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)
Let
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't see why we had to part
But there's no reason now to stay
For I was only in your way
Oh how I long to see your face
Tho' there's someone in my place
Or just to hear your voice again
I played the game of love and lost
My broken heart has paid the cost
And now that I am free to go
Somehow sweet heart I miss you so
Oh, how I long to see your face
Tho' there's someone in my place
Or just to hear your voice again
Darling why not part the best of friends
You say that you are happy now
I'll try to forget the past some how
But if your new love turns you down
Remember me, I'm still around
Oh, how I long to see your face
Tho' there's someone in my place
Or just to hear your voice again
Darling why not part the best of friends
The Stanley Brothers’ song, Let, is a blend of heartbreak and longing for a lost love. The song speaks about the singer’s inability to come to terms with the separation from a woman he loved dearly. Every night, he dreams of her, unable to understand why they had to part ways. Though he acknowledges that he was merely in her way, he cannot resist wanting to see her once again. He misses her voice and presence, and he wonders if they could maybe part on good terms and be the best of friends.
Despite having played love’s game and lost, the singer remains hopeful. His heart was broken, the cost paid, yet he remains open to the possibility of new love. He pleads with her to remember him if her new love turns her down, telling her that he is still around. The song paints a picture of a man who is willing to let go of the past and move on, but at the same time, he cannot help but hold on to a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could rekindle their love.
Overall, The Stanley Brothers' song, Let, is a touching piece that captures the emotions of lost love and the longing for a former lover. It is a beautiful song that is relatable to many who have experienced heartbreak and separation from those they loved.
Line by Line Meaning
Each night I dream of you sweet heart
Despite the pain caused by our separation, I still think of you fondly and often dream of you.
I can't see why we had to part
I am confused and unable to understand why we had to go our separate ways.
But there's no reason now to stay
Even though I miss you, there is no point in holding on to the past and prolonging the pain.
For I was only in your way
I realize now that I may have been obstructing your happiness and it was best for us to part ways.
Oh how I long to see your face
My desire to be with you is still strong and I yearn to see you again.
Tho' there's someone in my place
Though someone else may have taken my spot in your life, my feelings for you have not changed.
Or just to hear your voice again
Hearing your voice, even if just for a moment, would bring me great comfort.
Darling why not part the best of friends
Rather than being enemies, we should part on amicable terms as the best of friends.
I played the game of love and lost
I took a chance on love, but unfortunately it did not work out for me.
My broken heart has paid the cost
The pain and heartache caused by our separation has left me with a broken heart.
And now that I am free to go
Even though I'm free to move on, I still feel emotionally attached to you.
Somehow sweet heart I miss you so
Despite everything, I still miss you deeply and my feelings for you have not faded away.
You say that you are happy now
Although we are no longer together, I am glad to hear that you have found happiness.
I'll try to forget the past some how
I will try my best to let go of the past and move on from our relationship.
But if your new love turns you down
If the person you're with now doesn't love you back, remember that I am still here for you.
Remember me, I'm still around
Despite our separation, I still care for you and am available if you need me.
Darling why not part the best of friends
Rather than being enemies, we should part on amicable terms as the best of friends.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CARTER STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindasteenbergen8367
We all need to buckle down in our Faith and hearts and let the church roll on
@351lrs
The best ever gospel...the Stanley Brothers.
@berniceatkins4500
We need to apply this today more than ever
@maryplaidy6814
Outstanding!
@berniceatkins4500
Very true words
@edwardfox7635
It is too bad that Carter couldn't stay out of the sauce because he was one of the finest singers who was ever lived. But no one had a voice like Ralph