- You are not alone.

You are loved.

- [Narrator] Tonight on Stage, take a front row seat for the inspiration, connection and joy you've been missing.

- Mo Pretty don't deserve to die.

- Three, four, five, more peoples stand up, say yeah.

- Yeah.

- [Narrator] Pillsbury House Theatre presents Dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/ The Show, ♪ I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise ♪ - [Narrator] a performance processional celebrating the spirit of black traditions.

♪ I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise ♪ - Hi, I'm Sharon Bridgforth, writer of Dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/ The Show.

With Twin Cities PBS and Pillsbury House Theater, I am proud to present Dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/ The Show.

The stories in this show are born from my own blood memories, lived experiences, research and history, living as a child of the great African-American migration.

Ultimately, this show is an offering for us all to remember that we are loved and we are not alone.

And there is magic when we come together in community with the ancestors and the forces of nature to celebrate us.

Welcome.

So glad you're here.

(singing) ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you ♪ ♪ I'd say I'm proud to be your flesh.

♪ ♪ I'd look in your eyes and say ♪ ♪ I know you did your best.

♪ ♪ I'd say thank you.

♪ (singing) ♪ I'd say thank you.

♪ ♪ I wish i had one more moment with you.

♪ ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you ♪ ♪ I'd look you in your eyes and say ♪ ♪ I let those old stories go away.

♪ ♪ And I'd say I'm sorry.

♪ (singing) ♪ And I'd say I'm sorry.

♪ (singing) ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you ♪ ♪ Yes.

♪ ♪ I'd look you in your eyes and say ♪ ♪ I let those old stories go away.

♪ ♪ And I'd say thank you.

♪ ♪ I'd say I'm sorry.

♪ (singing) ♪ Can't you here me talking to ya ♪ (banging) ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ ♪ I'd say I'm proud to be your flesh.

♪ ♪ I'd look you in your eyes and say ♪ ♪ I know you did your best.

♪ ♪ I'd say thank you.

♪ ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ (singing) ♪ I'd look you in your eyes and say ♪ ♪ I let those old stories go away.

♪ ♪ I'd say I'm sorry.

♪ (clanging) ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ (clanging) ♪ I wish I had one more moment with you.

♪ (clanging) ♪ I'd look you in your eyes and say ♪ ♪ I know you're never far away ♪ ♪ And I'd say thank you ♪ ♪ I'd say I'm sorry ♪ ♪ I'd say I love you ♪ ♪ I love you ♪ ♪ I love you ♪ (singing indistinctly) - It doesn't make sense that they die and then they keep dying.

It doesn't make sense that lives so big could be gone.

That they could just disappear.

I don't understand why I can't touch them anymore.

So I keep telling myself these stories to keep them with me, or maybe to let them go.

(singing) - You are not alone.

You are loved.

Your prayers are answered.

Let yourself receive.

(clapping and singing) ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ All right now ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (clapping and singing) - It all started with that damn Duck.

Evertime Duck come wobbling she (beep) in, trouble follow.

Now Duck don't wobble, mostly.

Mostly she roll, be making figure eights each hip circle, swirl, pop, circle, swirl, pop.

All do pause in wonder, unless that (beep) come in wobbling.

Then we know she struggling with that big (beep) gun of hers.

Which mean you got about thirty seconds of wobbling before she can get that gotdangit gun aimed.

and baybayyy when she wobbling anybody's libel to get shot.

That is in fact how she got she name.

You see that (beep) wobbling, you had better duck.

(audience laughing) - Duck got that big (beep) gun from her daddy baby sister husband first cousin Miss Mama.

Miss Mama's Honeypot's aunty.

Miss Mama the one taught Duck how to shoot and taught Honeypot how to throw she knife straight from she (beep) to the mark.

(audience laughing) - And nobody better at hitting they mark than Miss Mama and she chilrns.

Which is why we get worked up whenever Honeypot and Duck get on they mark.

Duck say, first lesson you learns is stay away from Miss Mama bad ear.

And lesson number two, make sure you in line with Miss Mama good eye because if she can't hear you she will razor cuss that (beep) and if she can't see you, her mind move back to bad times which cause she get to circle shooting at ghosts and whatnot.

By that lesson number three, once she get she good mind and her right eye lined up, she teach that (beep) to hit any mark, anytime, anywhere, always.

Ummhumm boom baybayyy.

Which is why it's very worrisome, when Duck get on the walk.

See Duck work for Honeypot.

And Honeypot only go after the baddest of the bad, mostly.

So when Duck done, it's the devil's blood getting wiped up, mostly.

So folk don't mind, mostly.

Honeypot calls this her mission work and it is, mostly.

On this day, all the bad that coulda happened, didn't and the bad that did, ain't the whole story.

See Duck came in wobbling and singing.

Yeah, Duck like to sing when she wobble.

(singing) ♪ Duck don't wobble ♪ ♪ She roll ♪ ♪ Say Duck don't wobble ♪ ♪ She roll ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ You betta ♪ ♪ Hit the floor na baybayyy ♪ ♪ Before she let go ♪ ♪ her load ♪ - All right let's pick it up ♪ I said Duck don't wobble ♪ ♪ Duck don't wobble ♪ ♪ She roll ♪ ♪ I said Duck don't wobble ♪ ♪ Duck don't wobble ♪ ♪ She roll ♪ ♪ You gotta hit the floor na baybayyy ♪ ♪ Before I let go ♪ ♪ Of my load ♪ - As per usual once we knowd Duck (beep) was wobbling everybody got to running and cussing and diving and well, ducking.

Howsineverso, wasn't no boom at the end of the song.

We peeks out.

Duck jus standing there, scanning the room with she big (beep) gun looking mean and crazy.

We figure best stay down.

'Till all a sudden, in bust Honeypot and dem.

Honeypot and dem always close by on Duck wobble days, primed for the repay set.

Anyways, Honeypot, and them bust in shake de entire joint with fury.

Honeypot saying, where the hell is Mo Pretty?

Duck say, all you (beep) gets yo (beep) up na.

answer she.

(beep) we ain't crazy.

Didn't noboby move.

Till Duck start letting that big (beep) gun loose the air.

Then all of a sudden, everbody poppng up like hot corn.

Honeypot say, - Looka here, I know ya'll know that I know what Mo Pretty donn donn and I know ya'll know that this put a taste of she blood in my heart, so I know, ya'll know ain't gonn be no rest 'till I gets my taste'es, so I know, ya'll know one of you sabsuckas 'bout to speak the (beep) up I said where the hell is Mo Pretty?

- Honeypot yell.

- [Man] Oh no.

(audience laughs) - Parently, Mo Pretty had been impersonating Honeypot on the road.

Ummhummm, she stroll right on in with she fake furs and cigars, collect and play.

Moved all up and through them backawoods, balling offa Honeypot fame and fortune.

Making she way to the north, one joint at the time.

'Cept one a Honeypot womens happen to be up in one them joints.

And she shoal knowd wasn't nar rey one bit of no honey in that pot on the stage.

(Audience laughing) so she sent for Suga who sent for Sweetie Jr who sent for Delroy's, who lets just say, word got passed to Honeypot.

Anyways, Honeypot and dem fury the room.

(screaming) Now David is one of the few what can step into Honeypot fury and not get scorched.

David teeninchy, but he gots a heart like goliath.

Honeypot respect that.

See what had happened was, David donn fount da lawd.

Well David donn fount more than da lawd sitting up in de joint with us, holding he troth of spirits, and i don't mean da holy spirits.

(audience laughing) Anyways, David donn found da lawd.

Say he can no longer support Honeypot and dem rolling up shooting down peoples and what not, so he decided to take it on he self to hide Mo Pretty up in a safe house.

Well, David gots Mo Pretty up in he bed.

Anyways, David gots Mo Pretty up in the safe house, up in he bed and he feeling full of heself and da lawd decide to open up a ministry up on Honeypot in de joint.

Fool.

(audience laughs) Lucky for him Duck decide to help he (beep).

Duck feel a tenderness for David, like he she lil brother.

So Duck get to singing Honeypot favorite song, loud and low.

(singing) ♪ Honeypot sweet Honeypot ♪ ♪ I loves to call your name.

♪ ♪ Say Honeypot sweet Honeypot ♪ ♪ I loves to call your name.

♪ ♪ Let me be your biscuit baby ♪ ♪ I want to feel your sweetness in my hand.

♪ ♪ Honeypot, Honeypot ♪ - Yeah, this do distract Honeypot.

Take the edge off she heat, mostly.

But she then whirled back round to David.

Well at least she ain't go pulling she knife from she (beep).

Anyway, she whirl back round to David say, since when you care so?

Duck trying to help, take to the next song.

♪ Oh no say it ain't so ♪ ♪ Say oh no say it ain't so ♪ ♪ Oh no ♪ ♪ What i just did ♪ ♪ I ain't gone do no mo ♪ ♪ Oh no ♪ ♪ Oh no ♪ - Duck just keep singing.

Everybody nerves is bad.

David just keepa talking say, - I keeps dreaming this dream.

This black mermaid man lady come to me in my dreams.

Black, black like a most beautiful night sky.

Eyes shinning like stars, skirt deep blue, dark like skin.

Hair gots a thousand fishes and pearls hanging all the way down past behind.

Dat black mermaid man lady come to me in my dreams.

Take me down, down, down to the bottom of the ocean.

At the very bottom, I see things.

Like, down there is all them people you donn killeded.

All them people.

Plus so many more.

So many more they take up all space and time.

They down there, they down there.

They look at me, they eyes they pierce.

I know they trying to tell me something, but I always wake up right when they mouths open.

When they mouths open fishes and pearls flow out.

I always wake right when I see that.

Always I wake wet, not with sweat, with sand and seaweed.

- Honeypot soak David in silence.

Even Duck hush.

David ride the silence.

Carry on say, I don't know why dat black mermaid man lady come get me in the night.

I don't know why I the one get took on them trips, - But I am fo sho Mo Pretty ain't the debil.

Somebody pipe in say yeah.

- Yeah.

- David continue.

- Mo Pretty don't deserve to die.

- Three, four, five more peoples stand up say yeah.

- Yeah.

- David say, maybe none of them debils you donn took down did.

Everbody now press in, say yeah.

- Yeah.

- All eyes hard on Honeypot.

David hit the nail then say, we is tired of you sending Duck up in here to bust up our (beep) dangit time.

It is causing the ruination of our nerves and too, yo judgement is bad.

Plus nowadays, you wants to shoot down anybody that make you mad, if they debils from hell or not.

That ain't right.

- Everybody's worked up, press in, say yeah.

- Yeah.

David say, Honeypot, just keep yo black (beep) up on the band stand.

Slay peoples with yo music.

That's your treasure.

It's yours to give.

It ours to receive.

And thereby through in and whatnot, what you give circlulate back to you.

It's your treasure 'posed to circulate, not your rage.

So that's what I come back with.

- Slay peoples with yo music and tend to yo own gotdangit buisness.

Lay yo weapons down, circulate, please.

- By now everbody including Duck pressing in, in, in shouting yeah.

- Yeah.

- Heat raise off Honeypot, pause the crowd.

Jus then, - Mo Pretty bust in.

Everybody got to running and cussing and diving and well, ducking.

Mo Pretty just stand there, breathe in the danger.

Turn slow.

Eyes circle the room.

Silent.

Honeypot rock, she gots two minds to work through.

Honeypot sweat, she turn left, she turn right.

She circle.

Honeypot hum.

(humming) - David gets to clapping (clapping) - A praise jumping come on Honeypot.

Duck wail.

(singing) Honeypot catch a fit of shivers, eyes roll back in she head.

Crowd press in, somebody sing ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ ♪ Circulate lawd circulate ♪ (Inhaling) (Exhaling) (breathing heavily) - Something break.

We feel it, we hold it open for she.

Honeypot step in it, sing.

♪ Rest ♪ - Head raised, arms wide open, Honeypot sing.

♪ Rest ♪ - David pour he spirits on the floor.

David pour he spirits on Honeypot head.

David spit he spirits round de joint.

David say, it donn.

- It done.

- David say, it so.

- It so.

- David say, it is.

- It is.

- Everbody press in say, we loves you Honeypot.

- We loves you Honeypot.

- Honeypot get back to moaning.

Duck wail.

Honeypot snatch up Mo Pretty.

Mo Pretty say, I is so sorry.

- I is so sorry.

- Honeypot say, it's okay little sister.

Together, Honeypot and Mo Pretty, they wail, they rock, we sing, they shake, they shiver, they bust on out the door.

♪ Let it rest lawd ♪ (singing) ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ I will let it rest.

♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ (humming) ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ (humming) ♪ Rest in the night ♪ ♪ Come what might ♪ ♪ Jus rest.

♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ (humming) ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ (humming) ♪ Rest in the night ♪ ♪ Come what might ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ (humming) ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ ♪ Yes lawd ♪ ♪ Rest lawd ♪ (humming) - And now, them two, plus Duck and David and dem on da road slaying peoples with they music together.

And now.

Us.

We all swear when we rest, dat black mermaid man lady with black-blue dress and fishes and fishes and pearls come by our dreams.

Leave trails of sand and seaweed, wet, in the night.

(humming) ♪ Rest in the night ♪ ♪ Come what might ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ - I knew, when I seen Sweety Jr, curled up under the tree at sunrise, holding a tablecloth like it she blankey, that fool done tried to drink with Honeypot and dem.

I have tried to told Sweety Jr, you can't drink with Honeypot and dem.

Honeypot and dem is professional drinkers.

- They have tested and perfected they drinking.

Got a science to it, keep a level of it in the system at all times.

Sippy cup always full and available.

Never mix or try out new drinks.

Never guzzle.

Never act a fool, at least not from drinking.

(audience laughing) They foolishness just regular ig'rance.

Anyways, you cannot drink with honeypot and dem.

We all know the fact of that.

Sweety Jr learnt the hard and lasting way.

Which is why I didn't even say, I told you so.

Sweety Jr wasn't no good for four days.

Just mind poisoned, bloodshot eyes, just leaning everywhere she went.

Couldn't eat nuthn, but toast and coffee.

We tried to tell her.

There some things only a professional can do.

♪ I loves my sippy cup ♪ ♪ I keeps my sippy cup full up.

♪ ♪ Say, I loves my sippy cup ♪ ♪ I keeps my sippy cup full up.

♪ ♪ You don't know nuthn bout it ♪ ♪ So go on ♪ ♪ Back the (beep) up.

♪ ♪ I loves my sippy cup ♪ ♪ I keeps my sippy cup full up.

♪ ♪ Say, I loves my sippy cup ♪ ♪ I keeps my sippy cup full up.

♪ ♪ You don't know nuthn bout it ♪ ♪ So go on ♪ ♪ Back the (beep) up.

♪ (singing) (audience laughing) (clapping) - And then there is Ole Caney Sharp.

He done shrunked down so 'till all you see is the cane he yield like Noah.

Ole Caney sharp as a tack.

Mostly.

Mind bright.

Mostly.

He quick on he feet.

Mostly.

(audience laughing) See, Ole Caney Sharp been ole as long as anyone can recall.

He got a hare trigger for stories he got cocked to tell ova and ova and ova.

Yesssuh, the sound of he stick tapping clear the entire road.

Even the infirmed scatter quick, 'cause lawd help you if you gets cornered by Ole Caney Sharp.

(laughs) You ain't neva getting loosed.

Yessuh, Ole Caney Sharp be justa talking and talking and talking and talking and talking and talking.

(audience laughing) He hand out the same set of stories like a deck a cards 'cept you don't get to pull.

(audience laughs) Ole Caney Sharp will talk 'till your mind just burst open out yo head.

And when he finally decide to leave, you just left there just a leaning and rocking and mumbling to yourself, ummhumm.

(audience laughing) - Why everybody upset now is, stories that used to be straight lines is now circles.

He circle stories is na straight lines.

And he done dropped whole new ones that ain't nobody heard befo.

Like all of a sudden he talking about, - He Ethopian great grand daddy was a free merchant.

What Ethopian?

We know about the Freeman.

We know about the Choctaw.

We know about the Yoruba.

We know about the Frenchman We know about the Austrian, but we ain't never heard bout no Ethopian.

- Is new truth coming forth?

Has he forgot old things?

Has he donn gonn crazy?

Has the veil been moved?

Or is all of it, was always, just a pack of lies?

(laughing) - We don't know what's going on in Ole Caney Sharp mind.

Which is why we had to call Honeypot off da road.

See Honeypot is Ole Caney Sharp's baby sister's third daughter's second chile.

Honeypot he favorite of all.

- On this day we all sprawled out at Ole Caney Sharp lil piece of house.

Hanging out porch and window trying to fit.

Let Ole Caney Sharp talk and swing he stick, giving orders for to get he sippy cup and things.

(audience laughs) - Right when he start with he second round of the story of he Ethopian great grand daddy was a free merchant.

The door bust open, in step Honeypot and dem.

All heads turn to the light.

Honeypot storm to middle the of the room where Ole Caney Sharp sit.

She knock down about three of four peoples, step on more.

She get in there, stare Ole Caney Sharp in the eye.

Long, long and hard.

Ole Caney Sharp stay paused.

Let Honeypot soak he in and just like that, Honeypot and dem turn storm, dusting down the road before anybody could say how do.

- Well 'ventually Ole Caney Sharp smile, sip from he cup, pick he sentence up where he left it.

Get to swinging he stick round the room and things.

What come to pass was Ole Caney Sharp wasn't fixnta to die.

Which we shoulda knowd 'cause most likely whatever he got in he sippy cup donn pickeled and preserved he insides.

(audience laughing) - Ole Caney Sharp done lost hair, teefts and weight and maybe pieces of he mind , but he still gots plenty life in he.

What had twisted Ole Caney Sharp up were he worried over he great grand son, Merrit.

- Merrit had done got lost up in da north.

Well 'parently the boy heart got crushed when he come to find out that them there reports of the promised land, was riddled with inflations.

He started chasing bad women and the numbers insteada he dreams.

Well then men with guns got to chasing him.

So Mo Pretty told Duck who told Suga, who told Sweetie Jr, who told Ole Caney Sharp that Merrit's time in da north on the run was quick closing in on him.

Well therefore, Honeypot had to get called in.

After reading Ole Caney Sharp face like a book, Honeypot and dem took to the north.

We hear she got a new singer.

- See what had happened was, Honeypot and dem threw Merrit up in a dress and heels and wig and pearls and lipstick and such.

And then threw his (beep) center stage.

To hide in plain sight.

Next Suga, who so fine she make your mind go blank, spread the rumor that Merrit had been shot down in the streets somewhere.

So, by the time Honeypot and dem finish they tour of da north, guns had been done called off Merrit.

What no body could have knowd to expect were Merrit got the voice of an angel stored in he (beep).

(audience laughing) So when Honeypot told Merrit to just stand there hush, feeling so pretty and backed up with broken dreams and trouble, Merrit said he couldn't help it, he had to open he mouth and let he heart and soul release.

♪ Baybayyy ♪ - It were lengendary.

Peoples got to losing they mind, got to falling out and jumping up and grabbing at him and she garment.

Merrit open that crowd so wide and so fast 'till they started calling him Miss Kitty.

- 'parently too, the door keeper at that last joint, Slice, come running from she post, laid down at Merrit feet pledge to never leave.

- Something 'bout that touch Merrit soul and seeing that got Honeypot to feeling tender.

So at the end of the night, she told Slice to come on.

And Slice signed up as muscle.

Not this group need it, with all them knives and guns in all dem (beep) and draws and whatnot.

But anyways, - Merrit donn dissappeared into he love of he voice and dresses, so we now calls he Miss Kitty.

Slice live to make Miss Kitty happy and Miss Kitty love he some Slice.

(laughs) - 'ventually honeypot and dem took Miss Kitty and he Slice to see Ole Caney Sharp, so the ole man can see everthing all right na.

Um-hmm.

(clapping) ♪ Hey ♪ (clapping) (singing) (clapping) - I have always knowd the fact of this, but I had to bow down to it that day a long time ago, when I ate that very large piece of the devil's white cake.

Um-hmm.

See what had happened was, as per usual and whatnot.

I was following up behind a pretty lady up in a place I knowd I had no business at, 'cause I knowd wasn't gonn be nuthn, but pure suga up in there.

Any good fool bound to could lose they mind behind the right woman.

All that sweet, thick, coco, juicy, black suga, poping, swirling and swinging.

Anyways, they had womens, cake and liquor.

(audience laughing) What I doing up in there?

(audience laughing) - I don't know what had happened, but there I was, up in that suga shack.

See like all good fools I lie to my ownself.

I tell myself say I, come to hear Honeypot and dem.

And yeah, Honeypot up dere sangn, serving she suga like she do.

She mix it, she stir it, she toss it, she fluff it, (audience cheering) - while they preparating to unleash Miss Kitty on the room.

Meantime, this very pretty lady come stand by me.

Corner my eye, I see she looking at me, I know corner her eye she see me looking at her, but we stand there pretend we looking at Honeypot (audience laughing) and we is 'cause you can't help, but look at Honeypot.

'till finally I ask the very pretty lady if she would like to dance.

She say, why sho.

(audience laughing) - Next thing I knowd, the ver pretty lady say, would you like some cake?

(audience laughing) - I say, why sho.

Next thing I knowd, the very pretty lady say, would you like a drank?

I say why sho.

Next thing I knowd Miss Kitty step center stage to that microphone and all I can recall is Miss Kitty's thick, red, juicy lips opened and BAM.

(whooshing) (laughing) - Hey.

(laughing) - I remember you.

(laughing) (laughing hysterically) - I find myself face up on the ground, laughing and singing and talking to dead peoples.

(laughing) - And the dead people turned into water and the water turned into mountains and the mountains rose to the sky and the sky turned into the big, full moon and the big full moon turned into itself and it grew and it grew and it grew until it burst back down into the water.

Rising tall, tall, tall and black with seven deep blue skirts rolling around it.

With fishes and fishes and pearls flowing all the way down past behind and that big full moon, water, with it's seven blue skirts rolling around and black, black shining eyes smiled at me and reached down, down, to take my hand and bam.

I felt a knock on the head.

'parently Honeypot had thrown she shoe, hit me smack center the forehead to hush me and all my singing and talking and laughing with the dead people and the moon.

Duck pushed me to the side, prop me up next to David.

David keep he keep a eye on me, whisper say he saw dem and that big full moon water too.

I don't know why me and David the onlys ones see they.

I don't know where that black mermaid man lady was fixtna to take me.

I don't know what happened to the very pretty lady.

I don't know why my (beep) act a fool, but I tell you what I know fo sho, suga have always made me crazy.

♪ Let your questions go.

♪ ♪ You ain't got to know.

♪ ♪ You thinks too much.

♪ ♪ That's why you stuck.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up ♪ ♪ and fly.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up ♪ ♪ and fly.

♪ ♪ Let your questions go.

♪ ♪ You ain't got to know.

♪ ♪ You thinks too much.

♪ ♪ That's why you stuck.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up ♪ ♪ and fly.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up ♪ ♪ and fly.

♪ ♪ Let your questions go.

♪ ♪ You ain't got to know.

♪ ♪ You thinks too much.

♪ ♪ That's why you stuck.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up ♪ ♪ and fly.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up.

♪ ♪ Get on up ♪ ♪ and fly.

♪ - I tried to preparate Sweetie Jr for her visit to she Gran Nana.

Oh it sound sweet, baby you going to go visit your Gran Nana um-hum.

'cept Gran Nana crazy.

She a killer.

We is all scared of Gran Nana.

Gran nana is Sweetie Jr mama Biggranny best friend.

They both old as a circle in the tree.

You got to take the train to get to the road to walk to the boat to get across the swamp to get to the trail behind the woods, to get to Gran Nana's.

She don't like no company.

'cept for now she hell bent on seeing Sweetie Jr. - Gran Nana sent word from the woods.

Don't ask how.

(audience laughing) Nobody like to think about that.

But Gran Nana sent word from the other side the swamp for Sweetie Jr. to come right na.

(laughs) Poor gurl.

Don't even know to be scared 'cause ain't nobody around here trying to talk up on she Gran Nana.

Who my Gran Nana, Mama Biggranny?

Who my Gran Nana?

Sweetie Jr ask.

The gurl mama Biggranny take the hook end she cane pull Sweetie Jr in.

Look she in the eye.

Smile.

Spit on forehead.

Kiss face.

- Then push Sweetie Jr my way.

Nodd we on.

Just before we right foot out the door, Biggranny say, - you more than you think you is.

- She take in Sweetie Jr long time, look like she tear up.

- Oh (beep) This make us nervous, ain't no account of Mama Biggranny crying ever.

We decide we seeing things.

(audience laughing) Anyways, Mama Biggranny take she cane, push us on out, slam the door.

Outside the sun and the wind feel strange.

Sweetie Jr say, oh oh.

I grab she quick before she gets a mind to run.

Sweetie Jr ain't gonn be the cause of the Gran Nana coming out the woods for my (beep).

No no not nosoinisever.

I snatch (beep) that up and off we go - to the train, to the road that take you up to the boat, that go to the other side the swamp, to get to the trail behind the woods to get to Gran Nana's.

It a long trip.

- Lucky for us Granddada packed us a sack luernch.

She packed us up some fried chicken and biscuits and fat tomatoes and some peaches and some blackberries and some salt peanuts and a jug of water and well we ate good.

- Finally at the tip of the trail behind Gran Nana's, there Gran Nana stand, hands on hips, full moon eyes, hair hanging like a hundred black braids down she back.

You couldn't tell nuthn jsut looking at Gran Nana.

- Didn't nobody know all the old of Gran Nana.

Hell, didn't nobody know where Gran Nana, a woman, or a man, or both, or neither.

But, what was clear as Miss Mama's crystal was, it is best not to cross Gran Nana and Gran Nana is relation to dat black mermaid man lady.

- Suddenly Gran Nana snatch me out my thoughts.

- Look me in my eye long time.

Something behind Gran Nana eyes, something familiar.

An old thing.

Right when I thought I know what it were, Gran Nana smiled, gave me a sack luernch and a push and took Sweetie Jr on down the trail.

Anyways, - I ran quick 'bout my business of getting back home, back on the other side the swamp, to the boat, to the road that take you up the train.

- Just when I step off the train, there stand Miss Mama, David, Ole Caney Sharp, the gurl Mama and Mama Biggranny they stand there, speak in silence.

The sun and the wind feel strange.

Oh oh, I say.

And then they get to turning me around with they canes, staring at me, they move in closer, closer, closer, turning me around, staring, speaking in silence turning me around, staring speaking in silence.

'till I think I just saw Gran Nana And they just keep turning me around with they canes, pressing in closer, closer, closer 'till I can hear they thoughts, which feel like my thoughts.

And next thing I know, I feel like I full of suga 'cept I ain't had none but I find myself face laughing and singing and talking to dead peoples.

♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Cover the sky ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Start to fly ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Turn back around ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Touch the ground ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Raise her crown ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Water unbound ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Black like night ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Taking flight ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Fill the night ♪ ♪ Fill the night ♪ ♪ Big full moon ♪ ♪ Who dat.

♪ (Cast repeating who dat) - We only understand bout every tenth word Ole Caney Sharp say these days.

Well it's a good thing is he donn repeated heself so gotdangit much.

We can pull from memory anything he might be getting to.

- 'cept every now and then he do surprise us.

On this day, we all sitting on the porch, eyes closed, smiling.

'till all of a sudden Ole Caney Sharp open he eyes to the sky, say - and she fell in love.

her song shifted the beauty she refused to feel, made her next note raise the blanketed bits of what were.

In the moaning she cracked.

Without warning her calloused heart betrayed her.

Opened.

Things that used to be still, spiraled, uprooted.

Strength baring the sorrow broke in questions to God, like why?

The pull away that she leaned on before, crumbled into shards of memory.

Grief fell at her feet.

Her ghosts released, took the heartache with them.

Her stolen innocence returned, anchoring a new song 'till the Light became her and she became Herself.

- Ole Caney Sharp then turned, leaned in, look me long in the eye, dissappear heself into me.

♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ Smiling like a big ole toofless sun.

♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ Praise to the Light ♪ ♪ Praise to the night ♪ ♪ Praise to the werkrs ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ I say praise to the Light ♪ ♪ Praise to the night ♪ ♪ Praise to the werkrs ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ Praise to the Light ♪ ♪ Praise to the night ♪ ♪ Praise to the werkrs ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ I say praise to the Light ♪ ♪ Praise to the night ♪ ♪ Praise to the werkrs ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ - And up from center they circle the big full moon, raise up, up, up and it grew and it grew and it grew until it burst back down and became water rising tall, tall, tall and black with seven deep blue circles rolling around it with fishes and fishes and pearls hanging all the way down past behind, reaching ♪ This is why ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why ♪ ♪ This is why ♪ ♪ This is why ♪ ♪ This is why ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ ♪ This is why we here ♪ - They moving so fast, they clapping so loud, they singing so sweet, they grab me, they spin me right.

They turn me left, they stomp, they shout, they say Love.

And dat black mermaid man lady become all above and around, reaching down, down, down for me.

Wrap so tight around me, it become me.

I moving so fast, I clapping so loud, I singing so sweet, I spin me right, I turn me left, I stomp, I shout, I say I ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ I say praise, I say praise, I say praise ♪ ♪ Praise to the Light ♪ ♪ Praise to the night ♪ ♪ Praise to the werkrs ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ I say praise ♪ ♪ Praise ♪ ♪ Praise ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ ♪ Werk with Sight ♪ (singing and clapping) (Cast repeating this is why we here) (Clapping and singing) (Cast repeating this is why we here) (audience clapping) (cast clapping and singing) (cheering) - [Narrator] Funding for Stage has been provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and these funders