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)
The White Dove
The Stanley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a place that I love so well
Where I spent many days of my childhood
In the cabin where we loved to dwell
White dove will mourn in sorrow
The willows will hang their heads
I'll live my life in sorrow
We were all so happy there together
In our peaceful little mountain home
But the Savior needs angels up in heaven
Now they sing around the great white throne
As the years roll by I often wonder
If we will all be together someday
And each night as I wander through the graveyard
Darkness finds me as I kneel to pray
The White Dove is a song that captures the melancholic emotions of the singer who is deeply saddened by the loss of his parents. It is set in the deep rolling hills of old Virginia, which is a place that he loves so well and where he spent many days of his childhood. The singer wistfully recounts the happy times he shared with his family in their peaceful mountain home, where they lived in a cabin. However, the dark cloud of death hangs over the cabin as the white dove mourns in sorrow and the willows hang their heads. The singer is resigned to living his life in sorrow since his mother and father have passed away.
The deep sense of loss and longing for the familial love that has been taken away by death is further highlighted by the reference to the angels that have been summoned to the great white throne by the Savior. The singer is deeply struck by the hopelessness of his situation and the inevitability of death. As the years roll by, he questions if they will all be reunited someday, and each night, he wanders through the graveyard, seeking solace and praying for a better future.
Overall, The White Dove is a poignant and moving depiction of the deep sense of loss and sorrow that can accompany death. It captures the melancholic emotions of the singer as he grapples with the reality of death and the hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
In the deep rolling hills of old Virginia
In the rolling hills of Virginia, with its numerous mountains.
There's a place that I love so well
There is a place that I deeply cherish.
Where I spent many days of my childhood
I spent a lot of time there when I was young.
In the cabin where we loved to dwell
In that cabin, where we found happiness and peace.
White dove will mourn in sorrow
The white dove will express its grief and sadness.
The willows will hang their heads
The willow tree branches will bow downward.
I'll live my life in sorrow
I will live the rest of my life with deep sadness.
Since mother and daddy are dead
Since my parents have passed away.
We were all so happy there together
We experienced great joy and happiness when we were all together.
In our peaceful little mountain home
In our small, peaceful mountain residence.
But the Savior needs angels up in heaven
However, the Lord requires angels in heaven.
Now they sing around the great white throne
Now they have joined the angels in praising God on His great throne.
As the years roll by I often wonder
As time passes, I contemplate.
If we will all be together someday
If we will ever be reunited.
And each night as I wander through the graveyard
Every evening, when I stroll through the cemetery.
Darkness finds me as I kneel to pray
I am engulfed in darkness as I kneel in prayer.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARTER STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericjones8176
This is the saddest song I will ever hear, and will sing it at my parent's funerals. It is a wonderful song filled with hope! God blessed you Carter Stanley with writing this song that gave fulfillment to everyone that loses someone.
@18winsagin
My older brother passed this January 28th at 69, he was Ralphs biggest fan, I'll play Angel Band when I scatter his ashes on Spruce Knob in west Virginia where he came into the world at his request.
RIP big brother, I'll never let your memory leave me and I will remember all that you taught me about life, you had a hard earthly life but now you're at peace with Jesus at the right hand of the father that sits on that Throne that is whiter than snow.
@mariemccarter6412
I was raised on these songs, My Mom would sing with us, The Stanley Bros, were great, God bless everyone🙏🙏❤
@10rninjariderzx
This song makes me want to go home. That home no longer exists. Everyone has passed on.
@nadinestacy1287
Rest in peace ralph and Carter you all left so much good music behind thanks so much rest in peace
@XLRmusic2
A perfect song. Absolutely perfect.
@trevortomah8508
Out standing musicianship, thanks for the share.
@samlowery279
Very beautiful song
@rashelleT4
Thank you for posting. This is the best version of the song.
@totolily5434
They are a National Treasure. RIP!