Carter Family-You've Been a Friend To Me

Oh, I'll ne'er forget where e'er I roam
Where ever you may be
If ever I have had a friend
You have been that friend to me
My bark of life was tossing down
The troubled stream of time
When first I saw your smiling face
And youth was in its prime
Oh, I'll ne'er forget where e'er I roam
Where ever you may be
If ever I have had a friend
You have been that friend to me
[INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]
Misfortune nursed me as her child
And loved me fondly, too
I would have had a broken heart
Had it not been for you
Oh, I'll ne'er forget where e'er I roam
Where ever you may be
If ever I have had a friend
You have been that friend to me
[INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]
Now I look back upon the past
Acrost life's troubled seas
And smile to think of all I've seen
You've been a friend to me
Oh, I'll ne'er forget where e'er I roam
Where ever you may be
If ever I have had a friend
You have been that friend to me
Oh, I'll ne'er forget where e'er I roam
Where ever you may be
If ever I have had a friend
You have been that friend to me

[arknell]

Sitting here crying, thinking about the good in the world. Reaching out to all you other stretching flowers, wanting to connect.

[henningandersen]

You're lucky if you can think of one person or even more, on whom those words fit.

[Jm]

The Carter Family fill that deep hole in my being I've never been able to fathom except when I listen to their music.every time I listen to one of their tunes I'm taken into that zone where time and matter doesn't exist and I'm transported to ??.I'll
love their music till I don't exist anymore . I hope to meet them all Where time and matter doesn't exist!!

[DCShaneTours]

It was 1936: DECCA 5283 (US) - Lay My Head Beneath The Rose / You've Been A Friend To Me - The flip side of a 78 rpm record. Awesome!

[JoshH]

It's very difficult to pick a 'best' carter family song, but this is definitely up near the top in my opinion along with the cannonball.

[johnmaisonneuve]

Isn’t this great! What has happen to American’s music! So much has been lost. So beautiful.

[ndMounier]

Maybelle was a genius on the guitar and usually played their songs in a C chord formation using the capo to play in a key suited for Sara. Just look at any picture or video and you will see her playing the C, F and G chords.

[fscofi]

I am old enough to look back over my past - this is an Original Carter Family "special". Thank you so much for posting.

[henningandersen]

Very moving and apt comments here to the Carters' music.

[dannyneilmadsen]

I count myself a major Carter family fan but I have never heard this song. I enjoy hearing AP singing lead. He sang at the low end of his vocal rang when he sang harmony. Thanks so much for sharing.

[JyHiable]

How to identify a good music? It touches you, sets your emotions in motion, makes you feel better, makes you believe in good things. That kind of music can be that of The Carter Family, Bach, Thelonius Monk or Chuck Berry. No matter what is the genre. The essential meaning expresses itself in different modes.

[susanbartle]

Glorious music, enjoying it so much here in the UK

[daninoa]

Janhavi and Gina... I love you both tremendously.

[hazensweeney]

Mother Maybelle plays that Gibson like no other!

[miroslavloncar]

Didn't know this one.Another brilliant performance (guitar&voice)Maybelle&Sara.

[dreaucillacarealways]

I Love You, Jimmy Peanut, since I, met You! Mr. President, Yessum Presidential Snacks!!!! Peanut Gardens!

[paradiddleday]

sara's harsh, powerful alto voice with overtones of rural poverty and the absolute authenticity of the group make this and so many other songs so compelling. Wonder if AP wrote this one--the metaphor about misfortune doesn't quite sound like him.

[paradiddleday]

Seems it was a 19th century parlour ballad by Will Hays that AP simplified and arranged, as he did with many others by the same composer.

[Lawman]

#AbrahamLincoln said the greater part of Life’s happiness comes via our Friendships.

[melissat]

I’m so glad everyone has enjoyed this I posted years ago