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 Me Love You One More Time
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a love that really is mine
I've waited so long they say you've gone wrong
Have I lost you forever this time
We'll go down by the river
I'll ask you one last time
As the night breezes blow I'll whisper so low
Do you think that I'd believe
This talk that's going around
I've heard lots of things that somehow seem strange
But darling I wouldn't throw you down
I know that you're my weakness
I know you'll be my downfall
I'm not sorry we met and I'll never forget
That I gave you my heart soul and all
The Stanley Brothers's song "Could You Love Me" is a classic bluegrass tune that explores the feelings of someone who fears that their lover has left them for good. The singer laments that they have waited so long, and that they have heard rumors that their lover has gone astray. They ask their lover if they could love them one more time, with a love that is truly theirs. The singer also expresses their willingness to forgive their lover, stating that they wouldn't throw them down despite the rumors they’ve heard.
Throughout the song, it becomes clear that the singer has real feelings for their lover and is worried about losing them. They long to be by the river with their lover, whispering to them and asking for their love one last time. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, expressing the deep emotions felt by the singer.
The song is a great example of classic bluegrass music, with its upbeat tempo, tight harmonies, and use of traditional instruments such as the banjo, guitar, and mandolin. It is a tribute to the Stanley Brothers' skill as musicians and songwriters, and it remains a classic of the bluegrass genre to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you love me one more time
Asking the person if they could love them again.
With a love that really is mine
Asking for genuine love that belongs to the person.
I've waited so long they say you've gone wrong
Explaining that people are saying the person has done wrong and has been waiting for them for a long time.
Have I lost you forever this time
Questioning whether the person is lost forever this time.
We'll go down by the river
Going down to the river together.
I'll ask you one last time
Asking one final time for the person's love.
As the night breezes blow I'll whisper so low
Whispering softly as the night wind blows.
Could you love me one more time
Asking again if the person could love them again.
Do you think that I'd believe
Questioning whether they would believe what others say.
This talk that's going around
Referring to rumors that are being passed around.
I've heard lots of things that somehow seem strange
Confirming that they have heard a lot of strange things.
But darling I wouldn't throw you down
Insisting that they would not abandon the person.
I know that you're my weakness
Acknowledging that the person is their weakness.
I know you'll be my downfall
Recognizing that the person will be their downfall.
I'm not sorry we met and I'll never forget
Not regretting meeting the person and promising to never forget them.
That I gave you my heart soul and all
Giving the person all their heart and soul.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind