Carolina in the Pines
"Carolina in the Pines" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey. It was released in August 1975 as the second and final single from the album "Blue Sky - Night Thunder". It peaked at number 21 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 25 on the Canadian "RPM" Top Singles chart in late 1975. The song was re-recorded with John McEuen on banjo and released in May 1985 from his compilation album, "The Best of Michael Martin Murphey". The re -release peaked at number 9 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot Country Singles chart and at number 11 on the Canadian "RPM" Country Tracks chart in mid-1985. Background. "Carolina in the Pines" addresses Martin's wife whose actual name was Caroline: "I tried to write a love song about my wife without trying to relegate her to a secondary position as a supporter of me. I tried to make it about her as an individual. That's what [she and I] try to do in life." Caroline Hogue was the second of Murphey's four wives: the couple had married in  1973 and would divorce in 1978. Critical reception. ""Billboard" magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it "a countryish tune in a distinct John Denver vein."