The Carter Family was one of the first famous country music groups in the U.S., starting in the 1920s. Their music consisted of simple songs about life, love, and family.
They helped shape the sound of early country music with songs like Wildwood Flower and Keep on the Sunny Side. They recorded hundreds of songs and became known for their clear voices and strong storytelling.
The group was later added to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2005, they received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their lasting influence on American music and country traditions.
About the Song
East Virginia Blues is about unrequited love and longing. The singer falls for a beautiful woman but cannot win her heart. The song expresses deep sadness, heartache, and the pain of seeing someone you love with another person.
| Details | Infomation |
|---|---|
| Album | Longing for Old Virginia: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1934) (1998) |
East Virginia Blues Lyrics by The Carter Family
Verse
I was born in East Virginny
North Carolina I did go
There I spied a fair young lady
And her age I do not know
Her hair was dark in colour
Her cheeks were rosy red
Upon her breast she wore white lilies
Where I longed to lay my head
Oh, at my heart you are my darling
At my door you’re welcome in
At my gate I’ll always meet you
For you’re the girl I’ve tried to win
I’d rather be in some dark holler
Where the sun refuse to shine
Than for you to be another man’s darling
And to know you’ll never be mine
Similar Songs Like East Virginia Blues
The Carter Family’s old-style songs still touch people today. If East Virginia Blues caught your ear, these songs will too.
- Wildwood Flower: Opens with soft strings, offering a sweet tune about love, lost chances, and memories that stay strong over the years.
- Keep On the Sunny Side: Starts with hope, telling people to look for the bright side, even when life feels dark and full of trouble.
- Can the Circle Be Unbroken: Tells a family story through music, with strong feelings and simple words about life, loss, and the hope of meeting again.
- I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes: Right away, the title shows this is a song about missing someone, sung with feeling and soft guitar in the background.
Similar Artists Like The Carter Family
If you love their simple music and strong family harmonies, these artists will bring you a similar classic sound.
- Jimmie Rodgers
Genres: Country, Folk
Top Albums: The Singing Brakeman (1930), My Rough and Rowdy Ways (1933) - Hank Williams
Genres: Country, Honky Tonk
Top Albums: Moanin’ the Blues (1952), Memorial Album (1953) - Bill Monroe
Genres: Bluegrass, Country
Top Albums: Bluegrass Special (1958), Knee Deep in Bluegrass (1958) - The Stanley Brothers
Genres: Bluegrass, Country
Top Albums: The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys (1959), Hymns and Sacred Songs (1960) - Doc Watson
Genres: Folk, Bluegrass
Top Albums: Doc Watson (1964), Southbound (1966), Memories (1975)
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Radio Help Spread East Virginia Blues?
Border radio stations with powerful signals broadcast Carter Family songs across North America in the 1930s.
How did the Great Depression Affect the Popularity of East Virginia Blues?
The song’s themes of hardship connected strongly during the depression, boosting its popularity.
How has East Virginia Blues been Preserved in Music Archives?
The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian have preserved original recordings and documented the song’s history.
