Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
| "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Carter Family | ||||
| B-side | "Glory to the Lamb" | |||
| Released | August 1935 | |||
| Genre | Country, American folk | |||
| Label | Banner | |||
| Carter Family singles chronology | ||||
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"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 covered 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, Agnes Chan, The Bolokos, and New England Weather. Its refrain was incorporated into the Carl Perkins song "Daddy Sang Bass" and the Atlanta song "Sweet Country Music". It is primarily covered in gospel, bluegrass, and folk, but versions in other genres exist. Most cover versions of the song use the alternate title Will the Circle be Unbroken. In 1998 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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