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)
Lonely Tombs
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When a voice from the tomb seemed to say
I once lived as you lived walked and talked as you talk
But from earth I was soon called away
Oh those tombs (oh those tombs) lonely tombs (lonely tombs)
Seemed to say in a low gentle tone
Oh how sweet (oh how sweet) is the rest (is the rest)
Every voice from the tomb seemed to whisper and say
Living man you must soon follow me
And I thought as I looked on those cold marble slabs
What a dark lonely place that must be
Then I came to the place where my mother was laid
And in silence I stood by her tomb
And her voice seemed to say in a low gentle tone
I am safe with my Savior at home
The Stanley Brothers’ “Lonely Tombs” depicts a man walking through a desolate graveyard where he hears voices from the tombstones. He hears a voice that once lived as he did, who also walked and talked like him but got taken away from Earth. The song then moves on to the chorus in which the tombs seem to say how sweet resting in heaven can be. The voices then call out to the living, warning them that they must soon follow them. The singer thought hard and imagined the dark, lonely place the tombs held, eventually reaching his mother’s grave, where he stood quietly. He heard his mother's voice in the tone of a low whisper claiming that she was safe with her savior in heaven.
The song symbolizes the inevitability of death and accepts that there is life after death. The somber tone of the graveyard and the imagery of death and darkness highlight the stark reality of our finite lives. The living are reminded to keep their affairs in order and to prepare themselves for the inevitable journey towards death, as we will all eventually join the inhabitants of the lonely tombs.
Line by Line Meaning
I was strolling one day in a lonely graveyard
I walked through a cemetery all alone, probably feeling sad or pensive.
When a voice from the tomb seemed to say
I heard something from one of the graves, which was creepy or unusual.
I once lived as you lived walked and talked as you talk
Someone buried in the cemetery was communicating that they had once been alive, and that their life mirrored the living person's life.
But from earth I was soon called away
The voice from beyond the grave was indicating that death had taken them, and they were no longer among the living.
Oh those tombs (oh those tombs) lonely tombs (lonely tombs)
The person walking through the cemetery was reflecting on the somber mood of the whole place.
Seemed to say in a low gentle tone
This next line is a continuation of the previous one, describing the overall feel of the atmosphere in the cemetery as sad and quiet.
Oh how sweet (oh how sweet) is the rest (is the rest)
The graves themselves, or the deceased buried within, were expressing relief and peace in their current state.
In our beautiful Heavenly home
The graves were communicating that their peace and rest have come from going to Heaven, a seemingly peaceful and beautiful place.
Every voice from the tomb seemed to whisper and say
All the graves in the cemetery were communicating a similar message, that death is inevitable and peace can be found in the afterlife.
Living man you must soon follow me
The graves were urging the living person to consider their own mortality and to prepare for their eventual death.
And I thought as I looked on those cold marble slabs
The person walking through the cemetery was reflecting on the cold, hard reality of death and the prospect of the same fate for themselves.
What a dark lonely place that must be
The person was feeling sympathetic toward the deceased and seeing the cemetery as a sorrowful place.
Then I came to the place where my mother was laid
The person walking through the cemetery discovered the grave of their mother, which likely increased their sense of melancholy.
And in silence I stood by her tomb
The person paused at the grave to pay their respects.
And her voice seemed to say in a low gentle tone
The person heard their mother's voice, which was likely imagined or a memory in their mind.
I am safe with my Savior at home
The voice was assuring the person that their mother was in a better place, and that her spirit was at rest with God.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GEORGE SHUFFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tim a
I was strolling one day in a lonely graveyard
When a voice from the tomb seemed to say
I once lived as you lived walked and talked as you talk
But from earth I was soon called away
Oh those tombs (oh those tombs) lonely tombs (lonely tombs)
Seemed to say in a low gentle tone
Oh how sweet (oh how sweet) is the rest (is the rest)
In our beautiful Heavenly home
Every voice from the tomb seemed to whisper and say
Living man you must soon follow me
And I thought as I looked on those cold marble slabs
What a dark lonely place that must be
Then I came to the place where my mother was laid
And in silence I stood by her tomb
And her voice seemed to say in a low gentle tone
I am safe with my Savior at home
Larry Eaton
Carter Stanley's voice was amazing.
Samandrosa jones
Such a beautiful song and sung by the Best !!
LoveFlatfootin1
My new favorite song. I love this! The Stanley Brothers' harmonies are wonderful. I've been studying bluegrass for several years, but never heard this one. Thank you for sharing this on YouTube.
tim a
I was strolling one day in a lonely graveyard
When a voice from the tomb seemed to say
I once lived as you lived walked and talked as you talk
But from earth I was soon called away
Oh those tombs (oh those tombs) lonely tombs (lonely tombs)
Seemed to say in a low gentle tone
Oh how sweet (oh how sweet) is the rest (is the rest)
In our beautiful Heavenly home
Every voice from the tomb seemed to whisper and say
Living man you must soon follow me
And I thought as I looked on those cold marble slabs
What a dark lonely place that must be
Then I came to the place where my mother was laid
And in silence I stood by her tomb
And her voice seemed to say in a low gentle tone
I am safe with my Savior at home
Peggy Knauf
Beautiful song I love the Stanley brothers
Otis Whittington
My mom used to sing this many many years ago....around WW2 time. Her and dad knew Billy Golden and remembered his death. Billy's songs live on.
Bill Brown
Great song
David S
Few songs reach me as deeply as this one. I'll be glad when it's my turn.
Richard Mullins
RIP Carter and Ralph I spend a many a hour playing your beautiful songs but we cant go back but how I wish we could
Dale Jr
The best