Larry Sparks – Carter’s Blues – Shriners Bluegrass Festival 2014 (With Lyrics)

Larry Sparks at the Carter County Shrine Bluegrass Festival in 2014

Also included here are several other versions of Carter’s Blues along with the lyrics. I found it really interesting how Carter’s Blues sounded from different voices. I like the rough sounding original Carter Family recording. I also like how Larry Sparks does it. Zeb Snyder plays it with a jazzy bluesy feel and it sounds great. Think of how differently a lot of our music is being performed over the years. Sometimes the change is good, sometimes it compliments, other times it seems as though something is lost. In this case, with Carter’s Blues, I think it all balances out well. I have been digging on YouTube and have found that I like every version I’ve heard,

Compare Larry’s version of Carter’s Blues with this one:

Carter’s Blues the Lyrics

As I woke up one morning fair
To view the fields and take the air
For to view the fields and the meadows around
I thought I heard some mournful sound
I thought I heard my true love say
“Oh, do turn and come this way”

Yodel-ay-ee, oh-lay-ee, ay-oh-lay-ee

You love some other, you don’t love me
You care not for my company
You love some other, and I know why
Because he has more gold than I
But gold will melt and silver will fly
My love for you will never die

Yodel-ay-ee, oh-lay-ee, ay-oh-lay-ee

[Instrumental break]

There is a flower, I’ve heard them say
That can be seen from day to day
And if that flower I only could find
To cure this aching heart of mine

Yodel-ay-ee, oh-lay-ee, ay-oh-lay-ee

[Instrumental break]

So fare you well, my charming little love
Oh, meet me in that land above
And when we meet there in that land
We’ll take no more this parting hand

Yodel-ay-ee, oh-lay-ee, ay-oh-lay-ee

And check out this great version by Zeb Snyder:

Here is one more rendition of Carter’s Blues

Josh Graves & Red Taylor – Carter’s Blues – 1983