A song written in 1899 eventually became the radio theme song for the popular Carter Family. It was one with an uplifting nature—“Keep On the Sunny Side of Life.”

Ada Blenkhorn was inspired to write the lyrics because of a phrase used by her nephew. He was disabled and always wanted his wheelchair pushed down “the sunny side” of the street. Music for the Christian-themed song was written by J. Howard Entwisle.

The Carter Family learned of the song from A.P. Carter’s uncle who was a music teacher. They recorded it in Camden, New Jersey in 1928. “Keep on the Sunny Side” became their theme song on the radio in later years.

A 1964 album by the Carter Family (with special guest vocalist Johnny Cash) was titled, “Keep On the Sunny Side,” and Cash recorded a version for a 1974 album accompanied by June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash’s daughter Rosanne Cash and June Carter’s daughters Carlene Carter and Rosie Nix Adams.

June Carter Cash also recorded a version for her final solo album, Wildwood Flower, released posthumously in 2003. A recording of the song with The Whites was featured in the 2000 movie, “O, Brother, Where Art Thou?”

A.P. Carter’s tombstone has a gold record of the song embedded in it.

Keep On the Sunny Side of Life

There’s a dark and a troubled side of life;

There’s a bright and a sunny side, too;

Tho’ we meet with the darkness and strife,

The sunny side we also may view.

 

Chorus

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life;

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we keep on the sunny side of life.

 

Tho’ the storm in its fury break today,

Crushing hopes that we cherished so dear,

Storm and cloud will in time pass away,

The sun again will shine bright and clear.

 

Let us greet with a song of hope each day,

Tho’ the moments be cloudy or fair;

Let us trust in our Savior always,

Who keepeth everyone in His care.

 

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life;

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we keep on the sunny side of life.