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)
Sweeter Than The Flowers
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll remain the rose of my heart
Mama fell sick along in December
February brought us broken hearts
The reason we've not called a family reunion
We knew that she wouldn't be there
But now that we've thought it all over Mama
Oh no I can't forget the hours your the only one Momma
And sweeter than the flowers
Oh no there's no use to bother
To speak of you now would only hurt Father
Oh no momma we'll never forget you
And someday we'll meet you up there
We all gathered round and I stared at their faces
All heads were bowed mighty low
But this was one time we all had to face it
Though it hurt us so badly you know
Well it looked so good to see us together
But I had to look after dad
Oh no Mother when I passed by your casket
I didn't want to remember you dead
The lyrics of The Stanley Brothers' song "Sweeter Than The Flowers" revolve around the theme of grieving for a beloved mother who has recently passed away. As the singer and his family gather around to mourn and pay tribute to their mother, the song reveals the depth of emotion that they feel about her untimely death. The singer recalls how his mother remained the "rose of his heart" for as long as he can remember, and how her passing has shattered their family's happiness. As they prepare to deal with their grief, the singer remembers the hours spent with his mother and how much she meant to him. Although it hurts to think about her now that she's gone, he knows that her spirit is always with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Just as far as I can remember
From the earliest memories I possess
She'll remain the rose of my heart
My love for her shall never fade
Mama fell sick along in December
Mother's health deteriorated around December
February brought us broken hearts
Mother's passing in February broke our hearts
The reason we've not called a family reunion
We didn't plan a reunion because we knew mother would not be there
We knew you're spirit is here
We realize that mother is present in spirit
Oh no I can't forget the hours your the only one Momma
I cannot forget the times we spent together, Mother
And sweeter than the flowers
Your presence was more beautiful and valuable than anything else
Oh no there's no use to bother
There is no point in discussing it now
To speak of you now would only hurt Father
It would cause harm to Father to talk about you at this time
Oh, no momma we'll never forget you
We will never forget you, Mother
And someday we'll meet you up there
We hope to be reunited with you in the afterlife
We all gathered round and I stared at their faces
We all came together and I looked at everyone's faces
All heads were bowed mighty low
Everyone was feeling deeply sad and mourning in their own way
But this was one time we all had to face it
We all had to confront and accept the reality of Mother's passing
Though it hurt us so badly you know
Even though it was very painful
Well, it looked so good to see us together
It was nice to see everyone come together
But I had to look after dad
I had to take care of my father
Oh no Mother when I passed by your casket
Oh, Mother, when I walked by your casket
I didn't want to remember you dead
I didn't want my last memory of you to be of your lifeless body at the funeral
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERVIN T. ROUSE, ERVIN THOMAS ROUSE, LOIS MANN, MORRY BURNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rodney Thompson
Absolutely love this song, Ralph Stanley was a brilliant picker and singer.
Walter Cassidy
Never another.
John Young
Carter Stanley singing lead.
Patrick Wall
Lovely version of this Moon Mullican song by the Stanley Brothers.
Ejay
Beautiful song.
Bill Brown
Very beautiful song and how true
Texas Soul
I played this at my moms funeral. I miss you so much.
The PinCushionMan
God bless you brother. We all get to go home one day, just no telling when where scheduled to walk through those golden gates.
Charles Bennett
I lost my father in 54 he was only 46 when he passed away I lost my mother 2002 she was 92 she the sweetest and love her Jesus i can say I had one of the best mother's that ever lived .R.I.P MOTHER
Charles Bennett
@Debj1951 am sorry for loss . I miss my Mother . We my two sisters always call her Mother. Lost my baby sister 4 years. But I have a sister left and when we get together it is a family reunion