The Stanley Brothers (Carter Stanley, 1925-1966, and Ralph Stanley, 1927-20… Read Full Bio ↴The Stanley Brothers (Carter Stanley, 1925-1966, and Ralph Stanley, 1927-2016) were an American bluegrass duo originally hailing from Dickenson County, Virginia. The family soon moved to McClure, Virginia, where their parents worked a small farm in the Clinch Mountains. Music was a part of their lives from the word go, as they were able to listen to the likes of The Monroe Brothers, Mainer's Mountaineers, and other artists featured on the Grand Ole Opry radio program.

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 Walk
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics

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In a church on Sunday morning
Sat a man unwelcomed there
Judged by men and not by Jesus
Lifted up his voice in prayer

Steer me on the righteous pathway
Help me humbly to abide
Hold me to your precious bosom

Let me walk, Lord by your side

Several silent moments followed
Seemed that no one in the room
Then a voice it roared like thunder
Look for me I'm coming soon

Steer me on the righteous pathway
Help me humbly to abide
Hold me to your precious bosom
Let me walk, Lord by your side

Such a change I've never witnessed
Tear filled eyes were plainly shown
Gathered there around that stranger
Saying God bless you, welcome home

Steer me on the righteous pathway
Help me humbly to abide

Hold me to your precious bosom
Let me walk, Lord by your side

Overall Meaning

The Stanley Brothers's song Let Me Walk Lord By Your Side speaks of a man who feels unwelcomed in a church on a Sunday morning, judged by men rather than by Jesus. However, he lifts up his voice in prayer, asking to be steered on the righteous pathway and be held to the precious bosom of the Lord, to walk by His side. The man's plea for guidance on his spiritual journey seems to go unnoticed at first, with several silent moments following. However, a voice roars like thunder, promising the man that He is coming soon.

The song's message emphasizes the power of faith, prayer, and redemption. The man's humble plea for guidance and willingness to follow the righteous pathway connects him with the Lord, and he receives a warm welcome from the congregation, which recognizes his transformation. The song suggests that by walking with the Lord, one can find hope, healing, and acceptance.

Overall, The Stanley Brothers's song Let Me Walk Lord By Your Side portrays a powerful message of faith, redemption, and transformation. The lyrics highlight the importance of prayer and following the righteous pathway to connect with the Lord and find hope, healing, and acceptance.

Line by Line Meaning

In a church on Sunday morning
At a place of worship on a day of rest

Sat a man unwelcomed there
There sat a man who was not embraced

Judged by men and not by Jesus
He was being evaluated by his peers not the Savior

Lifted up his voice in prayer
He raised his voice to ask for help

Steer me on the righteous pathway
Guide me towards the morally correct course

Help me humbly to abide
Assist me in living with modesty

Hold me to your precious bosom
Embrace me with tenderness

Let me walk, Lord by your side
Permit me to travel alongside you

Several silent moments followed
A pause of silence consumed some time

Seemed that no one in the room
It appeared that nobody else occupying the space

Then a voice it roared like thunder
Out of nowhere came a voice that shook like lightning