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)
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the every lasting arms.
Chorus
Safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus,
Leaning on the every lasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the ever lasting arms.
Chorus
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the every lasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
Chorus
j.h. 6/7/10
The Stanley Brothers’s Gospel classic “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” is a song about finding solace and security in the arms of Jesus Christ. The lyrics express the singer’s undying faith and sense of contentment that comes from relying on the Lord. The opening verse talks about the joys that come from being in fellowship with Christ and leaning on His everlasting arms. The chorus serves as a reminder that trusting in Jesus brings safety and security in the midst of trials and tribulations. The second verse talks about the sweetness and brightness of walking with Christ on this pilgrimage of life. The final verse reassures that there is nothing to fear or dread because the Lord is always near.
The song speaks to the core of the Christian faith and the comfort that can be found through an unwavering faith in God. Through the lyrics, the singer conveys that the Lord is the ultimate source of strength and refuge when everything else fails. The song inspires a sense of hope and encouragement, especially in times of trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
Leaning on the ever lasting arms.
Relying on the eternal support of God.
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
The happiness and camaraderie experienced by relying on God's everlasting support is heavenly.
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
Continuously relying on God's eternal support.
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
By relying on God's everlasting support, I am blessed with contentment and tranquillity.
Chorus
Repeating the refrain of relying on Jesus for safe and secure protection.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
How delightful it is to continue on this spiritual journey while relying on God's everlasting support.
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
Continuous reliance on God's everlasting support is emphasized again.
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
By relying on God's everlasting support, the path becomes clearer and hope grows each day.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
When relying on God's everlasting support, there is nothing to be afraid of or be anxious about.
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
Emphasizing the theme of continuous reliance on God's everlasting support.
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Through continuous reliance on God's everlasting support, I have been gifted with a peaceful state of mind and spirit.
Leaning on the ever lasting arms;
The song reinforces the notion of consistently leaning on God's everlasting support.
Chorus
The refrain of relying on Jesus for safe and secure protection is repeated once more.
Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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I love that old time gospel song
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