Can the circle be unbroken - The Carter Family

[dmoor10]

Does any one who listens to music like this go to kennedale isd schools?

Just wanna know if there are anymore people like me, who life near me.

[LoneWolve74]

Great Song.

[livefastdierrhea]

People were alot more spiritually connected and knew more about what Jesus did for us back then.

[Addiskrilla]

Is this a contribution song? Sounds like it

[raynbo7]

This song always brings me 2 tears. Always makes me think of my Grandma & my own Mother. My Mom was only 2 yrs. old when this song was recorded.  Interesting. Yes, there definitely is a better home awaitin'. Amen.

[zingo530]

THIS IS MUSIC AT IT´S BEST!!!!!!!!

[bharatnair15]

Thumbs up if you came here to hear the song that played in the BioShock Infinite Trailer.

[Gleantheword]

AMEN!!!! 

[Longhand615]

I am a writer, and I've been trying to figure out a way to depict the dying cowboy in my local Wyoming. Struggled with it for months, and one listen to this made it all come together. You can't imagine that feeling.

[faiiirytale1]

I'm doing a paper on country music,

and I've just stepped into such an amazing world =)

[ajweberman]

can the circle jerk be unbroken

[shannonsled]

this is the song my mother loved with all her heart, she ask me to play it for her when she passed away and that i did, i love this song too...

[JackRyan011]

i bet within a day or two theres gunna be another ________ brought me here raid =_=

[luisdramon]

BIOSHOCK

teachin young ones good old music

[nholt]

This songs gives me chills. It is the song by which all other songs can trace their roots.

[eevee2tails]

im so proud to be related to them :D

[seekoober]

3 people had their HEADS broken!!

:D

[carolinabasketball21]

I so wish this type of music was mainstream today. The vocals were all natural and had meaning.

[TheWildhound]

again and again and again...

[Blueslady91]

I know I'm a blues gal, but I have always loved this song, and matter of fact, I have this album....and have always loved this song.....I guess my roots are showing AND I NOT TALKING ABOUT MY HAIR!

[hatfm]

I remember my dad playing this for me. I will never stop missing him. :(

[stanibol]

This is the song to play as your party winds down a little after midnight with the few warming their hands by the fire gaining their second wind. Love it.

[TurnersTwoCents]

One of THE all-time BEST, most touching country gospel songs EVER! Praise Him for His promise -- sometimes, that's all we have to carry us through! Joy through tears... Amen!

[wwvsquirrel]

i grew up listening to the real country music and this is one of the best ever. i still tear up when i listen to it. my mother passed in 06 and these words hold true to the last time i would see her and god knows i didnt want her to go. thanks a bushel. BLESS YOU

[MatT55369]

2 peoples circle was broken

[vashonjeff]

Thank You for this...

[MarthaH605]

Love this. Beautiful song and touching photos. Thanks.

[craps2010]

Great song.

[eddie100]

There are circles that need to be broke. Only the good circle is right. Tell that other circle it is not right. If it doesn't believe time will tell.

[PrideofWhitey]

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure this was originally a traditional colored slave song.

[moominpic]

@PrideofWhitey "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" is a popular Christian hymn written by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel. "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)" is the title of a country/folk song reworked by A. P. Carter from the hymn "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. (wikipedia) The lyrics of the original are different, although the chorus is the same.

[williamanesbitt]

Listening to this gives you an understanding why so many of the old-timers are bad about breaking time. I grew up listening to bands like the Beatles and other pop bands that kept strict 4/4 time. The old-timers just metered the song however the words fell into place for them. Or it might be that they intentionally left out beats to get all the words in in 3 minutes.

[GoldinDr]

@williamanesbitt So you're suggesting that Maybelle Carter didn't know how to keep a 4/4 beat? I'm gonna go with the theory that the Carter Family produced exactly the rhythms they wanted.

[williamanesbitt]

@GoldinDr I'm not "suggesting" anything. I'm saying exactly what you're saying. Nowhere in my comment did I say they "didn't know how" to do anything. Sorry if you got that impression. 

[dearbornsavoy]

@williamanesbitt - "The old-timers just metered the song however the words fell into place for them. " That's not really it. There are many songs in the old tradition with composite meter. It's completely intentional in most cases and serves as a hook. Maybelle always knew exactly what she was doing. An early master and innovator of rhythm-lead playing, her original style is fundamental to the whole of country and folk music.

[williamanesbitt]

@dearbornsavoy Somewhere along the way, some guitarist out there stopped breaking time and started playing with consistent meter. That person was the innovator.

[dearbornsavoy]

@williamanesbitt - The Carters aren't "breaking time" in this song; it's an intentional use of composite meter to create a hook in the song. This device just fell out of favor a long time ago.

[williamanesbitt]

@dearbornsavoy I never said it was unintentional. They simply didn't place high value on not breaking time. I'm sure they could have learned to play in standard meter all the time if they had wanted to. And, yes, it is "breaking time" when you add/delete beats to an otherwise standard meter song. I never said it was a bad thing. You just have to memorize where the time breaks are if you wish to play along.

[dearbornsavoy]

@williamanesbitt - You're implying that it's both intentional ("I never said it wasn't") and a mistake or an oversight ("They didn't place high value on not breaking [ie keeping] time"). They're employing composite time, an extra 2-count in a 4/4 song. It's not "breaking" time anymore than Thelonious Monk using a 6/7 phrase in a 6/13 song. It's not some blues farmer dude just running all over the place. It's a standard device in oldtime and bluegrass.

[williamanesbitt]

@dearbornsavoy What is a 6/7 phrase? What is a 6/13 song? Six thirteenth notes per measure?

[dearbornsavoy]

@williamanesbitt , my mistake, I meant 7/6 and 13/6.

[broken111108]

@x0x0ke lol. no, we just moved here two years ago. what's there to do around here? my name's Cody, BTW. :P

[colerie1974]

This song has been sung at almost every funeral in my moms family that I can remember! It's a classic!

[utrapzab]

spacemen 3 did the best cover of this ive ever heard

[marciegl11]

Yes, this Circle Will Be Unbroken redition is the most revered song to the Opry.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

This is classic and real Country Music.

George Vreeland Hill

[Nerdkelsojo]

I love love the carter family and am happy to live in the town where they got famous Bristol!

[x0x0ke]

@Nerdkelsojo Same here! Well..Kingsport..close enough! haha.

[broken111108]

@x0x0ke Haha... I live in Kingsport, too. :P

[x0x0ke]

@broken111108 This is the first time I have talked to someone from Kingsport on youtube. lol. :)

[broken111108]

@x0x0ke haha. too cool. I live over by the old walmart; you?

[x0x0ke]

@broken111108 I live in Colonial Heights. Did you go to DB? I graduated from South (which sucked btw, lol) in 2008.

[BgMsDangerus]

@broken111108 Have you ever heard of Leesburg, "a community" on 11E between Jonesboro (which is how it was spelled when I was there) and Greeneville? Lived there from birth to age 7. Tried to go back once and found out I couldn't. The only thing left was Devault's Tavern. Even the store, which sat at the crossroad at the one and only stop sign wasn't there. My sister and I sang this song over and over and over while my Mother played guitar. Lord would I like to have my Mom back.

[cockshutt570]

This song reminds me of my Dad no one ever scraficed more their family than he did for us.Died in 04 still miss him terribly.

[dominotia826]

@cockshutt570 It reminds me of my mom too. Died in 09.

I miss her so badly.

[rrtodd95]

My Uncle played at the Grand Ole Opry in the late 70's early 80's and he used to tell me that this song was the holy grail at the Opry.

All the musicians would get together and play this at the close of the night and most nights someone would burst into tears.

I can see why.

[yourethinkingofsomeo]

@rrtodd95 ...dude, thats an awesome story.

[piolhita9]

@rrtodd95 what a story! o:

[grublet13]

@rrtodd95 I almost burst into tears every time I listen to it.

[harkoran]

you guys are right, they recorded it and no one released this little piece of heaven until years later.

[curt8789]

There were only a few of the original '27 tracks that came out immediately. "Can the Circle" was canned and later re-recorded and came out around '35.

[musicman1493]

Yea, 1935 is what I have too.

[gelorza08]

the appalachian mountains at its best!

[eX1771]

Thanks for the post, need to listen for a history of rock course. although my textbook says it was recorded in 1935 not 27.

[little6917]

@eX1771

my textbook also says 1935

[MeghanLinn13]

This is just what I was looking for. Thanks.