(relaxed bluegrass music) [Announcer] Recorded live at the University of North Alabama in Florence, the Salt & Pepper Roots Music Celebration presents the multi-gen music of Soul Karnival.

♪ Well let's keep 'em missing ♪ ♪ Taking cover in the trenches ♪ ♪ Cocoa butter kisses don't hit like they used to ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ Summertime 2012, the world is over soon enough ♪ [Announcer] This program is made possible in part by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Additional support provided by the Alabama Folklife Association.

("Summertime" begins) ("Summertime" continues) ♪ Summertime 2012, the world is over soon enough ♪ ♪ No, you can't be rolling with the crew ♪ ♪ If you ain't doing enough ♪ ♪ Spill the old English on the pavement ♪ ♪ Foresee backing them ♪ ♪ Traction, oh they stop you ♪ ♪ And that you know they packing them ♪ ♪ 'Cause Dobby copped the pistol.

♪ ♪ Now he's feeling like invincible ♪ ♪ Skipping school, but still got As ♪ ♪ Finger to the principal ♪ ♪ Honor Roll student dual enrollment with the criminals ♪ ♪ Park to Park Avenue on avenues residuals ♪ ♪ Hardly with the ♪ ♪ Made 'em have a heart attack ♪ ♪ Parties with Caucasian home invasion ♪ ♪ Stayed with all of that ♪ ♪ Judges disappointed like why you be a part of that ♪ ♪ But that comes in the future ♪ ♪ Pay attention, did I lose ya ♪ ♪ Got the homies on patrol ♪ ♪ And family feud turned to silver whoa ♪ ♪ Preacher sermon Sunday got me ♪ ♪ I wondering why we living for ♪ ♪ After life is better ♪ ♪ So we down to die whatever ♪ ♪ 'Cause Vonte wrecked the Chevy ♪ ♪ And ain't no water at the levee ♪ -♪ Summertime ♪ -♪ Summertime ♪ ♪ The living is easy ♪ ♪ Fish are jumping, cotton's high ♪ ♪ Papa rich, your mama fly ♪ ♪ Hush, now, baby, don't you cry ♪ ("Summertime" continues) ♪ No, no, no, no ♪ ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ("Summertime" continues) ("Summertime" continues) ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ("Summertime" continues) ♪ Grades be staying high ♪ ♪ So Mama don't know that we do the same ♪ ♪ Serving out the beats a window ♪ ♪ Circumvent the simple ways ♪ ♪ Bags under my eyelids ♪ ♪ Grind until the end of days ♪ ♪ Hoping I stay safe ♪ ♪ Catch these blessings that my mom will pray ♪ ♪ She say that she worried ♪ ♪ We stay running with some savages ♪ ♪ Tattoos on their face ♪ ♪ Hands still smelling like they packages ♪ ♪ Tipping the police, yards are turning into labyrinths ♪ ♪ Winding up on Jackson County roster even trafficking ♪ ♪ Who can say what's happening ♪ ♪ Youth are on attack pads ♪ ♪ They don't know the price of dope ♪ ♪ Trying to bring the trap back ♪ ♪ They say that they through with throwing hands ♪ ♪ They passed that ♪ ♪ Now we about to up the ante ♪ ♪ Finna blow his cap back ♪ ♪ Summertime ♪ ♪ The living is easy ♪ ♪ Fish are jumping, cotton's high ♪ ♪ Papa rich, you mama fly ♪ ♪ Hush, now, baby, don't you cry ♪ ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ♪ Oh no no no ♪ ("Summertime" continues) ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ("Summertime" concludes) Thank you.

(audience applauds) ("Tell Maria We Prayed" begins) ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Nothing seem more sadder than you hearing pitter patter ♪ ♪ You grab an umbrella ♪ ♪ Ain't a drop of rain outside ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Nothing seems to matter ♪ ♪ When the homie's blood is splattered ♪ ♪ On the ground in the city ♪ ♪ Where the sun and the stars don't shine ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Wind don't ever stop blowing ♪ ♪ Clock hit three in the morning ♪ ♪ I just think I might see the sun ♪ ♪ Tell Maria we prayed ♪ ♪ And tell my mama I tried ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ It makes no difference if I stay ♪ ♪ Rain fall down all day ♪ ♪ Sunshine comes when I'm not around ♪ ♪ Tell Maria we prayed ♪ ♪ And I swear I'll be home ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Well, let's keep 'em missing ♪ ♪ Taking cover in the trenches ♪ ♪ Cocoa butter kisses don't hit like they used to ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Battle's never over and the body never sober ♪ ♪ Hold so tight like I'm never gonna lose you ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Wind done finally stopped blowing ♪ ♪ Clock hit three in the morning ♪ ♪ I just think I might see the sun ♪ ♪ Tell Maria we prayed ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ Oh, Mama, I tried ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" continues) ♪ It makes no difference if I stay ♪ ♪ Rain fall down all day ♪ ♪ Sunshine comes when I'm not around ♪ ♪ Tell Maria we prayed ♪ ♪ And I swear I'll be home ♪ ("Tell Maria We Prayed" concludes) (audience applauds) Thank y'all.

This is called "19 Going on 67," and I can't think of a better song that would fit the Salt & Pepper... Like when it comes to subject matter and what we're all about and, you know, things like unity, you know, respecting other people, I feel like this song really brings to the light no matter who you are or what you have, what background you come from, you could be dirt poor, and somebody can envy you based off how you carry yourself.

And I think that that just blows my mind, you know?

And that's one of those things that you don't really realize when you're younger that that kind of comes with, you know, experience and things like that.

But once again, I just wanna thank everybody out here for being here.

Once again, thank you to Russell and Dennis Gulley.

This is "19 Going on 67."

("19 Going on 67" begins) ♪ Knocking at the gates of heaven ♪ ♪ Trying not to raise hell on the way ♪ ♪ Mama said I missed too much Sunday school ♪ ♪ But I think I turned out okay ♪ ♪ No designer clothes, only old T-shirts ♪ ♪ No chains, only holes in my jeans ♪ ♪ You can't judge a book by its cover ♪ ♪ But you might as well if you can't read ♪ ♪ You see I've been in a couple squabbles ♪ ♪ Had my share broken bones ♪ ♪ And if you plan on breaking my heart one day ♪ ♪ I hope you bring sticks and stones ♪ ♪ 'Cause the grass ain't always greener ♪ ♪ In the white neighborhoods ♪ ♪ And the ghetto kids still play and laugh ♪ ("19 Going on 67" continues) ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ Why we spend so much time stressing ♪ ♪ The grass ain't always greener ♪ ♪ In the white neighborhoods ♪ ♪ And the ghetto kids still got some swag ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ When we ever gonna learn our lesson ♪ ("19 Going on 67" continues) ("19 Going on 67" continues) ("19 Going on 67" continues) ♪ I remember back when I was still little ♪ ♪ Nobody thought I'd ever get big ♪ ♪ And I won't forget the looks on their faces ♪ ♪ That day that I finally did ♪ ♪ A smoker so me never start smoking ♪ ♪ And a drunk man told me never to drink ♪ ♪ And junkies always told me don't go close to drugs ♪ ♪ Ain't no wise man told me never to think ♪ ♪ You see I've been in the couple of squabbles ♪ ♪ Had my share of broken bones ♪ ♪ And if you plan on breaking my heart one day ♪ ♪ I hope you bring sticks and stones ♪ ♪ 'Cause the grass ain't always greener ♪ ♪ In the white neighborhoods ♪ ♪ And the ghetto kids still play and laugh ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ When we ever gonna learn our lesson ♪ ♪ The grass ain't always greener ♪ ♪ In the white neighborhoods ♪ ♪ The ghetto kids still got some swag ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ When we ever gonna learn our lesson ♪ ("19 Going on 67" continues) ♪ Mmm ♪ ("19 Going on 67" continues) ♪ Mmm ♪ ♪ On the highway and I'm doing 97 ♪ ♪ 'Cause I don't deal that well with depression ♪ ♪ I guess I probably strove too hard for perfection ♪ ♪ I guess I probably chose the wrong profession ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ Why we spend so much time stressing ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ When we ever gonna learn our lesson ♪ ♪ Grass ain't always greener ♪ ♪ In the white neighborhoods ♪ ♪ And the ghetto kids still play and laugh ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ Why we spend so much time stressing ♪ ♪ The grass ain't always greener ♪ ♪ In the white neighborhoods ♪ ♪ And the ghetto kids still got some swag ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ 19 going on 67 ♪ ♪ When we ever gonna learn our lesson ♪ ("19 Going on 67" continues) ♪ Ooh ♪ ("19 Going on 67" continues) ("19 Going on 67" concludes) (audience applauds) -Thank y'all.

-Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

(audience applauds) I feel like a lot of times people want to glorify making money via selling drugs via whatever it may be, that lifestyle, but they always tell the good side of it.

They only tell you about the money and the cars and the whatever, but they never tell you about the flip side and the pain that comes with that.

And I feel like it's kind of doing an injustice to especially the kids who kind of like listen to this and they're only getting one side of the coin.

So, with this song, I wanted to tell the tale of many, and it is that flip side, that dark side that comes with it.

So this is "Kartwheels" with a K. ("Kartwheels" begins) ("Kartwheels" continues) ♪ Up all night even doing cartwheels ♪ ♪ Landlord tripping, so he doing cartwheels ♪ ♪ Lost his job, and his girl only gold dig ♪ ♪ Still pay the bills with them cartwheels ♪ ♪ When the spring fall y'all doing somersaults ♪ ♪ Could have got a job, but he choosing somersaults ♪ ♪ Wanna ball, lose it all if he get caught ♪ ♪ Still pay the bills with 'em ♪ ♪ In college, chasing knowledge ♪ ♪ Could be chasing women ♪ ♪ That's a self act of the matter ♪ ♪ But you lose 'em just to win them ♪ ♪ In the city living just enough for the living ♪ ♪ Trying to get it honest ♪ ♪ But his homie flipping pigeons ♪ ♪ So one day he asked him like show me how you get it ♪ ♪ Sick of eating Ramen ♪ ♪ Need some steak, shrimp, and some chicken ♪ ♪ It's the middle of September ♪ ♪ Tables don't be tipping ♪ ♪ Car need some tires ♪ ♪ And my bosses all be tripping ♪ ♪ His homie like, do you even know what's next ♪ ♪ Can you hold the weight ♪ ♪ Can you lift it off your chest ♪ ♪ And if I front you something, can you pay the debt ♪ ♪ Show you about a somersault ♪ ♪ But first you gotta stretch ♪ ♪ Up all night even doing cartwheels ♪ ♪ Landlord tripping, so he doing cartwheels ♪ ♪ Lost his job and this girl only gold dig ♪ ♪ Still pay the bills with them cartwheels ♪ ♪ When the spring fall y'all doing somersaults ♪ ♪ Could have got a job, but he choosing somersaults ♪ ♪ Wanna ball, lose it all if he get caught ♪ ♪ Still pay the bills with 'em ♪ ♪ First it was automatic ♪ ♪ He think he acrobatic ♪ ♪ But half up in the savings ♪ ♪ Stack the rest up in the attic ♪ ♪ But now he's missing classes ♪ ♪ Even though that was the motive ♪ ♪ Getting my degree up on top of that diploma ♪ ♪ But now he's getting deeper in tumbling and tumbling ♪ ♪ So puzzling, he couldn't see how troubling ♪ ♪ It should have been when they overheard him mumbling ♪ ♪ Now the ops spotting finna drag the mat from under him ♪ ♪ 7:13 in the morning ♪ ♪ Brought him in the alley ♪ ♪ Goonies all in hoodies and masks pop up out the Audi ♪ ♪ Told him give me everything that you working late for ♪ ♪ With the gauge to his ear like he skateboard ♪ ♪ Up all night, he'd been doing cartwheels ♪ ♪ Landlord tripping, so he doing cartwheels ♪ ♪ Lost his job and this girl only gold dig ♪ ♪ Still pay the bills with them cartwheels ♪ ♪ When the spring fall y'all doing somersaults ♪ ♪ Would've got a job, but he choosing somersaults ♪ ♪ Wanna ball, lose it all if he get caught ♪ ♪ Still pay the bills with them somersaults ♪ ("Kartwheels" continues) ("Kartwheels" continues) ♪ Still pay the bills with them somersaults ♪ (audience cheers) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" begins) ♪ I'm gonna raise an army ♪ ♪ Burn the whole world down ♪ ♪ 'Til the sky starts falling ♪ ♪ No one can harm me ♪ ♪ Lay down your burdens ♪ ♪ No weapon shall prosper ♪ ♪ Nothing will hurt us ♪ ♪ Leave your guns at the altar ♪ ♪ If my body is struck down ♪ ♪ Don't try to save me ♪ ♪ Lay me down without crying ♪ ♪ Carry on fighting ♪ ♪ Going to stand before the creator ♪ ♪ Tell Him I'm sorry ♪ ♪ For all of the bottles and unopened Bibles ♪ ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ♪ I don't know if you there but Lord I'm seeking guidance ♪ ♪ Trying to know if how I'm living's gonna make the cut ♪ ♪ If there's a key to staying outta hell ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find it ♪ ♪ When I push the pearly gates they gonna stay shut ♪ ♪ Try to live like a holy man ♪ ♪ But it didn't suit me ♪ ♪ Had a couple edges that that couldn't smooth out ♪ ♪ But try to live as best I could and tell the truth ♪ ♪ Try to never let my mama hear my rude mouth ♪ ♪ Keep appearances 'cause they're the most important, right ♪ ♪ Gotta make the Joneses think you really got 'em beat ♪ ♪ But appearances don't help you go to sleep at night ♪ ♪ They ain't helping when you wanna give yourself heat ♪ ♪ Tell the therapist your problems ♪ ♪ Give 'em access ♪ ♪ You ain't gonna pray and gon' find another way ♪ ♪ Keep your eyes off the pretty girl in the black dress ♪ ♪ What you gonna go and buy your mom for Mothers Day ♪ ♪ Had to go and learn the things that mattered for myself ♪ ♪ Had to see in my own way, in my own time ♪ ♪ And I got a lot of issues that I hide well ♪ ♪ A long list but I'm working my way on down the line ♪ ♪ And every day I progress ♪ ♪ Make them see ♪ ♪ What is everybody else ♪ ♪ That all I'm gonna be is me ♪ ♪ If you got a problem with it, you can R-I-P. ♪ ♪ 'Til the day comes back to raise an army ♪ ♪ Burn the whole world down ♪ ♪ 'Til the sky starts falling ♪ ♪ No one can harm me ♪ ♪ Lay down my burdens ♪ ♪ No weapon shall prosper ♪ ♪ Nothing will hurt us ♪ ♪ Leave your guns at the altar ♪ ♪ If my body is struck down ♪ ♪ Don't try to save me ♪ ♪ Lay me down without crying ♪ ♪ Carry on fighting ♪ ♪ Gonna stand before the creator ♪ ♪ Tell Him I'm sorry ♪ ♪ For all of the bottles and unopened Bibles ♪ ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ♪ Soldier, put your head to the sky ♪ ♪ The battle isn't over 'til the sky starts to cry ♪ ♪ Fall down on your shoulders and the Jordan run dry ♪ ♪ Then you're lifted up on angels wings ♪ ♪ Victory you proudly sing ♪ ♪ Young soldier, know you got a lot up on your plate ♪ ♪ Attacks from every direction ♪ ♪ And ain't no signs of stopping ♪ ♪ Trying to figure out which path it is that you should take ♪ ♪ To get yourself up outta here ♪ ♪ Where all your people dropping ♪ ♪ If you wanna make it, just cooperate ♪ ♪ No more marching in the streets ♪ ♪ No more pistol popping ♪ ♪ If you wanna put the past behind and meditate ♪ ♪ On what America has done for you ♪ ♪ With all its doctrines ♪ ♪ Scratch that, read a book and open up your mind ♪ ♪ Educate yourself 'cause they ain't gonna do it for you ♪ ♪ Time to lay all the indoctrination to the side ♪ ♪ Come to see that they're trying ♪ ♪ To do more than just ignore you ♪ ♪ There's a reason that the murder rate is so high ♪ ♪ There's a reason that the DEA is coming for you ♪ ♪ Let it flow right in the water ♪ ♪ Keep you mad and blind ♪ ♪ Still boss, the only way they wanna reward you ♪ ♪ You got so much more potential ♪ ♪ You just gotta see it ♪ ♪ See the case that you've been made ♪ ♪ To think is living free ♪ ♪ If they had their way ♪ ♪ The lies they told, you be believing ♪ ♪ You are the only one who holds the cure for this disease ♪ ♪ Stand up, young soldier, raise your fist high ♪ ♪ Be proud, be strong, and make your voice heard ♪ ♪ There ain't nothing that'll haunt you ♪ ♪ 'Til the day you die ♪ ♪ Like letting evil over take the world without a word ♪ ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ♪ Soldier, put your head to the sky ♪ ♪ The battle isn't over 'til the sky starts to cry ♪ ♪ Fall down on your shoulders and the Jordan run dry ♪ ♪ Then get lifted up on angels wings ♪ ♪ Victory you proudly sing ♪ ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ♪ I guess we can put the guns down for now ♪ ♪ Down for now ♪ ♪ Victory we screaming from the clouds ♪ ♪ From the clouds ♪ ♪ So we like hut one, hut two ♪ ♪ Ain't gonna stop just 'cause we got this far ♪ ♪ Still grooving on ♪ ♪ Grooving on ♪ ♪ So we like hut one, hut two ♪ ♪ Bottles gonna pop celebrating that we got this far ♪ ♪ Still grooving on ♪ ♪ Grooving on ♪ ♪ A few cars later, a few scars later ♪ ♪ Made a couple steps ♪ ♪ Must have got a couple haters ♪ ♪ That's okay, you can't be everybody's favorite flavor ♪ ♪ Trying to make it outta Huggies but the pain major ♪ ♪ Granny ain't around no more to give my cheek kisses ♪ ♪ Granny ain't around no more to give my butt whippings ♪ ♪ My voice cracked it 'cause it hit a little different ♪ ♪ I know you and Papa in the crystal sea fishing ♪ ♪ Made it through a couple grades, through a couple plays ♪ ♪ Made it through a couple college courses ♪ ♪ And a couple lays ♪ ♪ Felt my hair along a couple times ♪ ♪ Got a couple fades ♪ ♪ Let the tears fall a couple times on a couple graves ♪ ♪ Kimmy hadn't even turned 21 yet ♪ ♪ Reba's gone before we got to see 25 ♪ ♪ Aunt's killer ain't seen a lick of justice ♪ ♪ These ain't either 'cause the cops ain't try ♪ ♪ They're just gone cross the other side of the Jordan ♪ ♪ Gold paved streets don't scuff their Jordans ♪ ♪ Potholes don't pop holes in tires ♪ ♪ Brian from the North Side, sure enough still alive ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ ♪ Sure enough still alive ♪ ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ♪ We ain't guaranteed another single tomorrow ♪ ♪ I probably would've went to jail ♪ ♪ If we ain't dip on Maro ♪ ♪ But we made it to the county line ♪ ♪ Guess it's probably fine ♪ ♪ Very next night, me and Ben B. held the line ♪ ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ("Interludes 1, 2, 3" continues) ♪ Yes, we can put the guns down for now ♪ ♪ Down for now ♪ [Announcer] This program is made possible in part by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Additional support provided by the Alabama Folklife Association.

(relaxed bluegrass music) (relaxed bluegrass music continues)