- [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

(gentle cheerful music) ♪ I like this town ♪ ♪ It feels like me ♪ ♪ The little shops along Main Street ♪ ♪ The water tower where if you squint your eyes ♪ ♪ You still can see a faded Class of '65 ♪ ♪ The Dairy Queen, banana splits ♪ ♪ Those soft serve cones ♪ ♪ That no matter what ♪ ♪ They always drip ♪ ♪ The movie house ♪ ♪ Bag of popcorn and some chocolate ♪ ♪ You see a show and still go home ♪ ♪ With money in your pocket ♪ ♪ Jack's Corner Drug ♪ ♪ Webb's Hardware Store ♪ ♪ With its screws and nails and rakes and pails ♪ ♪ Ceiling to floor ♪ ♪ The five and dime ♪ ♪ Dot and Ray's ♪ ♪ Get a little gas, buy a little bait ♪ ♪ The Rumble Bridge out by the lake ♪ ♪ Oh, I still go there where it used to be ♪ ♪ Just for old times' sake ♪ ♪ Maybe drop a line ♪ ♪ From my buddy's boat ♪ ♪ And when we're through, the A&W ♪ ♪ For a root beer float ♪ ♪ Burr's Barber Shop ♪ ♪ Where Dad and I waged war ♪ ♪ I'd say leave it long ♪ ♪ He'd say cut it short ♪ ♪ The Ford Garage ♪ ♪ Frank's Cafe ♪ ♪ Where the farmers solve all the problems of the day ♪ ♪ Now this town, it lives ♪ ♪ And I believe ♪ ♪ When they say the heart of America ♪ ♪ This is what they mean ♪ ♪ It's in my blood ♪ ♪ In each and every bone ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter where I am ♪ ♪ I still call this town home ♪ ♪ But there's a lot of towns ♪ ♪ With a lot of names ♪ ♪ Many look alike ♪ ♪ But none are quite the same ♪ ♪ What makes this place ♪ ♪ Feel like it does ♪ ♪ Is we are this town ♪ ♪ This town is us ♪ ♪ I like this town ♪ (audience clapping) - Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Well, the funnest part of this whole thing for me, outside of the pie from the pie place and the hash brown casserole, I always feel like when I leave "Unplugged," I have to go have angioplasty, (audience laughing) is to introduce my friends, and all of these people up here are my friends, and I'm really honored to bring up a fellow that is an icon and a good soul and an amazing, amazing songwriter and has more energy than, well, well.

So I'm gonna bring up my friend and co-writer, which we wrote a song today, Tom Paxton.

(audience cheering) (audience clapping) and now that I've introduced the pretty one, on the other side is, I think, one of the greatest songwriters in Nashville and she's in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

And I just love what she writes.

And I love why she writes and she's just gonna blow you away, Matraca Berg.

(audience clapping) (audience cheering) Well, Tom, do something you know.

- Let's do a song in C. ♪ It's a long and dusty road ♪ ♪ A hot and a heavy load ♪ ♪ Folks I meet ain't always kind ♪ ♪ Some are bad and some are good ♪ ♪ Some have done the best they could ♪ ♪ Some have tried to ease my troubling mind ♪ ♪ And I can't help but wonder ♪ ♪ Where I'm bound, where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ ♪ I been wandering through this land ♪ ♪ Doing the best I can ♪ ♪ Trying to find what I was meant to do ♪ ♪ And the people that I see look as worried as can be ♪ ♪ And it looks like they are wondering, too ♪ ♪ And I can't help but wonder ♪ ♪ Where I'm bound, where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ (gentle calm music) ♪ I had a little gal one time ♪ ♪ She had lips like sherry wine ♪ ♪ And she loved me till my head went plumb insane ♪ ♪ But I was too blind to see she was drifting away from me ♪ ♪ And my good gal went off on the morning train ♪ ♪ And I can't help but wonder ♪ ♪ Where I'm bound, where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ ♪ I had a buddy back home but he started out to roam ♪ ♪ And I hear he's out by 'Frisco Bay ♪ ♪ And sometimes when I've had a few ♪ ♪ His voice comes ringing through ♪ ♪ And I'm going out to see him some old day ♪ ♪ And I can't help but wonder ♪ ♪ Where I'm bound, where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ (gentle calm music continues) ♪ If you see me passing by, you sit and you wonder why ♪ ♪ And you wish that you were a rambler, too ♪ ♪ Nail your shoes to the kitchen floor ♪ ♪ Lace 'em up and bar the door ♪ ♪ Thank your stars for the roof that's over you ♪ ♪ And I can't help but wonder ♪ ♪ Where I'm bound, where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Where I'm bound ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder where I'm bound ♪ (audience clapping) (audience cheering) Thank you.

Thank you.

- Well?

- Well, wow, Tom Paxton.

Okay.

- (laughs) I arranged it so you'd have to follow him, you know?

- I'd have to follow Tom.

- Never mind, Matraca.

Ever since the day in the '80s when I followed Black Sabbath, (Matraca laughing) I have not known the meaning of fear and neither should you.

(audience laughing) It was a dark day.

(laughs) (gentle poignant music) ♪ Oh, the sun rolls down ♪ ♪ Big as a miracle ♪ ♪ And fades from the Midwest sky ♪ ♪ And the corn and the trees wave in the breeze ♪ ♪ As if to say goodbye ♪ ♪ Oh, my grandfather stood right here as a younger man ♪ ♪ In 1943 ♪ ♪ And with his sweat and his tears ♪ ♪ The rain and the years ♪ ♪ He grew life from the soil and seed ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm going down to the dreaming fields ♪ ♪ But what will be my harvest now ♪ ♪ Where every tear that falls on a memory ♪ ♪ Feels like rain on the rusted plow ♪ ♪ Rain on the rusted plow ♪ ♪ And these fields they dream of wheat in the summertime ♪ ♪ Grandchildren running free ♪ ♪ And the bales of hay at the end of the day ♪ ♪ And the scarecrow that just scared me ♪ ♪ Now the houses, they grow like weeds in a flower bed ♪ ♪ This morning the silo fell ♪ ♪ Seems the only way a man can live off the land ♪ ♪ These days is to buy and sell ♪ ♪ So, I'm going down to the dreaming fields ♪ ♪ But what will be my harvest now ♪ ♪ Where every tear that falls on a memory ♪ ♪ Feels like rain on the rusted plow ♪ ♪ Rain on the rusted plow ♪ ♪ Like the rain on the roof on my grandmother's kitchen ♪ ♪ I can still hear her sing ♪ ♪ Running down, running down to the end of the ♪ ♪ world I loved ♪ (gentle poignant music continues) ♪ This will be my harvest now ♪ ♪ And the sun rolls down, big as miracle ♪ ♪ And fades from the Midwest sky ♪ ♪ And the corn and the trees wave in the breeze ♪ ♪ As if to say goodbye ♪ ♪ As if to say goodbye ♪ - Goodbye.

(gentle poignant music) (audience clapping) (audience cheering) - Well, I guess I spoke too soon on who follows who.

(audience laughing) I'm gonna bring it down a little bit.

(audience laughing) - [Audience Member] Calm down.

- You know, Tom and I were talking.

We did a workshop, and Matraca as well, a songwriting workshop and where you get ideas and why you write songs.

And I wasn't gonna do this song, but I was so inspired by this, but by that song that I thought I would do this one.

And sometimes you just don't know where they come from or why you're writing them.

(gentle cheerful song) ♪ I don't know why the hell I wrote this song ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ I'm barely two lines in ♪ ♪ And it already feels too long ♪ ♪ It has no moral and no story ♪ ♪ In fact, this song's so boring ♪ ♪ It'd make Yanni sound exciting ♪ ♪ Me wanna quit songwriting ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ So I don't know why the hell I wrote this song ♪ ♪ I'd rather run through Central Park ♪ ♪ In a sombrero and a thong ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ I hate the melody and the words ♪ ♪ It's a one I won't rehearse ♪ ♪ I just get pissed off when I sing it ♪ ♪ So I'm just trying to wing it ♪ ♪ So I don't know the hell I wrote this song ♪ ♪ Coulda wrote about the sky ♪ ♪ Coulda wrote about the trees ♪ ♪ Coulda wrote about your eyes ♪ ♪ How they once lit up for me ♪ ♪ Coulda wrote about the part where you broke my heart ♪ ♪ When you said you didn't care ♪ ♪ But I'm not going there ♪ ♪ So I don't know why the hell I wrote this song ♪ ♪ Maybe I could change it up ♪ ♪ So it wouldn't drag on ♪ ♪ And on ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ And on ♪ ♪ Add a bass and make it funky ♪ ♪ A steel guitar and make it country ♪ ♪ That Toby Keith sure will adore ♪ ♪ But I hate that crap even more ♪ ♪ So I don't know why the hell I wrote this song ♪ ♪ It's a question that'll live ♪ ♪ Long after I'm gone ♪ ♪ For I fear it's gonna be ♪ ♪ How you remember me ♪ ♪ When you curse my name some night ♪ ♪ For taking minutes off your life ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ So I don't know why the hell I wrote this song ♪ - Help me!

♪ Oh, I don't know why the hell I wrote this song ♪ (audience clapping) (audience cheering) Thank you.

- I grew up in Oklahoma and I never realized my primary ambition, which was to become a cowboy and it never happened.

But a cowboy showed up in my notebook one day unannounced, just appeared there in what I was writing.

He came out and said, "Here's my story.

Write this down.

And then sing it."

And I don't know about you, but when these voices ask me to do things that aren't patently illegal, I try to go ahead and do it, so I wrote his, I wrote his story and I hope you enjoy meeting him as I did.

(lively cheerful music) ♪ The Chisholm Trail became the road to Disney Land ♪ ♪ After Billy the Kid came Lash LaRue ♪ ♪ The only longhorn left are in the movies ♪ ♪ The only buffalo left are in the zoo ♪ ♪ But my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way back home ♪ ♪ My pony loves his stall ♪ ♪ And he wants his hay ♪ ♪ This night air just might sober me some ♪ ♪ My head is pounding like a Cherokee drum ♪ ♪ But my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way ♪ My pony knows the way.

Ready?

♪ Oh, my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way back home ♪ My pony loves his stall.

♪ My pony loves his stall ♪ ♪ And he wants his hay ♪ This night air might just sober me some.

♪ Night air just might sober me some ♪ ♪ My head is pounding like a Cherokee drum ♪ ♪ But my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way ♪ ♪ Yodel-ay-ee-ay ♪ ♪ Yodel-ay-ee-gee ♪ Late in life, Paxton began to yodel.

(audience laughing) In spite of the entreaties of his friends, he would call undecided parties and say, "Tom, about your yodeling, quit it!"

(audience laughing) When he felt one coming on, he was not one to resist.

He would wind up and let her rip.

♪ Yodel-ay-ee-ay ♪ ♪ Yodel-ay-ee-gee ♪ And now, (audience clapping) (audience cheering) too late, too late.

First time would've been good.

Second time, too late.

(audience laughing) And now on with our story.

♪ Friday evenings, I ride into Tahlequah ♪ ♪ I get myself a haircut and a steak ♪ ♪ I buy myself a pint of something awful ♪ ♪ I go and make another big mistake ♪ ♪ 'Cause my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way back home ♪ Loves his stall.

♪ My pony loves his stall ♪ ♪ And he wants his hay ♪ ♪ This night air just might sober me some ♪ ♪ My head is pounding like a Cherokee drum ♪ ♪ But my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way ♪ (lively cheerful music continues) ♪ Halfway home, I sometimes get this feeling ♪ ♪ Wondering why I'm still alone tonight ♪ ♪ Then I check the bottle in my pocket ♪ ♪ And if it ain't empty, I'm all right ♪ ♪ 'Cause my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way back home ♪ ♪ My pony loves his stall ♪ ♪ And he wants his hay ♪ ♪ This night air just might sober me some ♪ ♪ My head is pounding like a Cherokee drum ♪ ♪ But my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way ♪ ♪ This night air just might sober me some ♪ ♪ My head is pounding like a Cherokee drum ♪ ♪ But my pony ♪ ♪ My pony knows the way ♪ ♪ Yodel-ay-ee-ay ♪ ♪ Yodel-ay-ee-gee ♪ (audience clapping) (audience cheering) Thank you!

- Thank you.

Obviously you didn't know about the city ordinance.

(Tom laughs) - Yodeling?

- Yeah.

- It's known as the Paxton Law.

- All right.

- I have a sing along.

I need crowd participation on this one.

(bright upbeat music) This song that the lovely Suzy Bugguss recorded and I recorded, too, but the record never came out.

(audience laughing) It's called "Eat At Joe's" and there's a sing-along part where I'll go: ♪ When the world is asleep ♪ ♪ Darling, come take a seat ♪ ♪ You can always eat at Joe's ♪ You go: ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ So could we do a rehearsal?

- Yeah.

(audience laughing) ♪ When the world is asleep ♪ ♪ Darling, come take a seat ♪ ♪ You can always eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ Perfect!

♪ I go to work from 10:30 until 6 am ♪ ♪ Scraping up the dimes and quarters ♪ ♪ Slinging eggs and ham ♪ ♪ Scrambled, poached, or over easy ♪ ♪ Coffee black and strong ♪ ♪ Jukebox of scratchy records ♪ ♪ I sing 'em all night long ♪ ♪ Eternal blue neon, we never close ♪ ♪ When the world is asleep ♪ ♪ Darling, come take a seat ♪ ♪ You can always eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ (bright upbeat music continues) ♪ Well, here comes old Frank Taylor smelling like old gin ♪ ♪ I guess his wife couldn't get him sober ♪ ♪ It's up to me again ♪ ♪ Well, here's a hot top on your coffee ♪ ♪ Darling, you're a mess ♪ ♪ I ain't your wife, I, I ain't your mama ♪ ♪ But I'll do, I guess ♪ ♪ Eternal blue neon, we never close ♪ ♪ When the world is asleep ♪ ♪ Darling, come take a seat ♪ ♪ You can always eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ (Matraca laughs) ♪ Hello, Prince Charming, where are you, dear ♪ ♪ When will you come in and order biscuits here ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ (bright upbeat music continues) ♪ Truck drivers, musicians with no place to go ♪ ♪ Well, I can be your domestic goddess ♪ ♪ For an hour or so ♪ ♪ Eternal blue neon, we never close ♪ ♪ When the world is asleep ♪ ♪ Darling, come take a seat ♪ ♪ You can always eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Uh-huh ♪ ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Uh-huh ♪ ♪ Eat at Joe's ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ (audience clapping) (laughs) Thank you.

(gentle peaceful music) - Americans live to work, and I think up here, people up here, they work one, two, three jobs, anything just to live here.

A lot of people, there's people that live off the grid, you know, don't even have indoor plumbing.

Don't ask.

(chuckles) My type of folks, you know?

I think it's important to send the message is this is about a place to come to get back to what you'd really like to do, and get back to working with your hands and sitting in this and not, and getting away from texting and doing your Facebook and your Tweeting and all of that noise.

It's just completely bombarding us at all times, you know?

The answer is in the stillness, it's not in the noise.

As a songwriter, I don't go on Twitter to try to write songs.

I have to get quiet.

(gentle peaceful music continues) I come up here and appreciate it.

These places are few and far between and it's really important to come up and appreciate and respect them.

(audience clapping) Well, we have a few surprises and Matraca is married and sorry, guys, and he's an up-and-coming guy.

(audience laughing) Well, I'll just bring him out.

Jeff, what is it?

(fingers snapping) I know I've seen him before.

- Yes, you have.

- Mr. Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Ditty, Nitty.

(Tom laughing) (audience laughing) Nitty Ditty, Nitty Gritty.

(laughs) - Nitty Boppin', Ditty Boppin.

- Yeah.

Hey, listen, English is my second language.

(laughs) (audience laughing) Come on out here.

(audience clapping) - [Tom] Hello, Jeff!

(audience cheering) - [Jon] Sorry, Jeff.

(energetic bright music) (Jeff laughs) ♪ She's history ♪ ♪ No one would give her a star on the walk ♪ ♪ She'd have a hundred if pillows could talk ♪ ♪ Where have I seen her before ♪ ♪ She's a face on the cutting room floor ♪ ♪ Well, it's no mystery ♪ ♪ Acting in school at the tenderest age ♪ ♪ Lit up the room when she stepped on the stage ♪ ♪ Came to L.A. for some more ♪ ♪ She's a face on the cutting room floor ♪ ♪ Well, she had visions of contracts ♪ ♪ And thousands of people in line ♪ ♪ To see her ♪ ♪ Knocking on door after door after all of this time ♪ ♪ She's not sure ♪ ♪ Well, up in Hollywood ♪ ♪ Stayed with an agent she met in a bar ♪ ♪ Laughed when he told her he'd make her a star ♪ ♪ Where has she heard that before ♪ ♪ She's a face on the cutting room floor ♪ Come on, Jeff.

(energetic bright music continues) - [Jeff] Here we go!

♪ One night he told her that she'd never get anywhere ♪ (audience clapping) What a guy!

♪ In her clothes ♪ ♪ That's what it takes to play movieland musical chairs ♪ ♪ And now she knows ♪ ♪ So goodbye, Hollywood ♪ ♪ Leaving tonight on the 2:30 'hound ♪ ♪ Sunrise on Sunset, she won't be around ♪ ♪ But they'll replace her with so many more ♪ ♪ Little face on the cutting room floor ♪ ♪ Oh, she's a face on the cutting room floor ♪ ♪ Oh, she's a face on the cutting room floor ♪ (audience clapping) (audience cheering) - Hey, guy!

- Hey, guy!

Thank you.

My dad lived until he died and that's all I can say about him.

(gentle pensive music) ♪ Sitting on my grandpa's knee ♪ ♪ I watched him playing the Monopoly ♪ ♪ For hours with the family after dinner ♪ ♪ And it was there I learned the ins and outs ♪ ♪ What I thought life was all about ♪ ♪ Convinced I had to come away a winner ♪ ♪ When I finally tried my hand ♪ ♪ Didn't go quite like I planned ♪ ♪ Like kids do, I got mad ♪ ♪ And my grandpa said to me ♪ ♪ There's a lot of ways to play the game ♪ ♪ But in the end, family's the same ♪ ♪ So take good care of what you've got ♪ ♪ 'Cause when the game is over ♪ ♪ It all goes back in the box ♪ ♪ I first met Jenny at a high school dance ♪ ♪ Never thought I stood a chance ♪ ♪ So when she said I do, I thought I might ♪ ♪ But working bars and singing sounds ♪ ♪ Thinking I could do no wrong ♪ ♪ I never took the time to treat her right ♪ ♪ And while I was trying to get ahead ♪ ♪ She was in an empty bed ♪ ♪ So she found someone else instead ♪ ♪ These words came back to me ♪ ♪ There's a lot of ways to play the game ♪ ♪ But in the end it ends the same ♪ ♪ So take good care of what you've got ♪ ♪ 'Cause when the game is over ♪ ♪ It all goes back in the box ♪ ♪ Now grandpa lies beneath a granite stone ♪ ♪ Grandma's living all alone ♪ ♪ And the family's scattered halfway cross the planet ♪ ♪ Oh, we do our best to stay in touch ♪ ♪ But when you're trying to manage all your stuff ♪ ♪ It doesn't always go the way you planned it ♪ ♪ You could die the richest man on earth ♪ ♪ But does God really care how much we're worth ♪ ♪ You never see a U-Haul hitched to a hearse ♪ ♪ Heading towards eternity ♪ ♪ Like my grandpa said to me ♪ ♪ There's a lot of ways to play the game ♪ ♪ But in the end, it ends the same ♪ ♪ So take good care of what you've got ♪ ♪ 'Cause when the game is over ♪ ♪ It all goes back in the box ♪ (gentle pensive music continues) ♪ Sitting on my grandpa's knee ♪ ♪ I watched him play Monopoly ♪ (audience clapping) Thank you.

(audience cheering) Thank you.

- Beautiful.

(gentle poignant music) ♪ Five roads led from Central Square ♪ ♪ But only one led home ♪ ♪ While down the other four ♪ ♪ There lay a world I'd never known ♪ ♪ I saw three stars among the clouds ♪ ♪ A good sign, some might say ♪ ♪ I saw the road that led to home ♪ ♪ But I took another way ♪ ♪ I met the girl I came to love ♪ ♪ One night in Central Square ♪ ♪ I loved the way she sang her songs ♪ ♪ I loved her auburn hair ♪ ♪ I heard her sing The Water Is Wide ♪ ♪ and Johnny's Gone to Sea ♪ ♪ And Spanish Is the Loving Tongue ♪ ♪ While she looked right at me ♪ (gentle poignant music continues) ♪ I took her home with me that night ♪ ♪ I carried her guitar ♪ ♪ I gave to her my only bed ♪ ♪ While I lay on the floor ♪ ♪ She kissed me when she went to bed ♪ ♪ I lay awake past three ♪ ♪ And I was nearly sleeping ♪ ♪ When I heard her call for me ♪ (gentle poignant music continues) ♪ We lived together all that year ♪ ♪ Until we drew apart ♪ ♪ For I was younger than my years ♪ ♪ And did not know my heart ♪ ♪ I sang along with her one night ♪ ♪ In quiet harmony ♪ ♪ Until I realized this song ♪ ♪ Was her farewell to me ♪ ♪ I made the worst mistake of all ♪ ♪ I turned and left her there ♪ ♪ And winter had come in ♪ ♪ When I stepped out in Central Square ♪ ♪ I saw three stars among the clouds ♪ ♪ A good sign, some might say ♪ ♪ I saw the road that led to home ♪ ♪ But I took another way ♪ ♪ I saw the road that led to home ♪ ♪ But I took another way ♪ (audience clapping) - Yeah!

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- I feel like every time Tom does a song, he puts on a clinic in songwriting.

It's amazing.

And I also wanna say Jeff back here, he's kind of ad-libbing, he's ad-libbing on the cello, (audience clapping) mind you.

Not just a cello, you think he would've maybe chose a more difficult instrument, but it's a five-string cello, and I think that's kind of a fear of commitment.

Four wasn't enough, but what- - What about banjo player?

What do you expect?

(Jon laughs) - We won't talk about that.

- Yeah, well.

(peaceful gentle music) ♪ Fire on the asphalt ♪ ♪ L.A. freeway ♪ ♪ Santa Anna windstorm come blow me away ♪ ♪ 'Cause this rear-view mirror could use some adjustment ♪ ♪ Some other reflection, some other place ♪ ♪ Oh Cumberland, I'm a faithful son ♪ ♪ No matter where I run, I hear you calling me ♪ ♪ The Mississippi's wide and long ♪ ♪ St. Paul to New Orleans ♪ ♪ But my heart's resting on your banks in Tennessee ♪ ♪ Lazy old river, not a lick of ambition ♪ ♪ You get to Kentucky and then you roll back home ♪ ♪ If you were a highway, oh, you wouldn't go nowhere ♪ ♪ And I wouldn't be lost out here all alone ♪ ♪ Oh Cumberland, I'm a faithful son ♪ ♪ No matter where I run, I hear you calling me ♪ ♪ The Mississippi's wide and long ♪ ♪ St. Paul to New Orleans ♪ ♪ But my heart's resting on your banks in Tennessee ♪ (peaceful gentle music continues) ♪ There's a stolen river in the San Fernando ♪ ♪ Down in the valley in the shadow of greed ♪ ♪ But I have a memory knee deep in salvation ♪ ♪ Of that old muddy water that once washed me clean ♪ ♪ Oh Cumberland, I'm a faithful son ♪ ♪ No matter where I run, I hear you calling me ♪ ♪ The Mississippi's wide and long ♪ ♪ St. Paul to New Orleans ♪ ♪ But my heart's resting on your banks in Tennessee ♪ ♪ Oh Cumberland, ooh, hoo ♪ ♪ Ooh, hoo, hoo ♪ ♪ Oh Cumberland ♪ (Matraca humming) (audience clapping) (lively cheerful music) ♪ A beer bottle thrown across the room ♪ ♪ Hits the wall behind my head and boom ♪ ♪ There goes another fine daydream ♪ ♪ A role model, a hero of my youth ♪ ♪ A man of three chords and the truth ♪ ♪ Was just sitting down to talk to me ♪ ♪ Said, son, the secret of my overnight success ♪ ♪ Was hard work and luck in 20 years and nothing less ♪ ♪ If you hang around long enough ♪ ♪ You can have a good time when times are tough ♪ ♪ Then maybe, just maybe ♪ ♪ You get around to figuring out ♪ ♪ What you can do and do without ♪ ♪ And you'll recognize the real stuff ♪ ♪ If you hang around long enough ♪ ♪ Well, the band praised my funny valentine ♪ ♪ If ain't funny 'cause you ain't mine ♪ ♪ I guess we're not meant to be ♪ ♪ About halfway back across the room ♪ ♪ A semi-ancient bride and groom ♪ ♪ Celebrate their anniversary ♪ ♪ And when I asked them about their longevity ♪ ♪ Well, he just smiles and lets his lovely wife tell me ♪ ♪ If you hang around long enough ♪ ♪ You can have a good time when times are tough ♪ ♪ Then maybe, just maybe ♪ ♪ You get around to figuring out ♪ ♪ What you can do and do without ♪ ♪ And you'll recognize the real stuff ♪ ♪ If you hang around long enough ♪ ♪ Some days, I may not have a clue ♪ ♪ Some days, I figured out a thing or two ♪ ♪ If you hang around long enough ♪ ♪ You can have a good time when times are tough ♪ ♪ Then maybe, just maybe ♪ ♪ You get around to figure it out ♪ ♪ What you can do and do without ♪ ♪ And you recognize the real stuff ♪ ♪ If you hang around long enough ♪ ♪ Hang around long enough ♪ - Yeah!

(audience clapping) - Thank you so much.

- [Man] Go, Jeff!

- Well, the North House is an educational nonprofit, and our mission here is to teach traditional craft.

The focus of the school is getting people's hands on the rich traditions, the cultural practices of the people who've called the North home through the eons.

(lively cheerful music) We're modeled on the traditional folk school ideals.

- Yep, I think I'm in.

- [Greg] Which really try to celebrate place, the spot you call home that really tries to build community is part of learning that celebrates the stories that we all have to share with each other, and that also honors a tradition of non-competitive learning where learning is enjoyed for its own sake.

- I've been coming up here forever.

It's one of my favorite places in the world.

My dad and I were going fishing.

We'd planned a trip and it was 13 years ago, and he got deathly ill, thought I was gonna lose him.

And I almost did.

So he was in the hospital for, I think, eight or nine days.

- He needed a week of solid care to be taken care of.

And doc, a guy named John Wood, who at the time was actually, interestingly enough, was our board president.

The school was four years old.

Said to John, "You know what, John?

We'll take care of your dad.

He needs to rest.

Why don't you take care of you?

I hear you're down on the campground.

You should stop by.

There's this little school I'm part of.

It's called North House.

They build things there."

- This is amazing.

I saw these people, they were teaching a classroom building canoes and I just was mesmerized by it.

I said, "How's it doing?"

He said, "Well, we've got," I believe he said, "we've got 12 bucks in the bank."

And I went, "Oh," and I said, "Well, we should do a benefit."

And there's this voice in the back of my head going, what the heck your saying?

You've never done a benefit in your life.

What do you, you know?

- From this simple idea, the vision for Unplugged I was born.

♪ I've seen ruins and pictures ♪ ♪ And you tell me you've been there ♪ ♪ Oh, tell me again, I need to know ♪ It's an interesting thing because you go to people and you say, "Hey, would you like to come and play a debt benefit?"

"Well, where is it?"

"Well, you got to fly to Minneapolis and then you've got to drive five 1/2 hours and it's up, we're just under the Canadian border and it's in the fall and it's probably gonna be cold and it's gonna be in a tent."

And they look at you like, what?

But now everybody that's been here wants to come back and asks me when they can come back and some people just show up anyway.

♪ Did it have flowers ♪ ♪ I've seen pictures of flowers ♪ ♪ And I love ♪ So, you know, we've had a real cast of characters.

(audience clapping) This kid lived in our basement for about six months and the only way that he would get fed is if he would play guitar on my songs.

Anyway, he's played at the Chet Atkins Conference.

He's in the band on the TV show, "Nashville," and he's tearing it up.

And so I'm just gonna have him take us out with a song.

This is Jonathan Brown.

(audience cheering) (audience clapping) (fingers strum) (foot tapping) (upbeat lively music) (cheerful lively music) (upbeat lively music) (gentle lively music) (upbeat lively music) (audience rhythmically clapping) (gentle lively music) (cheerful lively music) (audience clapping) (audience cheering) (dramatic somber music) ♪ We are living in black and white ♪ ♪ We can't even see those shades of gray ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ Fall into a shadow ♪ ♪ Saints and sinners live on a line apart ♪ ♪ A line drawn in blood and sorrow ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ Fall into a shadow ♪ ♪ I could see you standing there ♪ ♪ Holding out your light ♪ ♪ I can hear you calling ♪ ♪ In the terror of the night ♪ ♪ Living in black and white ♪ (dramatic somber music continues) ♪ Gold, green, blue, red, and white ♪ ♪ Waving in the dawn's early morning light ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ Fall into a shadow ♪ ♪ We are living in black and white ♪ ♪ Standing in the dawn's early morning light ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ When all the colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ Fall into a shadow ♪ (audience clapping) (audience cheering) - Thank you.

- Well, Tom, why don't you start us out here so we can put it on a line so I don't get confused.

- [Tom] I'd love to.

(cheery upbeat music) ♪ It was a frosty night ♪ ♪ It was beginning to snow ♪ ♪ And down the city streets ♪ ♪ The wind began to blow ♪ ♪ We all came to the cellar ♪ ♪ We all emptied the bar ♪ ♪ To hear a little old feller ♪ ♪ Play his shiny guitar ♪ ♪ Did you hear John Hurt ♪ ♪ Play the Creole Belle ♪ ♪ His Spanish Fandango ♪ ♪ That he loved so well ♪ ♪ Did you love John Hurt ♪ ♪ Did you shake his hand ♪ ♪ Did you hear him singing his Candyman ♪ ♪ Did you hear him singing his Candyman ♪ (cheery upbeat music continues) ♪ On a straight-back chair ♪ ♪ With a felt hat on ♪ ♪ He tickled our fancies ♪ ♪ With his Avalon ♪ ♪ And everybody passing ♪ ♪ Down MacDougall Street ♪ ♪ Would cock their heads and listen ♪ ♪ To the tapping feet ♪ ♪ Did you hear John Hurt play the Creole Belle ♪ ♪ Play the Creole Belle, his Spanish Fandango ♪ ♪ Spanish Fandango ♪ ♪ That he loved so well, did you love John Hurt ♪ ♪ Did you love John Hurt, shake his hand ♪ ♪ Did you shake his hand ♪ ♪ Did you hear him singing his Candyman ♪ ♪ Oh, did you hear him singing his Candyman ♪ ♪ My Creole belle ♪ ♪ I love her well ♪ ♪ My darling baby ♪ ♪ My Creole belle ♪ ♪ The stars do shine ♪ ♪ And she'll be mine ♪ ♪ My darling baby ♪ ♪ My Creole belle ♪ ♪ It was a frosty night ♪ ♪ It was beginning to snow ♪ ♪ Down the city streets ♪ ♪ The wind began to blow ♪ ♪ We all came to the cellar ♪ ♪ We all emptied the bar ♪ ♪ To hear a little feller ♪ ♪ Play his shiny guitar ♪ ♪ Did you hear John Hurt ♪ ♪ Play the Creole Belle ♪ ♪ The Spanish Fandango ♪ ♪ That he loved so well ♪ ♪ Did you love John Hurt ♪ ♪ Did you shake his hand ♪ ♪ Did you hear him singing his Candyman ♪ ♪ Oh, did you hear him singing his Candyman ♪ (audience clapping) Thank you.

Thank you.

- It's a true story that I wrote with my good pal, Don Henry, and that's enough about that.

(Jon laughs) (audience laughing) (gentle wistful music) ♪ Claire had all but given up ♪ ♪ When she and Edwin fell in love ♪ ♪ She touched his face and shook her head ♪ ♪ In disbelief, she sighed and said ♪ ♪ In many dreams, I've held you near ♪ ♪ Now at last you're really here ♪ ♪ Where've you been ♪ ♪ I've looked for you forever and a day ♪ ♪ Where've you been ♪ ♪ I'm just not myself when you're away ♪ ♪ He asked her for her hand for life ♪ ♪ She became a salesman's wife ♪ ♪ He was home each night by eight ♪ ♪ But one stormy evening he was late ♪ ♪ Her frightened tears fell to the floor ♪ ♪ Till his key turned in the door ♪ ♪ Where've you been ♪ ♪ I've looked for you forever and a day ♪ ♪ Where've you been ♪ ♪ I'm just not yourself when you're away ♪ (gentle wistful music continues) ♪ They'd never spent a night apart ♪ ♪ For 60 years, she'd heard him snore ♪ ♪ Now they're in a hospital ♪ ♪ In separate beds on different floors ♪ ♪ Claire still lost her memory ♪ ♪ Forgot the names of family ♪ ♪ She never spoke a word again ♪ ♪ Then one day they wheeled him in ♪ ♪ He held her hand and stroked her head ♪ ♪ In a fragile voice she said ♪ ♪ Where've you been ♪ ♪ I've looked for you forever and a day ♪ ♪ Where've you been ♪ ♪ I'm just not myself when you're away ♪ ♪ No, I'm just not myself when you're away ♪ (audience clapping) Thank you.

- Wow.

(energetic upbeat music) ♪ She said, honey you don't know me ♪ ♪ And I feel like I know you ♪ ♪ Do you mind if I come in ♪ ♪ It'll only take a minute or two ♪ ♪ And by the way, I really like ♪ ♪ What you've done to this place ♪ ♪ But it doesn't really surprise me, hon ♪ ♪ We kinda have the same taste ♪ ♪ But that's enough small talk ♪ ♪ There's something we need to discuss ♪ ♪ Your husband's cheating on us ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ Then she said, you look surprised ♪ ♪ Well, I'm surprised you never knew ♪ ♪ And I can't believe you didn't see or ♪ ♪ Pick up on my rather strong perfume ♪ ♪ Well anyway, we've been replaced ♪ ♪ And she's much younger than me and you ♪ ♪ I know she's out there with him now ♪ ♪ Doing things that we used to do ♪ ♪ But if we get together ♪ ♪ Don't you think we'd be dangerous ♪ ♪ Your husband's cheating on us ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah, ha ♪ ♪ Snakes are in the kitchen ♪ ♪ And crows are on the line ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah, ha ♪ ♪ Weather vane is twitching ♪ ♪ Can't you see the sign, sign, sign ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ This is where I started to cry and she said ♪ ♪ Oh honey, you'll get over it ♪ ♪ And never mind my fantasies ♪ ♪ Of cyanide or taking out a hit ♪ ♪ And anyway it's better, don't you think ♪ ♪ To make him wish that he was dead ♪ (audience laughing) ♪ And promise me you'll take that creep ♪ ♪ For everything he's ever had instead ♪ ♪ I've got a Polaroid camera ♪ ♪ And a room number at the hotel Nautilus ♪ ♪ Where your husband's cheating on us ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah, ha ♪ ♪ Snakes are in the kitchen ♪ ♪ Crows are on the line ♪ ♪ Ah, ha, ah, ha ♪ ♪ Weather vane is twitching ♪ ♪ Can't you see the sign, sign, sign ♪ ♪ And can't you see the signs ♪ ♪ You're husband's cheating on us ♪ ♪ You're husband's cheating on us ♪ (Tom laughs) (audience clapping) (audience cheering) - I wrote the tune, this instrumental tune.

I have a friend who plays fiddle, very good fiddle, and she also cooks so she brought me a pie to the gig one night and her name was Lily Mae.

So this song is for her.

This song it's called "Lily Mae."

She's good friend.

She's a good friend of mine.

Thank you.

(gentle music) (gentle sweet music) (gentle sweet music continues) (gentle sweet music continues) (gentle sweet music continues) (gentle sweet music continues) (gentle sweet music continues) (audience clapping) (audience cheering) (lively upbeat music) ♪ I knew a man, Bojangles, and he danced for you ♪ ♪ In worn out shoes ♪ ♪ Silver hair and ragged shirt and baggy pants ♪ ♪ He did the old soft shoe ♪ ♪ He jumped so high ♪ ♪ Jumped so high ♪ ♪ And then he'd lightly touch down ♪ ♪ I met him in a cell in New Orleans I was ♪ ♪ Down and out ♪ ♪ He looked to me to be the eyes of age ♪ ♪ As he spoke right out ♪ ♪ He talked of life ♪ ♪ He talked of life ♪ ♪ He laughed, clicked his heels, and stepped ♪ ♪ And well, he said the name, Bojangles ♪ ♪ And he danced a lick ♪ ♪ Across the cell ♪ ♪ He grabbed his pants and spread his stance ♪ ♪ Oh, he jumped so high ♪ ♪ Then he clicked his heels ♪ ♪ He let go a laugh ♪ ♪ He let go a laugh ♪ ♪ Shook back his clothes all around ♪ - [Jeff] Come on, guys, sing it with me.

Come on.

♪ Mr. Bojangles ♪ ♪ Mr. Bojangles ♪ ♪ Mr. Bojangles ♪ ♪ Won't you dance ♪ Jonathan Brown.

(lively upbeat music continues) Come on, Jeff.

(lively upbeat music continues) Jeff Gilkinson.

(audience clapping) ♪ We danced with those in minstrel shows and county fairs ♪ ♪ Throughout the South ♪ ♪ He spoke to tears of 15 years ♪ ♪ How his dog and him ♪ ♪ They traveled about ♪ ♪ Well, the dog up and died ♪ ♪ He up and died ♪ ♪ After 20 years, he still grieves ♪ ♪ He said, I dance now at every chance and honky tonk ♪ ♪ For drinks and tips ♪ ♪ But most the time I spend behind these county bars ♪ ♪ 'Cause I drinks a bit ♪ ♪ He shook his head and as he shook his head ♪ ♪ I heard someone ask him, please ♪ Wanna hear you all sing it.

Come on, folks.

♪ Mr. Bojangles ♪ ♪ Mr. Bojangles ♪ That's beautiful.

♪ Mr. Bojangles ♪ ♪ Won't you dance ♪ ♪ I knew a man, Bojangles ♪ ♪ And he danced for you ♪ (audience cheering) (audience clapping) - Good night, everybody!

- Thank you all so much.

- Thank you so much.

- Thank you!

(gentle peaceful music) (gentle peaceful music continues) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.