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)
Love Me
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take your arms hold me tight
Tommorrow you may hold another
Love me, darling just tonight
Try to find true love in your heart
Tommorrow we may not have to part
But if you feel you must leave me
* Refrain
You say tommorrow you are leavin'
I hope you know this way is wrong
I pray to God you won't leave me
Love me, darling just tonight
* Refrain
The Stanley Brothers' song "Love Me Darling Just Tonight" is a poignant song about a man begging his lover to love him just for one night, as he fears that their relationship may not last forever. The lyrics express the desire to hold onto love, even if it's only temporary, and the fear of losing it. The first verse asks the lover to take their arms and hold the singer tight, knowing that tomorrow they may hold another. The second verse urges the lover to try and find true love in their heart, in hopes that they may not have to part tomorrow. However, if leaving is inevitable, the singer pleads to be loved for just one more night.
The repetition of the refrain reinforces the sentiment of the song, highlighting the desperation of the singer to hold onto their love, even if it's not meant to last. The third verse shows the singer's vulnerability as they admit to praying that their lover won't leave, further emphasizing the importance of love, even if it's fleeting.
Overall, "Love Me Darling Just Tonight" is a song that captures the ephemeral nature of love, the fear of losing it, and the desperate desire to hold onto it for even just one more night.
Line by Line Meaning
Love me, darling just tonight
Asks the partner to love and hold them on this one night only, as they may not have the same opportunity again
Take your arms hold me tight
Requests the partner to embrace them in a tight hug
Tomorrow you may hold another
Acknowledges the possibility of the partner finding someone else the next day
Love me, darling just tonight
Repeats the first line to emphasize the desire for the partner's love in the present moment
Try to find true love in your heart
Urges the partner to search deep within themselves for genuine love and affection
Tomorrow we may not have to part
Expresses hope that they can continue their relationship beyond this one night
But if you feel you must leave me
Allows for the possibility of the partner needing to end things
Love me, darling just tonight
Reiterates the main plea for love on this night only
You say tomorrow you are leaving
Acknowledges the partner's intention to leave
I hope you know this way is wrong
States disagreement with the partner's decision to leave
I pray to God you won't leave me
Expresses a deep desire for the partner to stay
Love me, darling just tonight
Concludes with the final plea for love on this one night only
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: M MALONE, RUBY RAKES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danieldlara1061
Beautiful song, I love bluegrass
@johnyoung468
Bernice Atkins This song was written by Ruby Rakes and M.H.Malone. As you probably know,Ruby is a half sister to Carter and Ralph.
They are ALL gone now,but never forgotten.
@williammccloud5579
John Young true very true
@arthurogle7581
We had a banjer player in our group. He thot Stanley Bros too raw and too country. BothStanley Bros stayed with their SW Va music.
Our banjer player hung up his RB250 and walked away. But he played "Daybreak in Dixie" really well. He was a fan of Bill Emerson.
@kminto8
Americans sing sad poems brightly.
Japanese singers is singing but I feel more sad. Laugh. Tomorrow is another person. There is no such sad night. I am Japanese but I like American songs. Especially bluegrass.
@brianbaker5757
good song
@williammccloud5579
Brian Baker yes it is
@lennartsjostrom3167
Stanley Bros on King. Can it be better???
@berniceatkins4500
Did Carter write this one.
@williammccloud5579
So sad how alcohol effects people