# Will The Circle Be Unbroken

## Classification

- Queue shelf: light
- Current website category: public-domain
- Research category: public-domain
- Rights status: traditional-variant-awaiting-review
- Confidence: working-variant-review

## Writer / Source

Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel for the older hymn; Carter Family popularized a later country variant

## Earliest Located Evidence

1907 hymn publication for Can the Circle Be Unbroken?

## Context

Publish only public-domain hymn-derived wording or Scrips-cleared arrangement; Carter-family wording should be checked.

## Rights Assessment

Older song or tune family. The source of this particular working version and its arrangement is still being reviewed. These working notes do not establish clearance of the exact lyric, tune variant, or arrangement. Historical references below are research leads unless a specific comparison is documented.

## Source Links

- https://hymnary.org/text/there_are_loved_ones_in_the_glory
- https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-duration.html

## Local Scrips Evidence

- Current source text: src/_content/song-text/will-the-circle-be-unbroken.txt
- Cleaned Scrips ChordPro source: Will the Circle Be Unbroken.chopro
- Existing site status: listed in master repertoire, unknown
- Existing site notes: lyric/chord sheet present; listed in master list; appears in setlist

## Scrips Arrangement Notes

The text/chords supplied here follow the Scrips working source where available. Differences from older printed or collected versions should be treated as arrangement choices unless separately documented.

## Chords / Key / Tuning

- Key: G
- Capo: 2
- Tuning/comment: Banjo - Standard

## Alternate Titles / Indexes

- Alternate titles: Can the Circle Be Unbroken?
- Roud number: none located / not applicable

## Open Questions

- The working verses appear to follow the later Carter-style family rather than the cited older hymn text. Identify and clear the exact version; the older hymn’s attribution does not establish the later wording. Confirm G/capo 2 arrangement.
- Identify the exact text/tune variant and arrangement used by the band before treating this working sheet as publication-cleared.

## Website review — 2026-08-30

Lyrics and chord cues supplied; exact attribution/version review is a priority. The text and chord export were inspected for usable content; file existence is not a completed-song-sheet check. Final performance accuracy remains for the band to approve.