- Produced in Athens, at the Ohio University Telecommunications Center.

- The following program was produced in part through a grant from the Ohio Educational Broadcasting Network Commission and through a grant from The Ohio Arts Council.

- From Athens, Ohio.

- Ramblin', with Josh White, Jr. - Ah, so far so good.

♪ When I woke up this morning, ♪ ♪ something inside of me told me this would be my day.

♪ ♪ I heard the morning train.

♪ ♪ I felt the wind change, too many times.

I'm on my way.

♪ ♪ Come on sunshine.

What can you show me?

♪ ♪ Where can you take me, ♪ ♪ Make me understand.

♪ ♪ The wind can shake me.

♪ ♪ Brothers forsake me.

♪ ♪ The rain can't touch me.

♪ ♪ Can I touch the rain?

♪ ♪ And then I saw the sunrise, above a cotton sky, ♪ ♪ Like a candy cane delight.

♪ ♪ I saw the milkman.

♪ ♪ I saw the businessman.

♪ ♪ I saw the only road in sight.

♪ ♪ And then I got to thinking, what makes you wanna go ♪ ♪ To know the wherefores and the whys.

♪ ♪ Too many times now, Oh Lord, ♪ ♪ I can't remember if it's September or July.

♪ ♪ Come on sunshine, what can you show me?

♪ ♪ Where can you take me?

♪ ♪ Make me understand.

♪ ♪ The wind can shake me.

♪ ♪ Brothers forsake me.

The rain can't touch me.

♪ ♪ Can I touch the rain?

♪ Ah, do it again, White.

♪ And once it came to me, I saw the wherefores, ♪ ♪ And you can see it if you try.

♪ ♪ It's in the sky above, it's in the ones that you love.

♪ ♪ You'll never know the reason why.

♪ ♪ Come on sunshine, what can you show me?

♪ ♪ Where can you take me?

♪ ♪ Make me understand.

♪ ♪ The wind can shake me.

♪ ♪ Brothers forsake me.

♪ ♪ The rain can't touch me.

♪ ♪ Can I touch the rain?

♪ ♪ So much to lose, so much taking place.

♪ All right.

(applause) All right.

Yes, yes.

Thank you.

(tuning guitar) I certainly am glad there's a Gordon Lightfoot.

♪ Looking back at my hard luck days.

♪ ♪ I really do have to laugh ♪ ♪ Working in a dive for 26 dollars, ♪ ♪ Spending it all on drafts.

♪ ♪ We were hungry and hard luck heroes, ♪ ♪ Trying just to stay alive.

♪ ♪ We head up to the corner grocery.

♪ ♪ This is how we survive.

♪ ♪ Tell me, who's going to steal the peanut butter.

♪ ♪ I'll get a can of sardines ♪ ♪ Running up and down the aisle of the mini mart, ♪ ♪ Sticking food in our jeans.

♪ ♪ Well, we only took as much as we could eat, ♪ ♪ There was plenty left on the rack.

♪ ♪ We all swore, if we ever got rich, ♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ ♪ Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ You relate to this too much, you're too quiet.

(laughs) ♪ It was a two man operation.

♪ ♪ We had it down on a note.

♪ ♪ Keith would watch that big round mirror ♪ ♪ And I'd fill up my coat.

♪ ♪ We'd head up to the checkout line ♪ ♪ With a lemon and a bottle of beer.

♪ ♪ Into the car, God, to make it on home, ♪ ♪ Supper time's getting near.

♪ ♪ Tell me, who's going to steal the peanut butter, ♪ ♪ I'll get a can of sardines, ♪ ♪ Running up and down the aisle of the mini mart, ♪ ♪ Sticking food in our jeans.

♪ ♪ Well, we only took as much as we could eat.

♪ ♪ There was plenty left on the rack.

♪ ♪ We all swore, if we ever got rich, ♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ ♪ Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ ♪ I guess every good picker has half his hard times, ♪ ♪ I sure had my share.

♪ ♪ It's really kind of funny to laugh at now, ♪ ♪ People, I don't wanna go back there.

♪ ♪ So every now and then when I'm at a grocery, ♪ ♪ I take a little bit, not much, ♪ ♪ Never know when them hard time will hit ya ♪ ♪ And I don't wanna lose my touch.

♪ ♪ Tell me, who's gonna steal the peanut butter, ♪ ♪ I'll get a can of sardines, ♪ ♪ Running up and down the aisle of the mini mart, ♪ ♪ Sticking food in our jeans.

♪ ♪ Well we only took as much as we could eat, ♪ ♪ There was plenty left on the rack.

♪ ♪ We all swore, if we ever got rich, ♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ ♪ Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ ♪ Yes sir.

Yes, sir.

♪ ♪ We would pay the mini mart back.

♪ (applause) Ah yes, written by Florida's own Jimmy Buffet.

(tuning guitar) The reason why I bought it a 12 string guitar, his name is Bob Gibson.

I. I had heard.

I'd heard the 12 string guitar played before, but I wasn't impressed, you know.

Then I heard Gibson and I liked his technique.

You know what I mean?

He had a nice little touch.

So this back, I guess in the early middle sixties, I guess so after I saw him, I decided, well, I'm just gonna be another little Bob Gibson.

I went out and got myself a 12 string guitar.

At the time, I was very naive to the amount of tuning that is involved with a 12 string guitar.

And if I ever see Bob Gibson again...

In fact, every time I tune my 12 string guitar, I think of Bob Gibson.

And if that be the case, I think if I log up all the hours, I probably think of Bob Gibson more than anyone else in my entire life.

Folks, that deserves at least a song.

I stole this from the new Gibson album.

We both record for Mountain Railroad Records, if you were wondering.

Let me tell you the story about a very unique lady, who lives in Mendocino, California.

♪ Her name.

♪ ♪ Is Kathy O'Grady.

♪ ♪ A natural Mendocino lady.

♪ ♪ I picked her up hitching on the road to Casper.

♪ ♪ I had a personal question to ask her.

♪ ♪ She said, come up to my cabin or I'm out in the boat.

♪ ♪ I went up, fell in love.

♪ ♪ Next morning, I asked her, if she'd be my wife?

♪ ♪ She told me her philosophy of life.

♪ ♪ She said, it's just a thing I do.

♪ ♪ To while away, an hour or two.

♪ ♪ She said, before you get too involved, ♪ ♪ This ain't the place to get your problems solved.

♪ ♪ It's just a game I play, ♪ ♪ To get me through a Mendocino rainy day.

♪ ♪ She said, Josh, it's no reflection on you.

♪ ♪ It's just a thing I do.

♪ ♪ Just a thing I do.

♪ ♪ She said, I'm sorry you flew all the way from Paris.

♪ ♪ Sorry that you sold your Chateau.

♪ ♪ Sorry that you sent out all those wedding invitations, ♪ ♪ But that's the way things go, go, go, ♪ ♪ Go back to your wife and your kids, ♪ ♪ Go back before you're sorry for what you did.

♪ ♪ She said, don't worry, honey, ♪ ♪ I won't lose no sleep.

♪ ♪ But you better leave now before you're in too deep.

♪ ♪ She said, it's just a thing I do.

♪ ♪ I've done it to quite a few.

♪ ♪ She said, doesn't make you any less of a man, ♪ ♪ To realize you were a one night stand.

♪ ♪ It's just a game I play, ♪ ♪ To get me through a Mendocino rainy day.

♪ ♪ She said, stop looking for the reason or the rhyme.

♪ ♪ You fellas do it to us all of the time.

♪ ♪ It's just a thing I do, ♪ ♪ To while away an hour or two.

♪ ♪ She said, JW, it's no reflection on you.

♪ ♪ It's just a thing I do, I do.

♪ ♪ Just a thing I do, I do, ♪ ♪ Just a thing I do.

♪ (applause) Thank ya!

(tuning guitar) Bob Gibson, Bob Gibson.

I'm gonna do this song for, for we New Yorkers, and anyone else who might have grown up in a big city.

For those of you who did not grow up in a big city, you probably can't relate to this song.

So I'm not gonna dedicate this to you at all.

But, I will give you something to do while I'm doing this song.

For those of you who can't relate or those of you can and find it too hard.

See, as I do the song, if you can think of One, who wrote this song, Two, who first made it popular, OK?

Can you discuss it after the song though?

(laughing) OK.

I mean, every now and then, you know, people get carried away when I start the song.

Oh yeah, I know, I know.

You know, you hear that all through.

So, try and hold it down.

There is gonna be somebody who's gonna still do it though.

It's hard, just a little nudge, I know.

Song says, ♪ When this old world, ♪ ♪ Starts getting me down, ♪ ♪ And people are just too much, ♪ ♪ For me to face.

♪ ♪ I climb right up, ♪ ♪ To the top of the stairs, ♪ ♪ And all my cares just drift, ♪ ♪ Right into space.

♪ ♪ On the roof, ♪ ♪ Is peaceful.

♪ ♪ As can be.

♪ ♪ And there's a world below, ♪ ♪ Can follow me, ♪ ♪ Let me tell you now, ♪ ♪ And then come home, ♪ ♪ Feeling tired and beat, ♪ ♪ I go up where the air is fresh and sweet.

♪ ♪ I get away from the hustling crowd, ♪ ♪ And all that rat race noise out in the street.

♪ ♪ On the roof, the only place I know, ♪ ♪ Where you just have to wish to make it so.

♪ ♪ Let's go.

♪ ♪ Oh, oh, the roof.

♪ ♪ At night those stars, put on a show for free.

♪ ♪ And my darling, you can share it all with me.

♪ ♪ I keep telling you right smack dab in the middle of town, ♪ ♪ I found a paradise that's trouble proof.

♪ ♪ And if this whole world, ♪ ♪ Starts getting you down, ♪ ♪ There's room enough for two, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, ♪ ♪ Up on the roof, roof.

♪ (applause) Thank you.

OK, who wrote it?

- Carole King.

- Hot damn, you're old.

That's great.

All right.

Who first made it popular?

- Drifters.

- You all are old.

That's great.

It was The Drifters.

Can we, can we zero in on a year?

I think, it's like early sixties, 61 62.

That sound right anybody?

'Cause I'd put it in like 50, 59.

Someone said, no, I think it's 62.

You listen to country music at all?

- Yeah.

(clapping) - (indistinct) Well, you know, I like country, you know.

Country music, now, some people don't like it 'cause they say it's hokey.

Well, some country is hokey.

Some country is sexist.

Some country is racist, mm-hm, but there's an honesty to country music that I gotta give it, folks.

They were playing a song a couple of months ago, three, maybe well, a few more, on the radio.

It shows you an example.

Maybe, I hope you can grasp it as I do, song says, ♪ She just started liking cheating songs, ♪ ♪ And what's worrying me, ♪ ♪ I don't know if it's the cheating she likes, ♪ ♪ Or just the melody.

♪ Now there's honesty there, folks, do you hear me?

(laughing) There's honesty there.

Let me do a country tune for you.

This one, it kind of amazes me to say what I'm about to say, but this song I'm about to do was written by Conway Twitty.

Now, I've been in show business all of my life, I know strange things happen, but I never thought I'd be saying, I'm doing a Conway Twitty tune, you know.

(laughing) It's a great tune, 'cause when I heard it, it was summing up my life.

So I just had to learn the song because the song says, if you can't write the music, at least you can sing the song.

Hello?

Absolutely.

(tuning guitar) In fact, if by chance any of you feel a little rambunctious, let me go through the chorus of the song, if by chance you're feeling it.

Song says, if you can't write the music, you can sing the song.

If you don't feel like dancing, You can clap along.

There's a dream for every dreamer.

So let the band play on.

If you can't write the music, hey, why not sing a song?

It goes like this.

♪ If you can't write the music, you can sing the song.

♪ ♪ If you don't feel like dancing, you can clap along.

♪ ♪ There's a dream for every dreamer, ♪ ♪ So let the band play on.

♪ ♪ If you can't write the music, hey, why not sing the song?

♪ I'll say it again.

♪ If you can't write the music, I say it, ♪ ♪ You can sing the song.

♪ ♪ If you don't feel like dancing, you can clap along.

♪ ♪ There's a dream for every dreamer, ♪ ♪ So let the band play on.

♪ ♪ If you can't write the music, hey, ♪ ♪ Why not sing the song, well all right.

♪ ♪ When your life has no direction, try to understand.

♪ ♪ There's a rhyme for every line, a place for every man.

♪ ♪ So join the celebration, hold in your hand.

♪ ♪ If you can't write the music, hey, why not lead the band?

♪ ♪ If you can't write the music, I said, ♪ ♪ You can sing the song.

♪ ♪ If you don't feel like dancing, you can clap along.

♪ ♪ There's a dream for every dreamer, ♪ ♪ So let the band play on.

♪ ♪ If you can't write the music, hey, why not sing the song?

♪ ♪ (humming) ♪ Do it again.

♪ (humming) ♪ ♪ Well, a winner is just a loser who's made another try.

♪ ♪ So spread your wings and give your dreams ♪ ♪ Another chance to fly.

♪ ♪ Reach out for the rainbow, hold it in your hand.

♪ ♪ If you can't write the music, hey, why not be the band?

♪ That's true.

♪ If you can't write the music, I say it, ♪ ♪ You can sing the song.

♪ ♪ Maybe you don't feel like dancing, ♪ ♪ You can clap along.

♪ ♪ There's a dream for every dreamer, ♪ ♪ So let the band play on.

♪ I better get out of this.

♪ If you can't write the music, ♪ Take it home, baby.

♪ If you can't write the music, I said, ♪ ♪ You can't write the music, then why not sing the song?

♪ Whoo!

(applause) Anybody see where my peg went?

- (indistinct) That's your right.

- There?

OK, I got it.

It's fine.

Yeah, Gibson's in a lot of trouble.

(laughing) Gibson's in a lot of trouble.

Poop.

(laughing) Well, I hope you're impressed.

(applause) I'm so macho.

(chuckles) (laughing) (tuning guitar) Well folks, which ones did I break?

I broke the A fifth string, which is this one, which is the second strongest string on this sucker.

(laughing) And I also broke my G-string.

(chuckles) (laughing) Well folks, I have no choice.

I got other things to do on the 12 string.

I'm going to have to change the string, but in order to change the string, I need your help.

No, you don't have to come up here, no, no.

Oh my big chance, wow.

No.

What I'm going to ask you to do, if you wouldn't mind, while I'm changing these strings, I want you to sing a song for me.

Sing this for me.

♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ If you can, tap your foot and say ♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ That will keep the tempo straight ♪ ♪ A...are there any harmonies?

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now sing it by yourselves, now.

♪ ♪ Amen.

(foot tapping) ♪ ♪ Take your time and sing it.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ I can hear the harmony.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now sing it for the babies.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ You know, they need it.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Every single night and day.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now sing it for their parents.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ You know, we deserve it.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ I ain't lyin'.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now sing it for their teachers.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ You know, they deserve it too.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ I ain't lyin'.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now sing it for the ignorant.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ You know, they need it.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ I ain't lyin'.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now sing a little softer.

(foot still tapping) ♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ This is taking longer than I thought.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ But you sure sound good to me.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Say it again, people.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ I like to hear it.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Everybody sing the song.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Keep on singing it.

♪ (tuning guitar) ♪ Amen.

♪ (laughing) Keep it up.

♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ You just sped up.

♪ Amen.

(snapping) ♪ ♪ Keep it right there.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Now take it on home now.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Slowing up now.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Very last time, say, ♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ ♪ Amen.

♪ (applause) My goodness.

I always hope that the audience can hear themselves as well as I can, 'cause I hear some good harmonies.

I'm moving the props, folks, or not the props, but the, yeah, the microphones may have to raise the level of the sixth string, 'cause it's a little softer than the 12th.

(guitar plucking) Did you all hear that?

- Oh yeah.

- Here, lemme do it again.

I might have passed some of you too fast.

(guitar plucking) I mean it's not intricate, but it's tasty.

- Yeah.

- Go for it, why.

♪ Do me wrong?

♪ ♪ Do me right?

♪ ♪ Tell me lies, but hold me tight.

♪ ♪ Save your goodbyes for the morning light, ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be lonely tonight.

♪ ♪ Say goodbye.

♪ ♪ Say hello.

♪ ♪ Sure is good to see you, but it's time to go.

♪ ♪ Don't say yes, but please don't say no.

♪ ♪ I don't wanna be lonely tonight.

♪ ♪ Go away, then damn ya, go on and do as you please.

♪ ♪ You're not going to see me getting down on my knees.

♪ ♪ On the side and your heart's been divided.

♪ ♪ You've been turning my world upside down.

♪ ♪ So do me wrong, but do it right.

♪ Do it right.

(chuckles) ♪ Tell me lies, but hold me tight.

♪ ♪ Save your goodbyes for the morning light.

♪ ♪ I don't wanna be lonely tonight.

♪ ♪ I don't wanna be lonely.

No, no, no, no.

♪ ♪ I don't wanna be lonely.

No, no.

♪ ♪ Oh no.

♪ ♪ Oh no.

♪ ♪ I don't wanna be lonely tonight.

♪ (applause) Thank you, thank you.

(prerecorded video plays) You know, it's hard for me to imagine not being born in a musical family.

It's like that innate quality one is born with, I was born into a family where the mother sang in church, in New York City.

And my father, was from Greenville, South Carolina.

And they got together in New York City, and me being the third child, and the only boy, when I came along, the music was just all around me.

And before I knew it, I found myself singing professionally at the age of four, with my father.

One of the first places I remember was a place called Cafe Society downtown.

And he was singing one night and I happened to be there.

And he came, I was singing too loud in the corner with him.

They walked over and picked me up and stood me on the chair that he put his foot on and we finished the song.

And before I knew it, it was not only Cafe Society where I was singing, I was singing across the country.

And all of a sudden we were doing radio shows and doing the Keith Smith Show, and The Arthur Godfrey Show and meeting different people.

I found Mrs. Roosevelt, who was sort of my unofficial godmother, their relationship grew.

And, I met the likes of Joe Lewis and at the club and Cafe Society, where dad used to, used to sing.

Other people would drop in just to say hello.

And I'd find myself sitting on the knees of very famous people, one being a Paul Robeson.

At the time I, I think I sat on so many knees, I didn't walk until I was 16.

All of a sudden, we branched out from just singing, and I, I got a guitar when I was 11, and we thought I'd start trying my musical ability in playing the guitar.

We would sing at the YMHA in New York, that was very famous, we'd do it almost every year.

We started going across the country.

My sister, Beverly, would join us.

And we would go from, oh, I don't know, from the United States to Canada to sing for the Prime Minister.

And from there, we might find ourselves, who knows, in Stockholm, Sweden at the Tivoli Gardens, which was a, a once year regular spot for my dad.

And then all of a sudden, it was time for me, after my 17 years of singing with him to go out and find out what I had to do on my own, or wanted to do it on my own.

And, we sort of parted, it was kind of hard because I had 17 years of, of the security of my dad.

But he had exposed me well and gave me a chance to learn myself.

And I think I served a great apprenticeship under a very fine, I think, performer, disregarding the fact that he was my dad.

He was a good solo artist.

And I think I learned a lot from him, and I thank him for it, and my mom.

(prerecorded video ends) ♪ Dick was down by Old Joe's bar room.

♪ ♪ On the corner of the square, ♪ ♪ They were serving drinks, as usual.

♪ ♪ And the usual crowd was there.

♪ ♪ On my left, stood Big Joe McKennedy, ♪ ♪ And his eyes were blood shot red.

♪ ♪ He turned his face to the people.

♪ ♪ These were the very words he said, ♪ ♪ While I was down at Saint James Infirmary, ♪ ♪ I saw my baby there stretched out on a long, ♪ ♪ long white table.

♪ ♪ So sweet.

♪ ♪ So cool.

So fair.

♪ ♪ Let her go.

♪ ♪ Let her go, God Bless her, ♪ ♪ Wherever she may be.

♪ ♪ She can search this whole wide world over, ♪ ♪ She'll never find another man like me.

♪ ♪ When I die, please bury me in my high top, Stetson hat, ♪ ♪ Bought a gold piece on my watch chain.

♪ ♪ You knew I died, standing pat.

♪ ♪ Let her go.

♪ ♪ Let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be.

♪ ♪ She can search this whole wide world over, ♪ ♪ She'll never find another man like me.

♪ ♪ Now I may be killed on the ocean.

♪ ♪ I may be killed by cannonball.

♪ ♪ However, let me tell you, ripper, ♪ ♪ That old woman caused it all.

♪ ♪ Let her go.

♪ ♪ Let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be.

♪ ♪ She can search this whole wide world over, ♪ ♪ She'll never find another man like me.

♪ (guitar solo) ♪ I want six crap, shoot us a beam, my pall bearers, ♪ ♪ Three pretty women, sing a song, stick a jazz band ♪ ♪ On my hearse wagon, raise hell as we stroll along.

♪ ♪ Let her go.

♪ ♪ Let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be, ♪ ♪ She can search this whole wide world over, ♪ ♪ She'll never find another man like me.

♪ ♪ Now folks, you've heard my story.

♪ ♪ Now then, you've heard my song.

♪ ♪ And if anyone should happen to ask her, ♪ ♪ Tell them why it's been here and gone.

♪ ♪ Let her go.

♪ ♪ Let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be, ♪ ♪ She can search this whole wide world over, ♪ ♪ She'll never find ♪ ♪ Another man ♪ ♪ Like ♪ ♪ Me.

♪ (applause) Thank you.

On a good roll now, don't stop it, hell.

(chuckles) - (indistinct request from audience) - Oh, I wish I could play it.

There are a lot of songs that I know of the old man's, but I can't play, you know, that's one of 'em.

It's a good song, I'll learn it yet.

I'm a little lazy, too.

Scratch that, he didn't say that, honest.

One of my favorite tunes that my old man used to do, He had to have had fun doing it, now remembering back, watching him.

'Cause I traveled him for like 17 years, little gleam in the eye when he, really enjoying a song, you know, he had it, and I understand.

Some songs are just fun to do.

Song was called, Where Were You, Baby, When My Heart Went Out?

Song goes like this.

♪ I look through every bar room, ♪ ♪ And I searched from coast to coast.

♪ ♪ You were scarce as low cost housing, (chuckles) ♪ ♪ Baby, when I needed you most.

♪ ♪ Where were you, baby, baby?

♪ ♪ When my heart went out, ♪ ♪ Well, you left me, baby.

♪ ♪ Now there's darkness and doubt.

♪ ♪ I peeked through fancy boudoirs ♪ ♪ And I peeked through window grates.

♪ ♪ I only saw Republicans, romancing Southern states.

♪ ♪ Where were you, baby, baby?

♪ ♪ When my heart went out.

♪ (guitar solo) ♪ Well you left me, baby, ♪ ♪ Now there's darkness and doubt.

♪ ♪ I try to replace you with a street walker named Desire.

♪ ♪ Prices all up so high.

♪ ♪ Hell, I couldn't afford a try.

♪ ♪ Teach my baby, baby, ♪ ♪ Put my fire out.

♪ ♪ Well you left me, baby, ♪ ♪ Now there's darkness and doubt.

♪ ♪ But tonight I think I'm gonna take some good advice, ♪ ♪ Look around and find me somebody that's really nice.

♪ ♪ Now, perhaps a banker's daughter, if her papa's a cuss.

♪ ♪ Well, I hope to do to her, what her Papa does to us.

♪ ♪ And she'll have a fancy shack, fancy Cadillac.

♪ ♪ And studying to be a nymphomaniac.

♪ ♪ And we'll have a little ride, play a little gin, ♪ Have another ride, tune some music in.

♪ Then we'll have another ride, just to get a little glow.

♪ We'll have another ride to make the conversation flow.

♪ Then we'll have a little ride, play a little gin, ♪ ♪ Have another ride, play some more gin.

♪ ♪ Then we'll have a little gin, ♪ ♪ And we'll play a little ride.

♪ ♪ We'll suddenly realize that we're getting kinda high.

♪ ♪ Then we'll turn the lights down low, ♪ ♪ To keep the bulbs from getting... ♪ ♪ Hot.

♪ ♪ Then we'll play a little game called... ♪ ♪ Yes?

♪ ♪ No.

♪ ♪ Oh, why not?

(chuckles) ♪ ♪ But tonight I think I'm gonna find me something swell, ♪ ♪ So I can wake up in the morning, ♪ ♪ Miserable as hell.

♪ ♪ When butter cost a dollar, ♪ ♪ And bread cost more than cake, ♪ ♪ Come back soon cost, think, ♪ ♪ Oh, what a gal like you could make.

♪ ♪ Come back, baby.

♪ ♪ Don't tell me that we're through.

♪ ♪ 'Cause this time, baby, I'd like to walk right out on you.

♪ (applause) Thank you.

(tuning guitar) Let me do one more like that that dad used to do.

You've heard this song before, Whenever a song is a hit, every six, seven years, you can bet a nickel to a dollar, It'll be back out again by a new group, a little variation, you know, cause a good song is gonna last.

It's gonna be perpetual.

And our dad's version of it is, is a bit different from normal.

You know, basically you always heard this song.

♪ There is a house... ♪ Wow, that's cool.

But dad heard it a different way, you know, he heard it more as a lament than a driving type tune.

Same text.

You know, young girl finding herself in a situation where she can't get out of it, trying to yell and make sure that someone else, hopefully may be saved from it.

Anyway, it's our version on The House of the Rising Sun.

♪ There is ♪ ♪ A house ♪ ♪ In New Orleans, ♪ ♪ They call the rising sun.

♪ ♪ And it's been the ruin ♪ ♪ Of many a poor girl.

♪ ♪ And me, oh Lord, I'm one.

♪ ♪ Now, if I, ♪ ♪ Had a listened ♪ ♪ To what my mama said, ♪ ♪ I'd a been at home today, ♪ ♪ Oh being so young and foolish, oh my Lord, ♪ ♪ I let a rambler lead ♪ ♪ Me astray.

♪ ♪ Go tell ♪ ♪ My baby sister, ♪ ♪ Don't do what I've done ♪ ♪ Please shun that house in New Orleans, ♪ ♪ They call the rising sun.

♪ ♪ Lord, I'm done ♪ ♪ Going back ♪ ♪ To New Orleans ♪ ♪ My race is almost run.

♪ ♪ Yes, I'm going back ♪ ♪ To spare my life, ♪ ♪ Beneath ♪ ♪ That rising sun.

♪ (applause) Thank you.

(applause continues) Thank you.

(more applause) Thank you.

I'm gonna do another ballad for you, Normally try not do too many, you know, down songs Tend to lose 'em, But this is, it's a very special song for me, because I'll show you the correlation.

This song is about a young boy that goes off into the world for his first time, because in the song, it says he's green to the world, and his meeting and relationship with an old black street singer.

My father was born in Greenville, South Carolina.

And at the age of seven years old, he was crossing the street one day and there's a blind man waiting to cross, to get across.

And the blind man asked him if he would help him cross the street and he did.

The blind man asked him what his name was, And dad said, Joshua.

So the man played Joshua with the Battle of Jericho for him and asked him if he would like to lead him after school for money.

And my father's father was a minister who had died by then.

So he went and asked my grandmother, and she was also a very religious lady and she prayed over it for three days.

She couldn't give an answer until she prayed over it.

And she finally said, yes.

And I guess my dad was in the fifth grade then, fourth or fifth grade.

And so he started leading blind, John Henry Arnold for two bucks a week.

He'd lead him around, have the tambourine, play the tambourine, then pass it.

And from the age of, well, he quit school in the fifth, in the sixth grade, I think.

And he went on to lead from, until he was 16 and a half, he led about 66 different blind men across the south and winding up in Chicago and New York.

And so whenever I hear or sing Cortelia Clark, I always, I always think of my old man.

So, let me share it with you.

♪ I was just a boy the year, ♪ ♪ The Bluebird Special came through here, ♪ ♪ On its first run south to New Orleans.

♪ ♪ A blind old man and I, we came to Guthrie, ♪ ♪ Just to see the train.

♪ ♪ He was black.

♪ ♪ I was green.

♪ ♪ Tell me what you see, he said.

♪ ♪ Is the engine black or red?

♪ ♪ Son, that's the loudest thing I've ever seen.

♪ ♪ Then he picked his guitar up, ♪ ♪ Sat on the fender of a truck.

♪ ♪ His eyes lit up as he began to sing.

♪ ♪ I remember when, ♪ ♪ That old man's dreams were chained, ♪ ♪ To a depot down in Guthrie ♪ ♪ And a Bluebird Special train.

♪ ♪ Then he picked his guitar up.

♪ ♪ Staggered down the walk.

♪ ♪ The cars uptown wound round the buildings at his feet.

♪ ♪ Looking mighty proud, that old man, ♪ ♪ With his battered hat in his hand, Lord.

♪ ♪ He sung a song that made me weep.

♪ ♪ He made me ♪ ♪ weep.

♪ ♪ I read it in the week old paper, ♪ ♪ No one made it for his wake, ♪ ♪ Or laid a flower at his feet.

♪ ♪ He was just a blind old beggar, ♪ ♪ People say that, but Lord, I'll wager, ♪ ♪ He won't be begging up there, ♪ ♪ In your street.

♪ ♪ You will find him, Lord, this morning, ♪ ♪ He'll be stepping from the dark, ♪ ♪ Won't you save a street in glory, Lord, ♪ ♪ For Cortelia Clark.

♪ I was just a lad that year, ♪ The Bluebird Special came through here, ♪ ♪ On its first run south ♪ ♪ To New Orleans.

♪ ♪ A blind old man and I, we came to Guthrie.

♪ ♪ Ooh, just to see that train.

♪ ♪ He was black.

♪ ♪ Was I... ♪ ♪ Green?

♪ (guitar chords) (applause) - The preceding program was produced in part through a grant from the Ohio Educational Broadcasting Network Commission and through a grant from the Ohio Arts Council.