The Carter Songbook
The Carter Songbook Songs: Single Girl, Married GirlEngine One-Forty-ThreeWorried Man BluesGold Watch and Chain
The site where the original Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers recorded with Ralph Peer.

Listen to Single Girl, Married Girl performed by Shawn Colvin with Earl and Randy Scruggs. (2:19)

Audio courtesy of Dualtone Music Group, Inc.


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The Carters' recording of Single Girl, Married Girl was cut on the second day of the legendary Bristol Sessions in 1927. Sara and Maybelle recorded the number without A.P. and it was released as the flip side to The Storms Are on the Ocean in 1928. A warning about marriage and freedom lost, it was the group's first bona-fide hit.

Single Girl, Married Girl

Single girl, single girl, going dressed fine,
Oh she's going dressed fine.
Married girl, married girl, she wears just any kind,
Oh she wears just any kind.

Single girl, single girl, she goes to the store and buys,
Oh she goes to the store and buys.
Married girl, married girl, she rocks the cradle and cries,
Oh she rocks the cradle and cries.

Single girl, single girl, going where she please,
Oh she's going where she please.
Married girl, married girl, a baby on her knees,
Oh a baby on her knees.
The Carter Family American Experience PBS