Carter Family – Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By), is the title of a country/folk song reworked by A. P. Carter from the hymn “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. The song’s lyrics concern the death, funeral, and mourning of the narrator’s mother.

The song first gained attention due to the Carter Family. The song has been recorded by many groups and musicians: Blind James Campbell, Bob Dylan, The Band, The Staple Singers, Clara Ward Singers, John Fahey, Roy Acuff, Joan Baez, The Chieftains, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Ralph Stanley, The Black Crowes, Kristin Hersh, John Lee Hooker, Bill Monroe, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Pentangle, Spacemen 3, Country Joe McDonald, John Statz, Spirit of the West with The Wonder Stuff, Mavis Staples, The Felice Brothers, Johnny Cash, Gregg Allman, the Neville Brothers, Jeff Buckley, Moby, and Agnes Chan. Its refrain was incorporated into the Carl Perkins song “Daddy Sang Bass” and the Atlanta song “Sweet Country Music”. It is primarily performed in gospel, bluegrass and folk, but versions in other genres exist. Most versions of the song use the alternate title “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”. In 1998, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Carter Family – Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
B-side “Glory to the Lamb”
Published June 22, 1935 by Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc., New York.
Released August 1935
Recorded May 6, 1935[2]
Genre Gospel, Country, American folk
Length 3:07
Label Banner 33465
Songwriter(s) Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel, reworked by A. P. Carter

TOP 100 COUNTRY SONG

Carter Family – Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By) lyrics

I was standing by the window
On one cold and cloudy day
And I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away

Can the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Lord, I told the undertaker
Undertaker please drive slow
For this body you are hauling
Lord, I hate to see her go

Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Oh, I followed close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave

Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
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

Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

We sang songs of childhood
Hymns of faith that made us strong
Ones that mother Maybelle taught us
Hear the angels sing along

Will the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye Lord, bye and bye
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

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