Will The Circle Be Unbroken
G C G
1.I was stand-ing by my win-dow, on a cold and cloud-y day.
G Em G D G
When I saw that hearse come roll-in, for to carry my moth-er a-way.
G C G
2.Lord, I told that un-der-tak-er, “Un-der-tak-er please drive slow,
Em G D G
For this bod-y that you're haul-ing, Lord I hate to see her___ go.â€
G C G
3.I fol-lowed close be-hind her, tried to hold up and be brave.
Em G D G
But I could not hide my sor-row, when they laid her in the___ grave.
G C G
4. I went home, my home was lonely, Now my mother she has gone.
Em G D G
All my brothers, sisters crying, what a home so sad and alone.
Chorus
G C G
Will the cir-cle be un-bro-ken, by and by, Lord by and by?
Em D D7 G
There's a bet-ter home a-wait-ing, in the sky, Lord in the sky.
Tim Madsen
Nobody cares how much you know,
until they know how much you care.
"What you keep to yourself you lose, what you give away you keep forever." -Axel Munthe
Tim, I don't mean to be critical - I think it's great you've taken the time and trouble to type out so many songs, you got my thanks anyway....
BUT....a little more info might be helpful - whose version is this? What's the format? (ie Verse Chorus verse Chorus.....)
If you could perhaps add a few little details in future?
Thanks though, like I say you're doing a good job....
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Sorry I didn't give you enough information Vic. This particular song is a traditional folk song first recorded by the Carters.
The chorus is played after every verse. At Bluegrass festivals all the groups that perform will join together to sing this at the close of the festival. This is also done at many country music events.
With all the tab I post assume that the chorus is played after every verse. I will indicate if it is other. I believe the artist who wrote the song is listed on most of the tab. I forget to add it sometimes, a malady common with people my age.
Tim Madsen
Nobody cares how much you know,
until they know how much you care.
"What you keep to yourself you lose, what you give away you keep forever." -Axel Munthe
Here's my tabbed version...
WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN - by A.P. Carter; last verse by Jimmy
Ibbotson of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
INTRO: (play full chorus chord progression)
VERSE 1:
[G]I WAS STANDING, BY MY WINDOW, ON ONE [C]COLD AND, CLOUDY [G]DAY.
WHEN I SAW THAT, HEARSE COME [C]ROLLING, FOR TO [D7]CARRY MY MOTHER
A[G]WAY.
CHORUS:
[G]WILL THE CIRCLE, BE UNBROKEN, BY AND [C]BY LORD, BY AND
[G]BY. THERE'S A BETTER, HOME A [C]WAITING, IN THE [D7]SKY
LORD IN THE [G]SKY.
VERSE 2:
[G]I SAID TO, THAT UNDERTAKER, UNDER[C]TAKER, PLEASE DRIVE [G]SLOW.
FOR THIS LADY, YOU ARE [C]CARRYING, I [D7]HATE TO SEE HER [G]GO.
CHORUS
VERSE 3:
[G]OH I FOLLOWED, CLOSE BEHIND HER, TRIED TO [C]HOLD UP, AND BE
[G]BRAVE. BUT I COULD NOT, HIDE MY [C]SORROW, WHEN THEY [D7]LAID
HER IN THE [G]GRAVE.
CHORUS
VERSE 4:
[G]I WENT BACK HOME, MY HOME WAS LONESOME, MISSED MY [C]MOTHER, SHE
WAS [G]GONE. ALL OF MY BROTHERS, SISTERS [C]CRYING, WHAT A [D7]HOME
SO SAD AND [G]LONE
CHORUS
VERSE 5:
[G]SO WE SANG SONGS, CHILDHOOD HYMNS OF, FAITH THAT [C]MADE US,
MADE US [G]STRONG. ONES THAT MOTHER, MAYBELLE [C]TAUGHT US, HEAR
THE [D7]ANGELS SING A[G]LONG
CHORUS 2X
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
There are numerous alternate and additional lyrics to this one, Eddy Arnold completely rewrote the song except for the chorus.
Tim Madsen
Nobody cares how much you know,
until they know how much you care.
"What you keep to yourself you lose, what you give away you keep forever." -Axel Munthe
My first guitar teacher did this at a party I had once and I thought it sounded very church like. Then three years ago while at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum I saw that album on the wall for Nitty Gritty and I knew I had to tab it out... and that was the only version I knew to look for.
Thanks!
Jonny T.
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
On another note the Nitty Grittys did an album in the seventies that featured Mother Maybelle and numerous other country legends. Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin, Vasser Clemmons, Roy Acuff and more. The Title is Will The Circle Be Unbroken. It's on CD now and one of the best albums ever made. Not to be confused with Will The Circle Be Unbroken II which was made in the 90's, it's not as good as the first one. A must have for anyone interested in the roots of country music imo.
Tim Madsen
Nobody cares how much you know,
until they know how much you care.
"What you keep to yourself you lose, what you give away you keep forever." -Axel Munthe
Gday to all
first off A huge personal Thanks to this community for there contributions to this fabulous site
I dont post very often
But enjoy the content !!!!
The reason for this step out of character is to request the solo for Will the circle be unbroken
The part where the single notes are picked out of I guess the G scale.Does any body Know what Im talking about?
It is stuck in my head and would like to be able to pick it out while someone is playing the chords
I tripped over it a while ago on the net but did not save it
Ill be darned if I can find it again or figure it out
Thanks
Ron
