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Circle be Unbroken/Can the Circle be Unbroken (Carter Family); Will The Circle be Unbroken
Traditional Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel version based on Ada R. Habershon and Charles Gabriel's melody and chorus. Widely known USA;
ARTIST: Richard Matteson; Youtube
Circle Be Unbroken Bluegrass Messengers Live http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyK7eWLdgtc
TAB for basic solo [upcoming]:
CATEGORY: Traditional Bluegrass Gospel;
DATE: 1907- Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel;
RECORDING INFO: Will the Circle Be Unbroken [Me III-F115] - Habershon, Ada R./Gabriel, Charles
Rt - Family Circle ; Can the Circle Be Unbroken
Rm - Lay My Burden Down ; Deep Shady Grove ; When I Lay My Burden Down
Mf - Lord I'm Discouraged
Traum, Happy (ed.) / Flat-Pick Country Guitar, Oak, Sof (1973), p 19
Wernick, Peter (ed.) / Bluegrass Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976), p 97
Visconti, Carl (ed.) / Paint Creek Folklore Society Song Tune Book, Paint Creek, Sof (1986), p35
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Hootenanny Tonight!, Gold Medal Books, sof (1964), p 99 (Can the Circle Be Unbroken)
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p 98
Silverman, Jerry / Folk Guitar - Folk Song, Scarborough Book, Sof (1983/1977), p170 (Can the Circle Be Unbroken)
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), p 52 (Can the Circle Be Unbroken)
Barenberg, Russ / Teach Yourself Bluegrass Guitar, Amsco, Sof (1978), p18
Abe and Malka. Mandelblatt, Abe & Malka A. / 100 Guitar Accompanyments, Amsco, Sof (1974), p178
Allen, Red (Harley). Classic Recordings 1954/69, Collectors Classics No. 21, LP (197?), trk# B.05 [1963/10]
Alterman, Ned; and Richie Mintz. Alterman, Ned; and Richie Mintz / Bluegrass Bass, Oak, sof (1977), p18
Blue Sky Boys. Presenting The Blue Sky Boys, JEMF 104, LP (1965), trk# 12
Browns Ferry Four. 16 Greatest Hits, Gusto SD-3017, LP (1977/1940s), trk# 16 [1946ca]
Browns Ferry Four. Bluegrass Bonanza., Properbox 29, CD (2001), trk# 3.06 [1946]
Byrd, Robert (Senator). Mountain Fiddler, County 769, LP (1978), trk# 14
Campbell, Blind James; and his Nashville Street.... Blind James Campbell and his Nashville Street Band, Arhoolie 1015, LP (1962), trk# A.04
Carl and Don, The Skyline Pals. Songs for Mom and Dad, Skyline DD 104, LP (1973), trk# A.01
Carter Family. Original Carter Family in Texas - Vol 1, Old Homestead OHCS 111, LP (1978), trk# 7
Carter Family. Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof (1959), 11, p63 (Can the Circle Be Unbroken)
Carter Family. Country & Western Classics, Time-Life Records TLCW-06, LP (1982), trk# 1.04 [1935/05/06] (Can the Circle Be Unbroken)
Carter, Maybelle (Mother Maybelle). Will the Circle Be Unbroken, United Artists UAS 9801, LP (1972), trk# 36
Cascade Country. Something Different, Voyager VRLP 318-S, LP (1976), trk# 16
Cline, Curly Ray. My Little Home in West Virginia, Rebel SLP 1515, LP (1972), trk# 12
Davis, Janet. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1979/10,p17
Fahey, John. John Fahey Guitar, Vol. 4, Takoma C 1008, LP (1966), trk# 3
Flatt, Lester; & the Nashville Grass. Lester Flatt's Greatest Performance, CMH CMH 6238, LP (1979), trk# B.04
Hurt, Mississippi John. D.C. Blues, Vol 2. Library of Congress Rec...,, Fuel 302 061 495 2, CD (2003), trk# 2.18 [1963/07]
Jones, Clayton. Traditional Autoharp, Sunny Mountain EB 1006, LP (197?), trk# B.08
Maddox, Rose. Glorybound Train, Stetson HAT 3079, LP (1960), trk# 12
Mill Run Dulcimer Band. Sunday at the Mill, Lark LRLP 3094, LP (1980), trk# A.02
Osborne, Sonny. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1984/10,p22
Painter, Fred. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 74/#635 [1941/09/27] (Can the Circle Be Unbroken
Pegram, George; and Parham, Red (Walter). Pickin' and Blowin', Riverside RLP 12-650, LP (1959), trk# 13 [1957]
Philo Glee & Mandolin Society. Philo Glee & Mandolin Society, Campus Folksong Club CFC 101, LP (1962?), trk# B.07
Proffitt, Frank. Memorial Album, Folk Legacy FSA 036, Cas (1968), trk# A.07
Roth, Arlen. Roth, Arlen / Traditional Country and Electric Slide Guitar, Oak, sof (1975), p 90
Rutherford, Betsy. Traditional Country Music, Biograph RC 6004, LP (1971), trk# 9
Scruggs, Earl. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1979/08,p13
Scruggs, Earl. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1984/10,p23
Sires, Dean. Grossman, Stefan / Complete Fingerstyle Guitar Book, Mel Bay, Sof (1995), p 38
Staples Singers. Raim, Ethel and Josh Duncan (eds.) / Grass Roots Harmony, Oak, Sof (1968), p94
Strange Creek Singers. Strange Creek Singers, Arhoolie 4004, LP (1972), trk# 11
Tottle, Jack. Tottle, Jack / Bluegrass Mandolin, Oak, Sof (1975), p 83
Traum, Happy. Traum, Happy (ed.) / Flat-Pick Country Guitar, Oak, Sof (1973), p100
Trischka, Tony. Trischka, Tony (ed.) / Melodic Banjo, Oak, Sof (1976), A.06
Tuttle, Jack. Fiddler Magazine, Fiddler Mag., Ser, 6/3, p29(1999)
Watson, Doc; Clint Howard and Fred Price. Old Timey Concert, Vanguard 107/8, Cas (1987/1967), trk# B.13
Wernick, Pete/Peter. Wernick, Peter (ed.) / Bluegrass Banjo, Oak, Sof (1974), p 28
Can the Circle Be Unbroken [Me III-A12]
Rt - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Uf - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Fossils. Fossil Record, Voyager VRCD 348, CD (199?), trk# 16
Monroe Brothers. Feast Here Tonight, Bluebird AXM2-5510, LP (1975), trk# 14 [1936/10/12] (Will the Circle Be Unbroken)
OTHER NAMES: "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," "Can The Circle Be Unbroken" "Circle Be Unbroken"
SOURCES: Mudcat forum; Folk Index
NOTES: G Major; One part song. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" is a popular Christian hymn written by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel in 1907. The song is often recorded unattributed. The classic version is the Carter Family recording done in 1935 titled, "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)."
The song is the theme of The Merle Watson Festival in Wilkesboro and has been recorded by just about evey bluegrass group at some point. Will the Circle Be Unbroken is also the title of a 1972 album officially by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but with collaboration from many famous Bluegrass and Country performers, including Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Bashful Brother Oswald, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin, and others. It also introduced fiddler Vassar Clements to a wider audience.
It's ironic that an Englishwoman, Ada Habershon is the lyric author of one of the most celebrated country/bluegrass gospel songs in America. Here are her lyrics:
There are loved ones in the glory
Whose dear forms you often miss.
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?
CHORUS: Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
Is a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?
In the joyous days of childhood
Oft they told of wondrous love
Pointed to the dying Saviour;
Now they dwell with Him above. (Chorus)
You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice.
Do you love the hymns they taught you,
Or are songs of earth your choice? (Chorus)
You can picture happy gath'rings
Round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings
When they left you here below. (Chorus)
One by one their seats were emptied.
One by one they went away.
Now the family is parted.
Will it be complete one day? (Chorus)
Most bluegrass versions use lyrics from the verses collected by AP Carter and popularized by the Carter Family. Other verses have been attached to the Carters lyrics.
Circle Be Unbroken- Bluegrass Messengers
I was standing by the window
On a cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling
Lord to carry my mother away
Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord bye and bye
There's a better home a waiting
In the sky Lord in the sky
So I told the undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For that body you are hauling
Lord I hate to see her go
Well I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in that grave.
I went back home Lord my home was lonesome
Since my mother, she was gone
All my brothers and sisters crying
What a home so sad and alone.
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