Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow Tree – The Carter Family

“Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow” is a traditional American folk song that gained popularity through the rendition by The Carter Family. The Carter Family, consisting of A.P. Carter, his wife Sara Carter, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Carter, was a pioneering country music group in the 1920s and 1930s.

The song was recorded by The Carter Family in 1927 during one of their earliest recording sessions for the Victor Talking Machine Company in Bristol, Tennessee. The Bristol sessions are often considered a landmark moment in the history of country music, as they helped to popularize the genre and introduced The Carter Family to a wider audience.

“Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow” is a poignant and melancholic song that tells a tale of love and heartbreak. The lyrics revolve around themes of lost love, betrayal, and the desire to be laid to rest under a weeping willow tree. The weeping willow is a symbol of mourning and sorrow, adding a somber tone to the song.

The Carter Family’s version of the song features A.P. Carter on vocals and Sara Carter on autoharp, while Maybelle Carter provides harmony vocals. The simplicity of their arrangement and the raw, emotional delivery of the lyrics became characteristic of The Carter Family’s style and contributed to their enduring influence on country and folk music.

Over the years, “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow” has been covered by numerous artists, further solidifying its place in the folk and country music canon. The song’s timeless themes and The Carter Family’s influential rendition have made it a classic within the genre.

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