though it's based on false information, I understand why you feel the way you do.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PEGGY STANLEY BLAND, RALPH STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind