Nnenna Freelon: “Widow Song”
Clip: 2/27/2025 | 4m 33sVideo has Closed Captions
Nnenna Freelon’s “Widow Song” delves into the societal labels that accompany grief.
Nnenna Freelon’s poignant “Widow Song” explores the difficult process of grieving a spouse. The song not only delves into the personal aspects of mourning but also examines the societal expectations placed on those who have lost a partner.
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Nnenna Freelon: “Widow Song”
Clip: 2/27/2025 | 4m 33sVideo has Closed Captions
Nnenna Freelon’s poignant “Widow Song” explores the difficult process of grieving a spouse. The song not only delves into the personal aspects of mourning but also examines the societal expectations placed on those who have lost a partner.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[poignant jazz music] [poignant jazz music continues] [poignant jazz music continues] ♪ Must my heart, a widow be ♪ ♪ Widow song is never free ♪ ♪ To have and hold my love for thee ♪ ♪ Must my heart ♪ ♪ My heart, a widow be ♪ [poignant jazz music continues] ♪ Must I wear this cloak of gray ♪ ♪ Give myself to yesterday ♪ ♪ To the tender breath of memory ♪ ♪ Must my heart ♪ ♪ My heart, a widow be ♪ [poignant jazz music continues] ♪ I have two lovers ♪ ♪ Each one so fine ♪ ♪ One's name is patience ♪ ♪ And the other's name is time ♪ [poignant jazz music continues] [poignant jazz music continues] [poignant jazz music continues] ♪ Must I tend this hearth alone ♪ ♪ Must my heart turn into stone ♪ ♪ Love that lives ♪ ♪ Yet cannot be ♪ ♪ Must my heart ♪ ♪ My heart ♪ ♪ Must my heart, a widow be ♪ ♪ Must my heart ♪ ♪ A widow be ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Must this simple wedding ring ♪ ♪ Be all that's left of everything, everything, everything ♪ ♪ Must my heart ♪ ♪ A widow be ♪ ♪ My heart, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Must my heart ♪ ♪ A widow be ♪ [singer vocalizing] [poignant jazz music continues]
Nnenna Freelon: “Beneath the Skin”
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Clip: 2/27/2025 | 3m 39s | Nnenna Freelon’s song “Beneath the Skin” explores the emotions beneath joy and pain. (3m 39s)
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Clip: 2/27/2025 | 4m 39s | Nnenna Freelon performs “Black Iris,” which was inspired by the rare flower’s unique blossoming. (4m 39s)
Nnenna Freelon: “Dark & Lovely”
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Clip: 2/27/2025 | 3m 35s | Nnenna Freelon performs “Dark & Lovely,” a song dedicated to her young granddaughters. (3m 35s)
Nnenna Freelon: “Here’s Your Hat”
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Clip: 2/27/2025 | 5m 28s | Nnenna Freelon’s “Here’s Your Hat,” a song about letting go of those who no longer serve you well. (5m 28s)
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Clip: 2/27/2025 | 7m 55s | Nnenna Freelon performs her soulful reinvention of the well-known folk song “Oh! Susanna.” (7m 55s)
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Preview: 2/27/2025 | 30s | The incomparable jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon shares selections from her latest album. (30s)
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.