Carter Family Songs Titled G

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Back to the Carters songs!

Here are the 11 original Carter Family songs title with G: Gathering Flowers from the Hillside; Girl on the Greenbrier Shore; Give Him One More as He Goes; Give Me Roses While I Live; Give Me Your Love and I'll Give You Mine; Glory to the Lamb; God Gave Noah the Rainbow Sign; Gold Watch and Chain; Goodbye to the Plains; Gospel Ship; Grave on the Green Hillside;

Gathering Flowers from the Hillside is another song collected by Belden before the Carters 1935 recording. Some lyrics from Belden are:

"I've been gathering wild flowers on the hillside
To wreathe upon your brow.
But so long you've kept me waiting
They are dead and faded now."

Did A.P. Carter have access to published folk song collections? We may never know. The Carters traveled to NJ and NY and Peer probably knew about folk collections.

Gathering Flowers appears in the 1945 JOAFL as collected by Crabtree. The 1962 JOAFL says "Gathering Flowers from the Hillside" and "Charlie Brooks and Nellie Adair," are traditional.

Gathering Flowers From The Hillside- Carter Family

I've been gathering flowers from the hillside
To wreath around your brow
But you've kept me a-waitin' so long, dear
The flowers have all withered now

I know that you have seen trouble
But never hang down your head
Your love for me is like the flowers
Your love for me is dead

It was on one bright June morning
The roses were in bloom
I shot and killed my darling
And what will be my doom?

Closed eyes cannot see these roses
Closed hands cannot hold them, you know
And these lips that still cannot kiss me
Have gone from me forever more

"Girl on the Greenbrier Shore" is another traditional ballad arranged by the Carter Family. The Greenbrier River flows through the Cumberland area in Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia. It is sometimes called 'The Greenbrier Shore,' 'The Red River Shore,' 'New River Shore.' Note that "The Red River Shore" is an American cowboy variant of this ballad.

I'm not sure which version is the oldest but the ballad is probably derived from an English source. Dylan did the song 'The Greenbrier Shore' then changed it to 'The Red River Shore.' The Greenbriar Boys [Greenbriar Boys version is on Vanguard VRS-9104, LP (1962), trk# A.05] named their group after this song.The earliest reference I found was "Greenbrier Shore" in the 1910 "A Syllabus of Kentucky Folk-songs" By Hubert Gibson Shearin, Josiah Henry Combs.

Here's the lyrics from English Folk Songs in the Southern Appalachians, by Cecil Sharp. Some of teh lyrics are also found in other songs like The Wagoner's Lad. It was collected from Mrs. William C. Wooton, KY, 1917:

The Green Brier Shore

I am a lovely laddie and I can love long
I can love an old sweetheart till another one comes on;
I'll hug them and kiss them and keep them at ease
I'll turn my back upon them and court who I please.

At the foot of yon mountain, where fountains do flow,
Where green and wild lilies forever do grow,
I spied a fair damsel and her I adore;
I was forced to go and see her on the green brier shore.

I courted that damsel through love and good-will,
I courted that damsel, it witnessed to kill;
I courted that damsel full six months or more;
I was forced to go leave her on the green brier shore.

I had not been gone long till a letter was sent;
In the midst of that letter these few words were spelled:
Come back my own true love, it's you I adore,
And I will go with you from the green brier shore.

And when her old parents came this for to hear,
They swore they'd deprive her of her own dearest dear.
They selected an army, full twenty or more,
To fight her own true love on the green brier shore.

He drew his sword and pistol, they glistened around;
In a short length of time they fell to the ground.
Some he killed dead, and he wounded a score,
And he gained his own true love on the green brier shore.

So hard is the fortune of poor womankind;
They are always subjected and always confined,
And controlled by their parents till they are made wives,
Then they slave for their husbands all the rest of their lives.

GIRL ON THE GREENBRIAR SHORE Carter Family 1941 on Bluebird:

'Twas in the year of '92,
In the merry month of June,
I left my mother and a home so dear
For the girl I loved on the greenbriar shore.

My mother dear, she came to me
And said "Oh son, don't go, "
"Don't leave your mother and a home so dear
To trust a girl on the greenbriar shore.

"But I was young and reckless too,
And I craved a reckless life-
I left my mother with a broken heart
And I choosed that girl to be my wife

Her hair was dark and curly too
And her loving eyes were blue;
Her cheeks were like the red red rose
The girl I loved on the greenbriar shore.

The years rolled on and the months rolled by
She left me all alone
Now I remember what mother said
Never trust a girl on the greenbriar shore.

The Carter's 1940 song "Give Him One More as He Goes" comes from Ike Brown's "I'll give you One More as you go" in 1884. It was recorded as "My Sweetheart is A Sly Little Miss" by Walter Smith in 1930.

Give Him One More As He Goes- Carter Family

My sweetheart is a shy little miss
And one I fondly adore
And when you ask her for a kiss
She'll give you just one and no more

She'll give you just one and no more
She'll give you just one and no more
And when you ask her for a kiss
She'll give you just one and no more

Her dad was feelin old man
He always had a feelin for me
I can tell you when this feelin began
When his daughter I first went to see

I was bidding my sweetheart good night
In the usual manner you know
When a voice from the house said sic him Touse
And give him one more as he goes

And give him one more as he goes
And give him one more as he goes
When a voice from the house said sic him Touse
And give him one more as he goes

It was over the garden wall
In a manner I'll tell you not slow
He exclaimed with a swear and his foot smote the air
And I'll give him one more as he goes

And I'll give him one more as he goes
And I'll give him one more as he goes
He exclaimed with a swear and his foot smote the air
And I'll give him one more as he goes

"Give Me Roses While I Live" is a song by James Rowe lyrics, R. H. Cornelius music in 1925. The Carters recorded the song in 1933 and it is one of their popular songs:

GIVE ME THE ROSES WHILE I LIVE- Carter Family

Wonderful things of folks are said
When they have passed away
Roses adorn their narrow bed
Over the sleeping clay

Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless are flowers that you give
After the soul is gone

Let us not wait to do good deeds
Till they have passed away
Now is the time to sow good seeds
While here on earth we stay

Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless are flowers that you give
After the soul is gone

Kind words are useless when folks lie
Cold in a narrow bed
Don't wait till death to speak kind words
Now should the words be said

Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless are flowers that you give
After the soul is gone

Give me the roses while I live
Don't wait until I die
To spread the roses over my grave
To see as you pass it by

Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless are flowers that you give
After the soul is gone

"Give Me Your Love" by the Carters is "You Give Me Your Love [And I'll Give You Mine]" by L. A. Davis- lyrics and M. J. Fitzpatrick- music in 1902. Carters made the 4th recording in 1936.

GIVE ME YOUR LOVE AND I'LL GIVE YOU MINE- Carter Family

Just at the close of a bright summer day
Just as the twilight had faded away
Soft on the breeze like the coo of a dove
Someone was singing an old song of love

Tell me you love me and say you'll be true
I love nobody in this world but you
Your heart and my heart in love will entwine
Give me your love and I'll give you mine [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Come along with me to the quiet shady nook
Where flowers bloom at the side of a brook
Nature is sleeping, the birds are at rest
I'll place a wild rose on your beautiful breast

Tell me you love me and say you'll be true
I love nobody in this world but you
Your heart and my heart in love will entwine
Give me your love and I'll give you mine [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

I've something to ask you while you're by my side
A question of love, of groom and of bride
And if you refuse me, my heart it will pine
Give me your love and I'll give you mine

Tell me you love me and say you'll be true
I love nobody in this world but you
Your heart and my heart in love will entwine
Give me your love and I'll give you mine.

Glory to the Lamb possibly comes from Elmer Bird and the Kentucky Ramblers version in 1930. The Carters recorded theirs in 1935. It appears in a Hymn Collection titled the New Onward and Upward (Logansport, Indiana; Home Music Co.) around 1900.

GLORY TO THE LAMB- Carter Family

Oh glory oh glory oh glory to the lamb
Hallelujah I am saved and I'm so glad I am
Oh glory oh glory oh glory to the lamb
Hallelujah I am saved and I'm so glad I am

On Monday I am happy on Tuesday full of joy
Wednesday I've got the faith the devil cant destroy
On Thursday and Friday walking in the light
Saturday I've got the victory and Sunday's always bright

I fell in love with Jesus and he fell in love with me
That's the very reason I've got the victory
I'm happy when it's raining I'm happy when it shines
I'm happy now with Jesus I'm happy all the time

God Gave Noah the Rainbow Sign: is a traditional African-American Spiritual. Sara Carter Bays in one interview said it came from an African-American source. The song is an old spiritual usually named "I Got A Home the Rock." It reportedly was a slave song though I've not found an early source. It was printed and in circulation in the 1920s and 1930s. "Between Earth and Sky" is another title.

GOD GAVE NOAH THE RAINBOW SIGN Carter Family

I've got a home in that rock
Don't you see (don't you see)
I've got a home in that rock
Don't you see
I've got a home in that rock
Just beyond the mountaintop
Tide me over, Rock of Ages, cleft for me [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

God gave Noah the rainbow sign
Don't you see (don't you see)
God gave Noah the rainbow sign
Don't you see
God gave Noah the rainbow sign
No more water, but the fire next time
Tide me over, Rock of Ages, cleft for me

Old Lazarus, poor as I
Don't you see (don't you see)
Old Lazarus, poor as I
Don't you see
Old Lazarus, poor as I
When he died he had a home on high
Tide me over, Rock of Ages, cleft for me

East and West the fire will roll
Hide thou me (hide thou me)
East and West the fire will roll
Hide thou me
East and West the fire will roll
How will it be with my poor soul
Tide me over, Rock of Ages, cleft for me [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

When this world's all on fire
Hide thou me (hide thou me)
When this world's all on fire
Hide thou me
When this world's all on fire
Let thy bosom be my pillow
Tide me over, Rock of Ages, cleft for me

The chorus of "Gold Watch and Chain" is based on the Reuben's Train songs that include Nine Hundred Miles. The verses are based on the 1879 Westendorf song, "Is There No Kiss For Me Tonight, Love." You can see the sheet music at American Memory.

Ephraim Woodie & The Henpecked Husbands 1929 recording of the song titled "Last Gold Dollar" preceeded the Carters by four years. The New Lost City Ramblers also covered the song as "Gold Watch and Chain" (on NLCR13, NLCREP2).

GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN- Carter Family 1933

Darling, how can I stay here without you
I have nothing to cheer my poor heart
This old world would seem sad, love, without you
Tell me now that we're never to part

Oh, I'll pawn you my gold watch and chain, love
And I'll pawn you my gold diamond ring
I will pawn you this heart in my bosom
Only say that you love me again [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Take back all the gifts you have given
But a ring and a lock of your hair
And a card with your picture upon it
It's a face that is false, but it's fair

Oh, I'll pawn you my gold watch and chain, love
And I'll pawn you my gold diamond ring
I will pawn you this heart in my bosom
Only say that you love me again [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Tell me why that you do not love me
Tell me why that your smile is not bright
Tell me why you have grown so coldhearted
Is there no kiss for me, love, tonight

Oh, I'll pawn you my gold watch and chain, love
And I'll pawn you my gold diamond ring
I will pawn you this heart in my bosom
Only say that you love me again [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

Goodbye to the Plains is a western song. Tex Owens did a version for Bluebird called "Pals of the Prairie" a year before the Carters but his wasn't released. Pals of the Prairie was also the name of a silent movie western done in 1929.

Alan Lomax collected this song which seems to be the basis:

Good-by to my pals of the prairie,
Good-by to the cattle and the trail,
Good-by to the cards and the drinking,
Good-by to the prairies and the vale.

The original title applied to "Goodbye to the Plains" is "The Dying Cowboy of Rim Rock Ranch."
"The Dying Cowboy of Rim Rock Ranch"- No. 120, pp. 324-325, Austin E. and Alta S. Fife, 1969, "Cowboy and Western Songs, A Comprehensive Anthology." Tune for "The Dying Cowboy of Rim Rock Ranch" is "The Mule Song," a parody, Edward Harrigan and Dave Braham, pub. 1882 in one of their songsters. See Cazden et al., 1982, "Folk Songs of the Catskills," p. 400.

Austin E and Alta S. Fife had this to say about it: "This "Dying Cowboy" is a folkish bending of cowboy imagery to transcendental notions basic to the Christian faith. Life and salvation are for man what the roundup and trail drive are for the dogies. Note how the realistic range images of the first text get molded, in the second one, into the transcendental images of life and death.

Melody and Text A: Library of Congress #856B2, recorded by John A Lomax. Text B: Library of Congress, collected by John A. Lomax. The Carter version changes the chorus (with changes) to last verse, and uses little of the Lomax texts except the first line. The religiosity angle survives, but little else is the same.Probably an early (1920s) product of someone in the fledgling "cowboy church" which holds informal services at rodeos.

Goodbye To The Plains- Carter Family 1937

Goodbye to the pals of the prairie
Goodbye to the pals of the plains
Goodbye to the dash and the danger
Goodbye to the heartaches and pains [Instrumental]

Goodbye to my faithful old pony
Take care of him, boys, when I go
I'm riding away on life's roundup
Away to where the sun sinks low [Instrumental]

Goodbye to the hoof-rushing cattle
Goodbye to the clanking of spurs
Goodbye to the laugh and the chatter
Goodbye to the wildlife and steers

Goodbye to the dawning's first blushes
That spare in the east faintly glow
I'm riding away on life's roundup
Away to where the sun sinks low [Instrumental]

Goodbye to the girls and the boys
Goodbye to all of my friends
Goodbye to the dear girl, my sweetheart
For I know this is my end

For the pale rider comes with his summons
And I'm willing and ready to go
For I'm riding away on life's roundup
Away where the sun sinks low

Gospel Ship is a song done by the Carters in 1935 and later by the Monroes as "Old Gospel Ship." It is similar to "Have a Feast Tonight" in form and melody. Myron LeFerve's uncle Vestal was listed as the arranger of the first published versions of the song in 1939. According to the Leferve family the song had been sung for at least one generation and no one knew the authorship.

In the book "Turn Your Radio On" Vestal agreed to deed the song to The Happy Goodman's. The author says the song is a slave song brought from Africa (with no documentation). Since the Carters recording preceeded this the whole basis for the article, claims by the Vestals etc. seem meritless. The point is: the song was an old song known for many years (that was in the late 1930s). Alan Lomax collected the Old Gosel Ship in the 1930s (pub. in 1942). The problem is there are several spirituals and gospel songs called Gospel Ship.

THE OLD GOSPEL SHIP Sung by Ruby Vass, Hillsville, VA, coll. A. Lomax

Chorus: I'm goin' ta take a trip on that old gospel ship,
I am going far beyond the sky,
I'm goin' ta shout and sing till heavens ring,
Till I bid the world goodbye.

1) I have good news to bring and that is why I sing,
My joy with you I'll share.
I'm goin' ta take a trip in that old gospel ship
And go sailing through the air.

2) I can scarcely wait, I know I won't be late,
I'll spend my time in prayer,
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin,
And go sailing through the air."

A gospel song of the type that became popular around the turn of the century. It's earliest copyright claimant is Stamps/Baxter. The image of religion as a vessel sailing to heaven with a cargo of the faithful is a perennial favorite, occurring in old carols and modern songs alike." Notes to "The Gospel Ship Baptist Hymns & White Spirituals from the Southern Mountains," Alan Lomax, New World Records 80294.

GOSPEL SHIP- Carter Family 1935

I'm going to take a trip in that old gospel ship
I'm a-going far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing 'til heaven rings
When I bid this world goodbye

I have good news to bring, and that is why I sing
All my joys with you I'll share
I'm going to take a trip in that old gospel ship
And go sailing through the air

I can scarcely wait, I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailing through the air

If you are ashamed of me, you ought not to be
Yes, you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find, you will sure be left behind
While I'm sailing through the air

Grave on the Green Hillside is a song by Aldine Kieffer in 1875, published in the "New Starry Crown For The Sabbath School"(Singer's Glen, Virginia:Ruebush, Kieffer & Co. 1872); "Royal Proclamation" (Dayton, VA: A.S. Kieffer 1896); "Star of Bethlehem (Dayton, VA: Ruebush-Kieffer Co. 1889).

Aldine Silliman Kieffer (August 1, 1840 – November 30, 1904) was a leading 19th century proponent of shape note musical notation, music teacher and publisher. Kieffer was born near Miami, Saline County, Missouri. He died in Dayton, Virginia, and is buried there.

Kieffer was the grandson of Calstock musician Joseph Funk. After Funk's death, he and Ephraim Ruebush took over Funk's publishing company. With Ruebush and John W. Howe, Kieffer found­ed the Kief­fer, Rue­bush, & Company mu­sic company circa 1873, which was moved from Singer's Glen to Day­ton in 1878. Kieffer was ed­it­or of the Mu­sic­al Mil­lion and Fireside Friend periodical. The Musical Million, published from 1870 until 1914, was one of the leading tools promoting shape note music for almost a half century. One of Kieffer's most popular song books was The Temple Star, published at Singer's Glen in 1877. One of his most popular songs was his poem Twilight is Stealing, set to music by B. C. Unseld in 1877 and published in the Temple Star.


GRAVE ON THE GREEN HILLSIDE- Carter Family 1929

There's a little grave on the green hillside
That lies to the morning sun
And the wayworn feet often wander there
When the cares of the day are done

We sometimes sit in the twilight fall
And talk of a far off land
And I sometimes feel in the twilight there
The touch of a vanished hand

Grave on the green hillside
Grave on the green hillside
In the years to come we will calmly sleep
In a grave on the green hillside

And this land is full of these little graves
In the valleys, plains, and hills
There's an angel, too, for each little grave
An angel procession fills.

I know not how, but I sometimes think
That they lead us with gentle hands
And a whisper falls on a willing ear
From the shore of a far off land

Grave on the green hillside
Grave on the green hillside
In the years to come we will calmly sleep
In a grave on the green hillside [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

And these little graves are but wayside marks
That point to a far off land
And they speak to the soul of a better day
Of a day that's near at hand

Though we first must walk through this darksome veil
Yet Christ will be our guide
We will reach the shore of a far off land
Through a grave on a green hillside

Grave on the green hillside
Grave on the green hillside
In the years to come we will calmly sleep
In a grave on the green hillside