ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: The Og
Date: 25 Mar 24 - 12:01 PM

Great Song, but is there a male version?

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT (T. B. Ransom
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Mar 24 - 02:50 PM

You can see the sheet music at Baylor University. Note that some words are significantly different from any version posted so far.


I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT
Waltz song.
Words and music by T. B. Ransom.
As published by T. B. Harms & Co., New York, 1879.

1. I’ll deck my brow with roses, And join the throng so fair;
Bright jewels that he gave me, Will shine within my hair;
And even those who know me, Will think my heart is light!
If my heart should break to-morrow, I’ll be all smiles to-night,

CHORUS: I’ll be all smiles to-night; I’ll be all smiles to-night.
If my heart should break to-morrow, I’ll be all smiles to-night.

2. When in the door he enters, His bride upon his arm,
I’ll strive to gaze upon them, And he so cold and calm.
And while he smiles upon her, As oft he smiled on me,
Ah! there’s none will know I suffer, Tho’ in pain my heart shall be,

3. Oh! when the dance is over, And all have gone to rest,
I’ll think of him, dear mother, Whom I once loved the best.
And tho’ my heart is breaking, I never shall repine;
For I’ll wish him ev’ry gladness, Who never can be mine.

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Oct 17 - 07:26 AM

Following up on Q's post (31.01.05.) Craig Morgan and Robson also have an arrangement of the "Farewell He" song, with "We'll all be smiles tonight" as the chorus. In the accompanying notes they say that Cecil Sharp collected that version from Lucy White of Hambridge, Somerset.
Score and lyrics are in the CMR book, "When the Snows of Winter Fall", but the arrangement is copyrighted. Best to contact Carolyn Robson if you want to buy a copy.

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Oct 17 - 06:34 PM

yes, the carter famiy collection by fred sokolow, 32 songs, but i am waiting for an indecent collection

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Oct 17 - 08:51 PM

This thread brings up the perennial question: is there a decent Carter Family songbook on the market?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Oct 17 - 05:29 PM

There's notation at Appalachian State University, but no sheet music:

http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/31604

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: GUEST,perry
Date: 19 Oct 17 - 10:44 AM

does anyone have the sheet music for I'll be all smiles tonight

Subject: RE: ADD: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter Family)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 06:32 PM

Woody Guthrie wrote a lot of songs he never put a tune to, and Billy Bragg/Wilco and The Klezmatics have done good work putting some of those songs to music. One such Woody song left no doubt from the start: There'll Be No Church Tonight must have been intended to be sung to the tune of "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight."

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 05:09 PM

These lyrics are from a broadside found at Duke University. The same broadside can also be seen at The Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University.


I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT

[1] I'll deck my brow with roses.
The loved one may be there.
The gems that others gave me
Will shine within my hair,
And even them that know me
Will think my heart is light.
Though my heart will break to-morrow,
I'll be all smiles tonight.

CHORUS. I'll be all smiles to-night, love.
I'll be all smiles to-night.
Though my heart will break to-morrow,
I'll be all smiles to-night.

[2] And when the room he entered,
The bride upon his arm,
I stood and gazed upon him
As if he were a charm.
So once he smiled upon her.
So once he smiled on me.
They know not what I've suffered.
They found no change in me.

[3] And when the dance commences,
Oh! how I will rejoice.
I'll sing the song he taught me
Without one faltering voice.
When flatterers come around me,
They will think my heart is light.
Though my heart will break to-morrow,
I'll be all smiles to-night.

[4] And when the dance is over
And all have gone to rest,
I'll think of him, dear mother,
The one that I love best.
He once did love, believe me,
But now has grown cold and strange.
He sought not to deceive me.
False friends have brought this change.

A. W. AUNER'S
CARD AND JOB PRINTING ROOMS,
Tenth and Race Sts., Philadelphia, Pa.

Another broadside in the latter collection has a slightly different title:


84
I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT, LOVE.
The Words and Music of this Song will be sent to any address, post-paid, on receipt of 40 cents, by H. J. Wehman, P. O. Box 1823, New York City. Catalogue of Songs, Books, Novelties, &c., sent free.

[Song text is identical to that above.]

H. J. Wehman, Song Publisher. New York.

[Note: The Popular Music web site, in its index, attributes the song to T. B. Ransom, but it doesn't say why. The name doesn't appear on either broadside.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 12:24 PM

Guest in Texas: Until you asked, I hadn't even considered that original sheet music might exist. (It doesn't exist for a lot of old folk songs.) But lo and behold, WorldCat.org tells me that a copy of the sheet music resides at the library of Cambridge University, described thus:

I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO NIGHT : SONG
Words, M. J. Ludlow. Music, Geo. Powis.
London : Powis & Co., [1866]
First line: I'll deck my brow with flowers.

In those days, British copyrights typically weren't enforced in the US nor vice-versa, so it wouldn't surprise me that a song that originated in one country would be bootlegged in the the other, or that someone would claim a bogus copyright.

Some libraries will photocopy sheet music and mail it to you—maybe even email the images—for a fee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: GUEST,Texas
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 07:13 PM

Do you know where I can find the sheet music to I'll be All Smiles Tonight?
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 07:24 PM

listen to the Cox family, imho the best version. Also Caitlen, the stots irish gal.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Joybell
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 07:09 PM

Thanks Jim and Q. I thought about the idea of "charm" as a spell, but I've never heard it used for a person. From what you say, Q, I'll be able to sing the line with a better understanding of its meaning. Thanks.
I expect though Jim, from now on, I'll see the image of the bride wearing a charm bracelet with the groom dangling from it.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 03:35 PM

Influence, something or someone that puts a spell on you, etc. Jim Dixon is correct. A charm can be a person as well as an object.
One still hears "He is a charm" in the South today. My wife uses it.
"He is a love," or "He captivates me" express some of the same thought.

Many different usages of the old word; the first cited in the Oxford is "a chanting or recitation of a verse...with magic power" to ward off evil or to cast a spell. 'Charm' also means a songbird, etc. etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 02:15 PM

Joybell: To answer your question, it would probably be a good idea to consult the Oxford English Dictionary about the history of the word "charm." Unfortunately, I don't have access to it right now. Anybody out there?

I don't think "charm" in those days meant one of those things that dangle from a bracelet!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 02:34 AM

When I learned the Autoharp, naturally I began collecting Carter Family songs. This one plays well on the ol' Autoharp, as do most Carter Family songs. During their heyday, most folks knew what an autoharp was. Today, few folks know what that darn thing is. I often am asked, "That's a harpsichord, isn't it?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Joybell
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 06:53 PM

It's so good to get the background on this song.
Can anyone shed any light on the line:
As though he were a charm/as though to me a charm.

It sounds awkward. What does it mean? Does anyone ever say that? Is it just for the sake of a rhyme?

(I've always been drawn to this song for reasons that I don't think I should share here. But that's another story.)

Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 04:36 PM

A convergence, perhaps the result of the mating of two songs, "I'll Be All Smiles," and "Farewell He" (Fare Thee Well, Cold Winter), in this verse from the Watersons' version of the latter:

I'll be all smiles tonight, boys,
I'll be all smiles tonight.
If my heart should break tomorrow
I'll be all smiles tonight.

I have posted the Watersons' song in thread 3476, Farewell He/She: Farewell He

Notes by A. L. Lloyd state that the song in various forms was once spread all over England. This version was from "a 90 year old singer, George 'Tom' Newman, who lived near Bampton."

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT (f. Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 09:58 AM

From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads Harding B 11(1698).

I'LL BE ALL SMILES TO-NIGHT
H. Disley, Printer, 57, High street, St. Giles, London [between 1860 and 1883]

I'll deck my brow with flowers. The false one will be there.
The gems which others gave me shall shine amidst my hair.
Not even those that love me will deem my heart less light.
No one shall know how I suffer, for I'll be all smiles to-night.

I'll sing that song he taught me, without a trembling voice.
And when the dance commences, oh! how I will rejoice.
When the flatterers gather round me, I'll hail them with delight.
Tho' my heart may break to-morrow, I'll be all smiles to-night.

When in the room he enters, with his bride upon his arm,
Then I will gaze upon them, as tho' to me a charm;
And when he gazes on her, as he used to gaze on me,*
When with his tongue he flatters, he will find no change in me.

[*This line is mostly illegible in the broadside. I have attempted to reconstruct it based on the few letters I can recognize, and on comparisons with other versions. -JD]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter fa
From: GUEST,LMFP
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 10:33 AM

My grandmother claims there is another verse to this song. She says it speaks of the love affair between the singer (female) and the guy who marries somebody else. In it the singer lays the blame for their break-up at the feet of one of the groom's confidantes who told him a terrible lie about the singer kissing another man.

Has anybody ever heard such a verse?

My grandma is 89 years old and claims to have heard this verse last in the 1930's. I tried to press for a line to give you an example, but she can't recall. Just that the singer and the Groom were 'lovers once so fair'

That's all she has.
Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 May 03 - 02:03 PM

There's a British broadside edition at the Bodleian Library collection.

I'll Be All Smiles To-night ("I'll deck my brow with flowers, the false one will be there ...")

~Masato

Subject: Tune Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter fam.)
From: MMario
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:41 PM

X:1
T:I'll be all smiles tonight
N:'Favourite Old-Time songs and Mountain Ballads' book 2
N:Bradley Kincaid - 1929
I:abc2nwc
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Bb
z4zF|D2F F2B|B d4c|B2c B2G|F4zD|C2D E2F|
A A4G|F2G F2E|D4zF|B,2D F2B|B d4c|
B2c B2G|F4D D|C2D E2F|A A4G|F2e G2A|B4z2

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 02:40 PM

I've heard a nice version by the Cox Family with (I think) Alison Krauss.
BJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Don Firth
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 02:06 PM

I just finished an excellent book about the Carter Family.

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone: The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music by Mark Zwonitzer with Charles Hirshberg; Simon and Schuster, New York. 2002.

Highly recommended.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 12:31 AM

The sheet music is on Millersville University's list (Click here):

I'll Be All Smiles To-Night - T. B. Ransom - T. B. Ransom - Harms, Inc. - n.d.

Kitty Wells also sang this (Click here for her recording). So did Kathie Clark (at The Record Lady's; Click on "In Memoriam -- Yodelin' Slim Clark").

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 10:56 PM

In American Memory, a Mrs. Ingalls of Portland OR, born 1873, reminisced for the WPA interviews on small town life. When she was a girl, "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight, Love," was popular. She remarked that they all enjoyed "morbid" songs. This would be probably in the 1890s. Still haven't found the original sheet music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 02:20 PM

The post by Ralph Butts leaves out the middle verse of the Carter's rendition (Listen to Honking Duck).

2. Oh when the dance commences,
Oh how I will rejoice
I'll sing the song you taught me
Without a falling voice.
When the flattering ones come around me,
They'll thing my heart is light,
Though my heart may break tomorrow,
I'll be all smiles tonight.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE ALL SMILES TONIGHT (Ozark version
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 02:05 PM

This one really entered the folk realm in a big way. Randolph, Ozark Folksongs has two versions. Max Hunter has it sung by Ollie Gilbert. Kitty Wells claimed it as her own. There is a Hawaiian version. George Strait, etc. Many bluegrasse groups have used it. Here is one from Randolph, with the false turn at the start.

I'LL BE ALL SMILES TONIGHT

I'll deck my brow with flowers, the false one will be there,
The gems that others gave me shall shine amidst my hair,
Not even those who love me shall deem my heart less light,
Although my heart may break tomorrow, I'll be all smiles tonight.

I'll be all smiles tonight, I'll be all smiles tonight,
Though my heart may break tomorrow, I'll be all smiles tonight.

I'll sing the songs he taught me without a trembling voice,
And when the dance commences, oh how I will rejoice,
When flatterers round me gather I'll hail them with delight,
My heart may break tomorow, but I'll be all smiles tonight.

And when the room he enters with his bride upon his arm,
It is then I'll gaze upon her as though to me a charm,
And when he smiles upon her, as once he smiled on me,
With his soft tongue he flatters, he'll find no change in me.

And when the ball is over and I retire to rest
A-weeping on my pillow, for him I love the best,
Though my heart's still aching, I'll keep it out of sight,
Though my heart may break tomorrow, I'll be all smiles tonight.

Mrs Joseph Pointer, MO, 1940, vol. 4, No. 812, pp. 334-335.

The other version, coll. in 1927 has the first two verses very similar to the Carter rendition.

3. And when the dance commences,
Oh how I will rejoice,
I'll sing the songs he taught me
Without a faltering voice.
When flatterers gather round me
They'll think my heart is light,
Though my heart may break tomorrow
I'll be all smiles tonight.

4. And when the dance is over
And all have gone to rest,
I'll weep for him, dear Mother,
The one I love the best.
He once did love, believe me,
But now he's grown cold and strange,
He sought not to deceive me,
False friends have wrought the change.

Mrs Iva King, MO, 1927, vol. 4, p. 334, Ozark Folksongs.

Has anyone found the original sheet music?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter family
From: Big Tim
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 11:57 AM

Thanks Becky I hadn't thought of that but it must lead to so many misapprehensions re authorship of so many songs.

G'day Bob, re "the book" - "Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar"!

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE ALL SMILES TONIGHT (Australian
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 10:24 AM

G'day,

As Stewie says, this is a 19th century song (one of those good old "weepies"!).

John Meredith collected a 3 verse version from an 83 year-old lady in Mudgee - then got a fourth verse from a 99 year-old man!

Here are his verses, from Folk Songs of Australia and the men and women who sang them, Vol. 2, 1987:

I'll be all smiles tonight
Lillian Kurtz (born 1894 Mudgee, NSW, Australia)

Oh beg me not tonight, mother,
The false one to forget,
Nor speak not of another
For my heart clings to him yet.
He loved me once, believe me,
But now grown cold and strange;
He sought not to deceive me,
But friends have brought this change.
Chorus:
I'll be all smiles tonight, mother,
I'll be all smiles tonight;
If my heart should break with sorrow,
I'll be all smiles tonight.

When the ball he enters,
With a fair one on his arm,
I'll try to smile on him, mother,
As if he were a charm,
And if he smiles on her, mother
As he used to smile on me,
My heart will break with sorrow,
But still no change you'll see.
Chorus:
I'll be all smiles tonight, ...

And when the ball is over
And I shall retire to rest,
While dreaming on my pillow
Of the young man I love best,
I pray that he may ne'er do wrong
Where e'er his steps may go,
And if he marries her, dear mother,
I only wish him luck.
Last Chorus:
My heart will break with sorrow,
But still no change you'll see;
I'll be all smiles tonight, mother
I'll be all smiles tonight.

Additional verse from Walter Tranter (born 1884, Paterson Valley, NSW, Australia)

I'll deck my brow with roses,
For the false one will be there,
And with the gems he gave me,
I'll neatly braid my hair,
I'll sing the songs he taught me,
Without a faltering voice,
And if I should die tomorrow
I'll be all smiles tonight.

Folk Songs of Australia, Vol. 2, pp33-35

I presume the tunes relate ... maybe I should go of and do a MIDI - text conversion ... maybe tomorrow ... oops! later today, after I get some sleep. (I mainly play the tune as a waltz, for dancers.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Carter fa
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 01:31 PM

A.P. Carter was a fine song collector. According to the notes by Ed Kahn (April 2000) for the Columbia/Legacy cd Can the Circle Be Unbroken (CK 65707), "[A.P's] main contribution ... was in finding material for the group to sing. A.P. spent much of his time scouring the country around their home in Virginia finding people who knew songs that The Carter Family could fashion into their style. Many of the songs in The Carter Family repertoire list A.P. as composer. In fact, few of the songs carrying his name were actually written by him. While he did compose a few songs, including "My Clinch Mountain Home"... for the most part he collected old songs which were in the public domain and simply claimed composer credit so the royalty payments could come to the group. In this way, both the music publishers and the artists could earn extra money from the record companies.

"This was the common practice at that time as the music publishers could not make money from public domain songs unless there was someone who would claim credit for the song. In the early days of the recording industry, it was common for musicians to record public domain songs and put their name on them. Eventually, as the pool of traditional songs was used up, the music publishers pushed for more original compositions."

He goes on to describe how fans also sent songs they thought the group might like, mostly old favorites rather than original compositions.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: LYR ADD(Carter): I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 11:53 AM

If your info is correct Stewie, it looks like the Carters (ole Alvin Pleasant?) claimed a song he/they knew he/they didn't write?

Subject: RE: LYR ADD(Carter): I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
From: Stewie
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 09:44 AM

According to Meade, Spottswood, Meade biblio-discography, this dates back to 1879 with words and music by T.B. Ransom. There were heaps of recordings before the Carters: Luther B. Clark and the Blue Ridge Highballers (1926); Mac and Bob (1927); Allen Brothers (1928); Reed Children (1928); Jenkins and Whitworth (1929); Bradley Kincaid (1929); Linda Parker and The Cumberland Ridge Runners (1933); and the Carter Family (1934).

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD(Carter): I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
From: nutty
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 05:20 AM

listen tothe real thing .... courtesy of www.honkingduck.com

I'll be all smiles tonight

Subject: RE: LYR ADD(Carter): I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 03:23 AM

Beautifully recorded by the Louvin Brothers.

Subject: I'll be all smiles tonight
From: GUEST,fiddlesticks
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 02:12 AM

I need the words to I'll be all smiles tonight. Thanks.

Fiddlesticks, I hope you don't mind that I moved your message to the appropriate thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: LYR ADD(Carter): I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
From: CarterNut
Date: 05 Aug 98 - 11:23 PM

Hey Tiger: Really appreciate the posting of some of my favorite songs. The Carter Family are my absolute favorite. Keep keepin' it on the sunnyside.

John

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL BE ALL SMILES TONIGHT (Carter Family
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 05 Aug 98 - 08:00 AM

Here's another.....Tiger

I'LL BE ALL SMILES TONIGHT
Carter Family

I'll deck my brow with roses,
The loved ones may be there,
And gems that others gave me,
Will shine within my hair,
And even those who know me,
Will think my heart is light.
Though my heart may break tomorrow
I'll be all smiles tonight.

CHORUS
I'll be all smiles tonight, love.
I'll be all smiles tonight.
Though my heart may break tomorrow,
I'll be all smiles tonight.

When in the room he entered,
With the bride upon his arm,
I stood and gazed upon him,
As though he were a charm,
And once he smiled upon her,
As once he smiled on me,
They knew not what I suffered,
They found no change in me.

CHORUS