Tift Merritt

[piano intro] - [Announcer] "Southern Songbirds" is a production of PBS North Carolina in partnership with Come Hear NC, a program of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

- Welcome back to the "Southern Songbirds" concert series presented by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Museum of History.

We've got a fantastic show for you tonight, as Tift Merritt sings the "Women of Country Music," and here's Tift to tell you all about it.

- Well, I just thought that this was an amazing opportunity to pay tribute to the musical foremothers who came before me.

And there's so many inspiring stories, some that we know and so many that we don't.

So I started listening back through my record collection and back through all of Kitty Wells' records and all of Tammy Wynette's records and all of Bobbie Gentry records to almost like a public history project where these, these are really important stories about what these women did and how they pushed things forward for people like me.

So people like Bobbie Gentry, who was one of the first women to insist on producing herself, or Cindy Walker, who was really a pioneer songwriter behind the scenes and had over 500 songs recorded, and 400 of them charting.

So, it's been a really fun thing to put this concert together, and I probably need to go tune up.

- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Tift Merritt.

[audience cheering] ["Two More Bottles of Wine" by Emmylou Harris] ♪ We set out west together with a common desire ♪ ♪ The fever we had might've set the west coast on fire ♪ ♪ Two months later trouble in mind ♪ ♪ Oh my baby moved out and leaves me behind ♪ ♪ But it's all right 'cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ Yeah, the way you left sure turned my head around ♪ ♪ Seems like overnight she just up and put me down ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna let it bother me today ♪ ♪ I been workin' and I'm too tired anyway ♪ ♪ But it's all right 'cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ Well, I'm 16 hundred miles from the people I know ♪ ♪ I've been doin' all I can, opportunity sure come slow ♪ ♪ Well I'd be in the sun all day ♪ ♪ But I'm sweepin' out a warehouse in west LA ♪ ♪ And it's all right 'cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ [upbeat fiddle music] [upbeat guitar music] ♪ I'm 16 hundred miles from the people I know ♪ ♪ I've been doin' all I can, opportunity sure comes slow ♪ ♪ Well I'd be in the sun all day ♪ ♪ But I sweep out a warehouse in west LA ♪ ♪ And it's all right 'cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ It's all right ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's all right 'cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ [audience cheering] [drumsticks tapping] ["Mississippi Delta" by Bobbie Gentry] ♪ M, I, double S, I, double S, I, double P, I ♪ ♪ M, I, double S, I, double S, I, double P, I ♪ ♪ Right in the middle of the Cotton Belt ♪ ♪ Down in the Mississippi Delta ♪ ♪ Wearin' last year's possum belt ♪ ♪ Smack dab in the middle of the delta ♪ ♪ Had me a little that Johnny cake ♪ ♪ Little of that apple pandowdy ♪ ♪ Pickin' scuppernongs off that vine ♪ ♪ Chigger bite, it's goin' to beat howdy ♪ ♪ Ate me a bucket of muscadine ♪ ♪ On the riverbank after dark ♪ ♪ Drop my line down a crawdad hole ♪ ♪ Do him in with a scaly bark ♪ ♪ One-ree-o-ree-ee-ree-ann ♪ ♪ Fidderliss-farce-nickory ♪ ♪ John-queery-quan ♪ ♪ M, I, double S, I, double S, I, double P, I ♪ ♪ M, I, double S, I, double S, I, double P, I ♪ ♪ Right in the middle of the Cotton Belt ♪ ♪ Down in the Mississippi Delta ♪ ♪ Wearin' last year's possum belt ♪ ♪ Smack dab in the Mississippi Delta ♪ ♪ Sittin', scratchin' mosquito bites ♪ ♪ Old fox done give him the slip ♪ ♪ Watchin' the mornin' glories grow ♪ ♪ In Biloxi on an overnight trip ♪ ♪ Bet two dollars to win two bits ♪ ♪ Eat a peppermint stick on Sunday ♪ ♪ Ain't no use in hurrying up ♪ ♪ I can't leave till a week from Monday ♪ ♪ One-ree-o-ree-ee-ree-ann ♪ ♪ Fidderliss-farce-nickory ♪ ♪ John-queery-quan ♪ ♪ Mississippi Delta ♪ [upbeat electric guitar music] [audience applauding] - Thank you very much.

That first song, of course, was "Two More Bottles of Wine," released in 1978 by Emmylou Harris.

The B side being a wonderful song by Rodney Crowell called "I Ain't Living Long Like This."

And the full length album, "Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town" which went to number one all over the Country charts is one of my north star favorite albums of all time.

That last song was by Bobbie Gentry, who was another one of my heroes and... boy, a writer of such, I mean, her playing her writing, her vision, her voice, it's all so singular, so unique, so located right in Chickasaw County, Mississippi.

That song, "Mississippi Delta," was the B side to a 1967 song called "Ode to Billie Joe," and Bobbie Gentry wanted to be a writer.

She did not wanna be center stage.

And so, she wrote "Ode to Billie Joe" and "Mississippi Delta," and when she demoed them, she sang the herself to save money.

[audience laughing] And Capital Records got a hold of the demos and they put the full length record, "Ode to Billie Joe," out in 1976 and it received 10 Grammy nominations and she as awarded "Best New Artist."

She was one of the first women to insist on writing her own material and producing her own material and I can positively tell you that that is not an easy thing to do even now.

Her record, "Delta Sweete," which she produced herself is one of my favorite.

It's just wonderful.

Go home, put it on.

Despite all of that, a rumor persists.

Maybe spread by some of the people on this very stage.

[audience laughing] That her boyfriend, Jim Ford, actually wrote "Ode to Billy Joe."

Despite the fact that it's her exact cadence, her poetry and her voice that is implicit and obvious in every single record that she made.

Now, I know it is confusing 'cause Jim Ford was a really interesting guitar player and he did have that one illustrious hit so full of poetry, "I'm going to make you love me till the cows come home."

[audience laughing] So I tell you, you know what we gonna do about it?

[audience laughing] We're gonna sing two Bobby Gentry songs to prove a point.

[audience cheering] Hang on.

[guitar strumming] I'm just getting started.

[audience whooping] [drumsticks tapping] ["Fancy" by Bobbie Gentry] ♪ I remember it all very well, lookin' back ♪ ♪ It was the summer I turned 18 ♪ ♪ We lived in a one room, rundown shack ♪ ♪ On the outskirts of New Orleans ♪ ♪ We didn't have money for food or rent ♪ ♪ To say the least, we were hard pressed ♪ ♪ Then Mama spent every last penny we had ♪ ♪ To buy me a dancin' dress ♪ ♪ Mama washed and combed and curled my hair ♪ ♪ Painted my eyes and lips ♪ ♪ Then I stepped into my dancin' dress ♪ ♪ Had a split on the side clean up to my hip ♪ ♪ It was red ♪ ♪ And it fit me good ♪ ♪ Standin' back from the lookin' glass ♪ ♪ Was a woman where a half gown kid had stood ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Forgive me for what I do, please ♪ ♪ If you want out, well, it's up to you ♪ ♪ Don't let me down, your momma's gonna help you move uptown ♪ ♪ Don't let me down ♪ ♪ Don't let me down ♪ ♪ She dabbed a little bit of perfume on my neck ♪ ♪ And she kissed my cheek ♪ ♪ And I saw the tears well up in her eyes ♪ ♪ As she started to speak ♪ ♪ She looked at our rickety shack ♪ ♪ She looked at me and took a ragged breath ♪ ♪ Your Pa's run off and I'm real sick ♪ ♪ And the baby's gonna starve to death ♪ ♪ She handed me a heart-shaped locket ♪ ♪ That said to thine own self be true ♪ ♪ And I shivered as I watched a roach ♪ ♪ Crawl across my high-heeled shoe ♪ ♪ It sounded like somebody else talkin' ♪ ♪ Sayin', Momma, what do I do ♪ ♪ Just be nice to the gentlemen, Fancy ♪ ♪ And they'll be nice to you ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Forgive me for what I do, please ♪ ♪ If you want out, well, it's up to you ♪ ♪ Don't let me down, your momma's gonna help you move uptown ♪ ♪ That was the last time I saw my ma ♪ ♪ The night I left that rickety shack ♪ ♪ The welfare people came and took the baby ♪ ♪ Momma died, and I ain't been back ♪ ♪ The wheels of fate had started to turn ♪ ♪ And for me there was no way out ♪ ♪ And it wasn't very long before I knew ♪ ♪ What my momma been talkin' about ♪ ♪ I did what I had to do ♪ ♪ But I made myself this solemn vow ♪ ♪ I was gonna to be a lady one day ♪ ♪ Though I didn't know when or how ♪ ♪ I couldn't see spendin' the rest of my life ♪ ♪ With my head hung down in shame ♪ ♪ I mighta been born just plain white trash ♪ ♪ But Fancy was my name ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Forgive me for what I do, please ♪ ♪ If you want out, well, it's up to you ♪ ♪ Don't let me down, your momma's gonna help you move uptown ♪ ♪ Don't let me down ♪ ♪ Don't let me down ♪ ♪ It wasn't long after a benevolent gentleman ♪ ♪ Took me in off the street ♪ ♪ One week later I was pourin' his tea ♪ ♪ In a five-room motel suite ♪ ♪ I charmed a king, a congressman ♪ ♪ An occasional aristocrat ♪ ♪ And I got me a Georgia mansion ♪ ♪ And an elegant New York townhouse flat ♪ ♪ I ain't done bad ♪ [upbeat guitar music] ♪ Now, in this world there are hypocrites ♪ ♪ That would call me bad ♪ ♪ Criticize Momma for turning me out ♪ ♪ No matter how little we had ♪ ♪ And though I ain't had to worry 'bout nothin' ♪ ♪ For nigh on 15 years ♪ ♪ I can still hear the desperation ♪ ♪ In my poor momma's voice ringin' in my ear ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down ♪ ♪ Forgive me for what I do, please ♪ ♪ If you want out, well, it's up to you ♪ ♪ Don't let me down, your momma's gonna help you move uptown ♪ ♪ You know she did ♪ [upbeat guitar music] [audience cheering] [audience applauding] - Jim Ford didn't write that one.

[audience laughing] This next song was written by a pioneering... songwriter named Cindy Walker.

She started writing as a teenager in Texas and she would write songs with people in mind, and in 1940, when she was 22, she approached Bing Crosby's brother with a song that she had written for him called "Lone Star Trail," and next thing you know he was singing it and she had a record deal.

She wrote over 500 songs that were recorded.

She wrote over 400 that were on the charts.

She, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, they recorded at least 50 of them themselves.

She wrote "Blue Canadian Rockies" for Gene Autry and the Byrds on "Sweetheart of the Rodeo."

And Willie Nelson made a tribute record to her in 2006 called "Cindy Walker, You don't know me."

This song has been sung by Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, and Ray Charles and we're gonna send it out tonight to Cindy Walker.

♪ You give your hand to me ♪ ♪ You say hello ♪ ♪ I can hardly speak ♪ ♪ My heart is beating so ♪ ♪ And anyone can tell ♪ ♪ You think you know me well ♪ ♪ But you don't know me ♪ ♪ No, you don't know the one ♪ ♪ Who dreams of you at night ♪ ♪ Who longs to kiss your lips ♪ ♪ And hold you tight ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm just a friend ♪ ♪ That's all I've ever been ♪ ♪ 'Cause you don't know me ♪ ♪ I never knew the art of making love ♪ ♪ Though my heart aches with love for you ♪ ♪ Afraid and shy ♪ ♪ I let my chance go by ♪ ♪ The chance that you might love me too ♪ ♪ You give your hand to me ♪ ♪ And then you say goodbye ♪ ♪ I watch you walk away ♪ ♪ Tears in my eyes ♪ ♪ No, you will never know ♪ ♪ The one who loves you so ♪ ♪ 'Cause you don't know me ♪ [somber guitar music] ♪ Afraid and shy ♪ ♪ I let my chance go by ♪ ♪ A chance you might love me too ♪ ♪ You give your hand to me ♪ ♪ You say goodbye ♪ ♪ I watch you walk away ♪ ♪ Tears are in my eyes ♪ ♪ Oh, you'll never know ♪ ♪ The one who loves you so ♪ ♪ 'Cause you don't know me ♪ ♪ You don't know me ♪ [gentle music] [audience applauding] - All right, I'm gonna tell one more long story.

[audience laughing] But, you know, I mean, this is part of women in music.

This story hasn't been told enough.

One of my favorite singers is Skeeter Davis.

[guitar strumming] Skeeter Davis started as part of the Davis Sisters, and the Davis Sisters were Betty Jack Davis and her very best friend, Skeeter, who changed her name to Davis when they were in high school in Kentucky.

They were very religious and they sang all the time together.

And somehow they made their way to New York City and Ted Atkins championed them and they recorded a song called "I've Forgotten More Than You Will Ever Know About Him," which went on to be recorded by hundreds of other artists including Bob Dylan, and the Davis Sisters' harmony influenced the Everly Brothers who, in turn, influenced the Beatles.

I think one of the most profound stories about women in country music is the story of the Davis Sisters.

They were suddenly number one on the charts and their very religious community in Kentucky was not proud of them.

They thought that Skeeter and Betty Jack were traveling around the country driving themselves and were going to, if they had not already, dishonor themselves.

One night, they had a show, they checked into a hotel room.

Betty Jack loved a hotel room, by the way, this is in Skeeter Davis's autobiography, "Bus Fare to Kentucky," I highly recommend it.

Anyway, Betty Jack loved a hotel room, and then what's not to like about a hotel room?

[audience laughing] And they went down to the show and they got wind that a fella from their hometown who had a crush on Betty Jack had come to the show.

And Betty Jack was so upset and she said, "Did you tell everybody back home "that you had were coming to the show?"

And he said, "Of course I did."

And everybody knew that he liked Betty Jack, and the girls immediately knew that they were not going to be able to use their hotel room because no one back home would believe that this boy was there and they were unchaperoned and something didn't happen.

So after the show, they piled into Betty Jack's car and they drove all night.

And in the early hours of the morning, they were in in a terrible car accident and Betty Jack was killed.

It was about a week after their song went to number one.

Skeeter went on to have an amazing career which crossed pop and country charts.

And she invented a sound called "Countrypolitan," which, really, the sound was because Skeeter was singing this close harmony with herself and it sounded like Kentucky country harmony, family harmony.

And it also had this kind of trippy pop doubling effect.

The reason that sound was invented was because Skeeter Davis would never replace Betty Jack.

She would only sing Harmony with herself.

So we sing this one tonight to Betty Jack.

♪ I forgot more ♪ ♪ Than you'll ever know about him ♪ ♪ You think you know ♪ ♪ The smile on his lips ♪ ♪ The thrill and the touch ♪ ♪ Of his fingertips ♪ ♪ But I forgot more ♪ ♪ Than you'll ever know about him ♪ ♪ You think you'll find ♪ ♪ A heaven of bliss ♪ ♪ In each caress ♪ ♪ Each tender kiss ♪ ♪ But I forgot more ♪ ♪ Than you'll ever know about him ♪ ♪ You stole his love from me one day ♪ ♪ You didn't care how it hurt me ♪ ♪ But you can never take away ♪ ♪ Memories of what used to be ♪ ♪ You think he's yours ♪ ♪ To have and to hold ♪ ♪ Someday you'll learn ♪ ♪ When his love grows cold ♪ ♪ That I forgot more ♪ ♪ Than you'll ever know about him ♪ [pleasant guitar music] ♪ You think he's yours ♪ ♪ To have and to hold ♪ ♪ Someday you'll learn ♪ ♪ When his love grows cold ♪ ♪ That I forgot more ♪ ♪ Than you'll ever know about him ♪ ♪ I've forgotten more ♪ ♪ Than you will ever know about him ♪ [audience applauding] - Chessa Rich on the harmony vocal, there, Betty Jack.

[audience applauding] I love the country music lesson song about how the hard way is the right way.

Being a good person is all it's really about.

And this is one of those songs, this is one of the finest versions of the, one of the finest of those songs, and it's been recorded by a whole bunch of people.

But my favorite version came out in 1955 by Jean Shepherd, the year that she joined the Opry right beside Kitty Wells.

[guitar strumming] ♪ How many times have ♪ ♪ You heard someone say ♪ ♪ If I had his money ♪ ♪ I'd do things my way ♪ ♪ How little they know ♪ ♪ It's so hard to find ♪ ♪ A rich man in 10 ♪ ♪ With a satisfied mind ♪ ♪ Once I was waiting ♪ ♪ In fortune and fame ♪ ♪ Everything that I hoped for ♪ ♪ To get ahead in life's game ♪ ♪ Suddenly it happened ♪ ♪ I lost every dime ♪ ♪ Richer am I ♪ ♪ The satisfied mind ♪ ♪ Money won't buy back your youth ♪ ♪ When you're old ♪ ♪ Or a friend when you're lonesome ♪ ♪ Or a love that's grown cold ♪ ♪ The wealthiest person ♪ ♪ Is a pauper at times ♪ ♪ Compared with a man ♪ ♪ With a satisfied mind ♪ [somber guitar music] ♪ When my life has ended ♪ ♪ And my time has run out ♪ ♪ My friends and relations ♪ ♪ I will leave no doubt ♪ ♪ But one thing's for certain ♪ ♪ When it comes my time ♪ ♪ I'll leave this old world ♪ ♪ With a satisfied mind ♪ ♪ I'll leave this old world ♪ ♪ With a satisfied mind ♪ [audience applauding] ["I Never Will Marry" by the Carter Family] ♪ They say love is a gentle thing ♪ ♪ But it's only brought me pain ♪ ♪ The only man I've ever loved ♪ ♪ Is gone on that morning train ♪ ♪ I never will marry ♪ ♪ I'll be no man's wife ♪ ♪ I expect to live single ♪ ♪ All the days of my life ♪ ♪ The train pulled out ♪ ♪ The whistle blew ♪ ♪ With a long and a lonesome moan ♪ ♪ He'd sworn he's gone like the morning dew ♪ ♪ And left me all alone ♪ ♪ I never will marry ♪ ♪ I'll be no man's wife ♪ ♪ I expect to live single ♪ ♪ All the days of my life ♪ [pleasant guitar music] ♪ There's many a change in the winter wind ♪ ♪ And a change in a cloud's design ♪ ♪ There's many a change in a young man's heart ♪ ♪ But there's never a change in mine ♪ ♪ I never will marry ♪ ♪ I'll be no man's wife ♪ ♪ I expect to live single ♪ ♪ All the days of my life ♪ [audience applauding] - So that's a really, really, really old song.

It traced back to the 1800s and then there's a 1938 version by the Carter Family and that is course, a version from 1977 from Linda Ronstadt's "Simple Dreams."

And, it's funny, I was reading about that record, it has "Blue Bayou" on it, it was like a best selling record so far, it won, it was nominated for Record of the Year and there was still, on the Wikipedia page, there was like this snippy critic that was like, "She's so predictable."

And I'm like, "Really, we're gonna give that guy "some space on Linda Ronstadt's Wikipedia page?"

Like he definitely not touch her.

Not only can he not touch her as a singer, he can not touch her as a human being.

[audience applauding] So, anyway, that's about where my collection of records stops is 1977.

[audience laughing] And that's where I kinda come into the scene and fit in, I hope, a little bit in all of this, In that moment where Rock and Roll and singer/songwriters and Country and California Country come together.

So I figured that if I was gonna play a song I actually knew, now might be a good time.

[guitar strumming] ["Traveling Alone" by Tift Merritt] ♪ This morning ♪ ♪ If it all would go ♪ ♪ Funny thing ♪ ♪ It wouldn't phase me none ♪ ♪ Might feel like I just got home ♪ ♪ You know I always had a taste ♪ ♪ For traveling alone ♪ ♪ Only ♪ ♪ Get this one time round ♪ ♪ Better speak up straight ♪ ♪ You better speak up proud ♪ ♪ Good Lord, if he's not at home ♪ ♪ Well, I always had a taste ♪ ♪ For traveling alone ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ If I had me a son ♪ ♪ I would make him laugh ♪ ♪ I would teach him something ♪ ♪ I'd say, son ♪ ♪ You got to hold your own ♪ ♪ And it's good to have a taste for traveling alone ♪ [upbeat guitar music] ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ If I had a love ♪ ♪ I would say, man ♪ ♪ You got to keep up ♪ ♪ Lay down ♪ ♪ Baby, feed my soul ♪ ♪ 'Cause you know I got a taste ♪ ♪ For traveling alone ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ If I had a song ♪ ♪ I would sing it now ♪ ♪ It wouldn't take too long ♪ ♪ I'd sing, goodness is a real bare bone ♪ ♪ And it's what you do ♪ ♪ When you're traveling alone ♪ ♪ Down south ♪ ♪ Baby, in the heat ♪ ♪ I was raised up right ♪ ♪ I was raised so sweet ♪ ♪ Sweetness ain't gonna get you home ♪ ♪ No, you're bound to get a taste ♪ ♪ Child, traveling alone ♪ [exciting guitar music] ♪ I know that the world is mean ♪ ♪ I know it don't care ♪ ♪ I been around, I seen it ♪ ♪ It's like a pretty girl ♪ ♪ Who don't even know ♪ ♪ I guess everybody here ♪ ♪ Is traveling alone ♪ ♪ Cigarettes and a pick up truck ♪ ♪ I'm gonna leave this town ♪ ♪ I got to press my luck ♪ ♪ Ocean ♪ ♪ Gonna break so slow ♪ ♪ You know, I always had a taste ♪ ♪ For traveling alone ♪ [lively guitar music] [audience cheering] [audience applauding] - This song... launched its singer's career when she performed it in 1957 on CBS's "Talent Scout" TV show.

And it, the amount of applause she got froze the applause meter.

It broke the applause meter.

["Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline] ♪ I'm always walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight ♪ ♪ Out in the moonlight ♪ ♪ Just like we used to do ♪ ♪ I'm always walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight, searchin' for you ♪ ♪ I walk for miles ♪ ♪ Along the highway ♪ ♪ Well, that's just my way ♪ ♪ Of sayin' I love you, I'm always walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight, searchin' for you ♪ ♪ I stop to see a weepin' willow ♪ ♪ Cryin' on his pillow ♪ ♪ Maybe he is cryin' for me ♪ ♪ As the skies turn gloomy ♪ ♪ Night winds whisper to me ♪ ♪ I'm lonesome as I can be ♪ ♪ I'm always walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight ♪ ♪ Out in the star light ♪ ♪ Hoping you may be somewhere walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight, searching for me ♪ [lively guitar music] ♪ Stopped to see a weepin' willow ♪ ♪ Cryin' on his pillow ♪ ♪ Maybe he's cryin' for me ♪ ♪ And as the skies turn gloomy ♪ ♪ Night winds whisper to me ♪ ♪ I'm lonesome as I can be ♪ ♪ I go out walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight ♪ ♪ Out in the star light ♪ ♪ Just hoping you may be somewhere walkin' ♪ ♪ After midnight, searching for me ♪ [audience applauding] - I won't ever be Patsy Cline but we'll play it out of our love for her.

I wasn't quite sure how to introduce this song until I remembered a quote that some very wise person, something a very wise person taught me early in my career in music.

And they said that the problems of women in the music business are the same problems of women in any business.

Which I think means that we have some things to talk about, ladies.

[drumsticks tapping] ["9 to 5" by Dolly Parton] ♪ Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen ♪ ♪ Pour myself a cup of ambition ♪ ♪ Yawn and stretch and try to come to life ♪ ♪ Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin' ♪ ♪ Out on the streets, the traffic starts jumpin' ♪ ♪ With folks like me on the job from nine to five ♪ ♪ Workin' nine to five ♪ ♪ What a way to make a livin' ♪ ♪ Barely gettin' by ♪ ♪ It's all takin' and no givin' ♪ ♪ They just use your mind ♪ ♪ And they never give you credit ♪ ♪ It's enough to drive you ♪ ♪ Crazy if you let it ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ For service and devotion ♪ ♪ You would think that I ♪ ♪ Would deserve a big promotion ♪ ♪ Want to move ahead ♪ ♪ But the boss won't seem to let me ♪ ♪ I swear sometimes that man is out to get me ♪ ♪ They let you dream just a watch 'em shatter ♪ ♪ You're just a rung on the boss man's ladder ♪ ♪ But you got dreams they'll never take away ♪ ♪ In the same boat with a lot of your friends ♪ ♪ Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in ♪ ♪ And the tide's gonna turn ♪ ♪ And it's all gonna roll you away ♪ ♪ Workin' nine to five ♪ ♪ What a way to make livin' ♪ ♪ Barely gettin' by ♪ ♪ It's all takin' and no givin' ♪ ♪ They just use your mind ♪ ♪ And they never give you credit ♪ ♪ It's enough to drive you ♪ ♪ Crazy if you let it ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ They got you were they want you ♪ ♪ There's a better life ♪ ♪ And you think about it, don't you ♪ ♪ It's a rich man's game ♪ ♪ No matter what they call it ♪ ♪ And you spend your life ♪ ♪ Putting money in his wallet ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ What a way to make a livin' ♪ ♪ Barely gettin' by ♪ ♪ It's all takin' and no givin' ♪ ♪ They just use your mind ♪ ♪ And they never give you credit ♪ ♪ It's enough to drive you ♪ ♪ Crazy if you let it ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ They got you where they want you ♪ ♪ There's a better life ♪ ♪ And you dream about it, don't you ♪ ♪ It's a rich man's game ♪ ♪ No matter what they call it ♪ ♪ And you spend your life ♪ ♪ Putting money in his wallet ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ Workin' nine to five ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ Workin' nine to five ♪ ♪ Nine to five ♪ ♪ Workin' nine to five ♪ [audience cheering] - I'm gonna introduce this very fine band to you now.

After I have this drink.

[audience laughing] I thought this was such a good idea... to try to sing all my heroes.

[audience laughing] We need six more months of rehearsal for me, not for them.

[audience applauding] [gentle strumming] No.

Yes?

Okay.

All right, let me introduce these gorgeous women over here who have worked so hard and been so sweet to me and are all amazing singers and writers in their own right.

Over here, Miss Chessa Rich.

[audience applauding] Skylar Gudasz.

[audience applauding] Kate Rhudy.

[audience cheering] I swear, I just about burst into tears when I saw them in their green dresses and their white shoes.

I love being in a band with women.

Thank you, guys.

[audience applauding] Over here, on my left...

Uh oh.

We've been playing music a long time, and we learned a lot of these songs together when we were in our 20s.

Well, you weren't in your 20s but I was in mine.

[audience laughing] Anyway, playing music with me for probably better than 25 years now, the one and only, my dear friend, Mr. Jay Brown.

[audience applauding] And with us from Butte, Montana, and touring all over the world with everybody, one of my favorite people and one of the finest musicians I know, Mr. Eric Heywood.

[audience applauding] And back here on the drums, also touring all over with everywhere and also my very good friend who I've known a long time, I just haven't spent as much time with you, so let's remedy that...

But one of my favorite musicians to plays music with, I wanna credit him for the fact that our set list is gonna make it into the 1990s... [audience laughing] This is my dear friend, fabulous musician, Mr. Matt McCaughan.

[audience applauding] All right, we better do some Patty Loveless.

[audience clapping] [drumsticks tapping] ["Blame It on Your Heart" by Patty Loveless] ♪ You've got a thing or two to learn about me, baby ♪ ♪ I ain't taking it no more and I don't mean maybe ♪ ♪ You don't know right from wrong ♪ ♪ The love we had is gone ♪ ♪ So blame it on your lying, cheating ♪ ♪ Cold, dead beatin', two timin', double dealin' ♪ ♪ Mean, mistreatin', lovin' heart ♪ ♪ All I wanted was to be your one and only ♪ ♪ But all I ever got from you was bein' lonely ♪ ♪ That dream has laid to rest ♪ ♪ 'Cause you have failed the test ♪ ♪ So blame it on your lying, cheating ♪ ♪ Cold, dead beatin', two timin', double dealin' ♪ ♪ Mean, mistreatin', lovin' heart ♪ ♪ Are you heading for a heartache, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Gonna get a bad break, oh yeah ♪ ♪ You made a bad mistake, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Your never gonna find another love like mine ♪ ♪ Someone's gonna do you like you've done me, honey ♪ ♪ And when she does you like she'll do you, it ain't funny ♪ ♪ You'll need some sympathy ♪ ♪ But don't be calling me ♪ ♪ Just blame it on your lying, cheating ♪ ♪ Cold, dead beatin', two timin', double dealin' ♪ ♪ Mean, mistreatin', lovin' heart ♪ [upbeat guitar music] ♪ Are you heading for a heartache, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Gonna get a bad break, oh yeah ♪ ♪ You made a bad mistake, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Your never gonna find another love like mine ♪ ♪ Someone's gonna you do you like you've done me, honey ♪ ♪ And when she does you like she'll do you, it ain't funny ♪ ♪ You'll need some sympathy ♪ ♪ But don't be calling me ♪ ♪ Just blame it on your lying, cheating ♪ ♪ Cold, dead beatin', two timin', double dealin' ♪ ♪ Mean, mistreatin', lovin' heart ♪ ♪ Yeah blame it on your lying, cheating ♪ ♪ Cold, dead beatin', two timin', double dealin' ♪ ♪ Mean, mistreatin', lovin' heart ♪ [audience applauding] ["It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells] ♪ As I sit here tonight, the jukebox is playing ♪ ♪ That tune about the wild side of life ♪ ♪ As I listen to the words you are saying ♪ ♪ It brings memories of when I was a trusting wife ♪ ♪ It wasn't God who made honky-tonk angels ♪ ♪ Like you said in the words of your song ♪ ♪ Too many times married men think they're still single ♪ ♪ That has caused many a good girl to go wrong ♪ ♪ It's a shame all the blame is on us women ♪ ♪ It's not true only you men feel the same ♪ ♪ From the start most every heart that's ever broken ♪ ♪ Was because there always was a man to blame ♪ ♪ It wasn't God who made honky-tonk angels ♪ ♪ As you said in the words of your song ♪ ♪ Too many times married men think they're still single ♪ ♪ That has caused many a good girl to go wrong ♪ [pleasant fiddle music] [pleasant pedal steel guitar music] ♪ It wasn't God who made honky-tonk angels ♪ ♪ Like you said in the words of your song ♪ ♪ Too many times married men think they're still single ♪ ♪ That has caused many a good girl to go wrong ♪ ♪ That has caused many a good girl to go wrong ♪ ♪ That has caused many a good girl to go wrong ♪ [audience applauding] - Chessa Rich, Skylar Gudasz, Kate Rhudy.

Eric Heywood, Jay Brown, Matt McCaughan, and all the foremothers of Country music whom we wanted to honor tonight.

[audience cheering] [audience applauding] ["Bramble Rose" by Tift Merritt] ♪ The ungrateful few ♪ ♪ Who tangle inside ♪ ♪ Don't care where they're born ♪ ♪ They're growing up wild ♪ ♪ The rain makes me thirsty ♪ ♪ And fighting to go ♪ ♪ My mind turns determined ♪ ♪ Dark as a storm ♪ ♪ So my love is ♪ ♪ Turned as hard as ♪ ♪ Bramble rose ♪ ♪ Just a real good woman ♪ ♪ Nobody knows ♪ [somber guitar music] ♪ I get so ashamed ♪ ♪ For making you blue ♪ ♪ I come back to this porch ♪ ♪ To make it all up to you ♪ ♪ The rain's got me thirsty ♪ ♪ Falling wasteful and slow ♪ ♪ I'm restless enough ♪ ♪ I'm so scared to go ♪ ♪ So my love is ♪ ♪ Turned as sharp as ♪ ♪ Bramble rose ♪ ♪ Just a real ♪ ♪ Good woman ♪ ♪ Nobody knows ♪ [somber guitar music] ♪ Do you think I'll be happy ♪ ♪ Out on the wind ♪ ♪ Do you think I'll get halfway ♪ ♪ Before it's raining again ♪ ♪ Will I find that I'm true ♪ ♪ When it's hardest to be ♪ ♪ Or will the notions I follow ♪ ♪ Have all turned on me ♪ ♪ Once my love has ♪ ♪ Grown as far as ♪ ♪ A bramble rose ♪ ♪ Just a real good woman ♪ ♪ Nobody knows ♪ [audience applauding] - I wanna thank you all so much for allowing me to revisit all of the songs that nourished and grew me in the beginning and revisit them and find them that they are just as tied to my heart if not even more.

[audience applauding] I'm not totally done giving speeches, if that's okay.

Is that okay?

[audience applauding] I think it's really important that we know where our songs and stories come from and that isn't always how we listen to music these days.

So it's been a real pleasure for me to talk about these foremothers who really made way for, who made the road that I'm walking down, or honored just to be adjacent to.

And when I think about them, the experience of women in the music industry is as diverse and and wide as women everywhere, but what all of these women have in common is that they transcended their situation, their framing, their limitations, and they remind us that we have the capacity to do the same thing every day.

[audience applauding] And it also, when we, I hear a little squeaky, so I'm gonna move a little up a little.

Also, when we are, our hearts are suddenly in our throats because of a song, it reminds us of how very, very much we share and how very, very little we don't.

And I think all of these women ignored the labels that were coming down on them and simply believed in the limitless within.

And music is a similar kind of a place.

You know, genre is not a musical device.

Music has no denomination, no gender, no race.

And when we put those labels on it that's not bubbling up from from inside.

It's coming down on it.

So when you hear a song that reminds you of that unlimited togetherness and that unlimited within we have, you should figure out what woman wrote it and what woman is singing it and what her story is.

[audience applauding] I don't, I swear to God I won't talk that much more.

[audience laughing] I don't play out very often because my job right now is being a mother, myself, and I want my daughter to see all of the big dreams that I have and that these women that I love had, but I also wanted her to have good manners and something that I was given right here in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is roots.

This next song is one of my favorites.

This is a Bonnie Raitt song from her, this is a Karla Bonoff song from her, from Bonnie Raitt's 1977 record, "Sweet Forgiveness."

"Sweet Forgiveness" was recorded at Sunset Sound in LA, which is where I made my very first record, "Bramble Rose," and we were in Studio A and Bonnie Raitt was across the hall making a new record in Studio B, and that was a really special, amazing, meaningful moment for me, and she came into our, you know, our studio one day and we had this poster of Muhammad Ali, because he, you know, we were the little engine that could, or we were channeling Muhammad Ali.

[audience laughing] And she thought that poster was so cool.

She said it was bitchin'.

[audience laughing] ["Home" by Bonnie Raitt] ♪ Traveling at night, the headlights were bright ♪ ♪ And we'd been up many an hour ♪ ♪ Oh, all through my brain ♪ ♪ Came the refrain ♪ ♪ Of home and it's warming fire ♪ ♪ Home sings me of sweet things ♪ ♪ Life there has it's own wings ♪ ♪ Fly over the mountain ♪ ♪ Though I'm standing still ♪ ♪ The people I've seen ♪ ♪ Come in between ♪ ♪ The cities of tiring life ♪ ♪ The trains come and go ♪ ♪ But inside you know ♪ ♪ The struggle will soon be a fight ♪ ♪ Home sings me of sweet things ♪ ♪ My life ♪ ♪ There has it's own wings ♪ ♪ Fly over the mountain ♪ ♪ Though I'm standing still ♪ [pleasant piano music] ♪ Traveling at night ♪ ♪ The headlights were bright ♪ ♪ But soon the sun came through the trees ♪ ♪ And around the next bend ♪ ♪ The flowers will send ♪ ♪ The sweet smell of home in the trees ♪ ♪ Home sings me of sweet things ♪ ♪ My life there has it's own wings ♪ ♪ Fly over the mountain ♪ ♪ Though I'm standing still ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ [audience applauding] - Thank you so very much for being with us this evening.

All these, come on over here, you guys, come on.

[audience cheering] [audience applauding] - [Announcer] "Southern Songbirds" is a production of PBS North Carolina in partnership with Come Hear NC, a program of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.