"Freight Train Blues" is funded in part by Come Hear NC.

A program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

[light guitar music] [music continues] [music continues] ♪ Freight train, freight train ♪ - [Announcer] Welcome to the annual Freight Train Blues Concert series, celebrating the life and legacy of Piedmont Blue's legend, Elizabeth Libba Cotten.

Born in 1893 in Carrboro, North Carolina, some of Cotten's best known compositions reside in the canon of American music with noted covers by the Grateful Dead, Joan Baez and Doc Watson.

Today, her legacy is being discovered by a new generation of artists and performers.

This episode features Grammy nominated soul sensations, the Hamiltones.

Starting out as background singers for Anthony Hamilton, they've become known entities in their own right through an infectious series of viral-video performances, tirelessly recording and collaborating with Petie Pablo, Ry Cooder, and others.

- [Elizabeth] Thank you so much.

[audience applauding] - Ladies and gentlemen, we are The Hamiltones and welcome to Freight Train Blues honoring the legacy of the late Libba Cotten.

- Libba Cotten.

- Yeah.

So today y'all get to hang with us, gonna hear some great music.

- Remember when we did it like...

Same kind of vibe?

- Yeah, it was the same kind of vibe with these same guys.

You know what I mean?

We here again with another kinda vibe.

Last time we were here, [guitar strumming] we presented y'all with some nice songs, and since then we have released a project entitled "1964."

We gonna be singing some songs from that particular project today.

But ladies and gentlemen, we wanna leave you with a special message on today.

- Special.

- Special.

You know, a special message, and we like to call this song "Message to America."

And why do you call it a Message to America?

Because it is exactly that, a message to our fellow Americans and all of our people whether you be in Africa, whether you be in the UK, wherever you are.

- That's right, brother.

- You love the Hamiltones?

We want to give you a special message, you know what I mean?

- Talk, brother.

- Som right now- - Special.

- We want you to sit back, grab you some popcorn, grab you a soda or some water, whatever your preference is.

We just want you to sit and have a good time while we give this message to you.

[light music] ♪ I don't want no favors ♪ ♪ I just want what is right ♪ ♪ And please excuse my anger ♪ ♪ But this happens all the time ♪ ♪ They tell us to be patient ♪ ♪ You are next in line ♪ ♪ But in the midst of that ♪ ♪ There's scenes of my people dying ♪ - Let's say it again.

♪ I don't want no favors ♪ ♪ I just want what is right ♪ ♪ Please excuse my anger ♪ ♪ But this happens all the time ♪ ♪ They tell us to be patient ♪ ♪ You are next in line ♪ ♪ But in the midst of that ♪ ♪ There's scenes of my people dying ♪ ♪ And how can you sleep and be unbothered ♪ ♪ When you see tragedy on the news ♪ ♪ You might show compassion, understanding ♪ ♪ If you tried on a different shoe ♪ ♪ And what would you do ♪ ♪ If this life was given to you ♪ ♪ Uh-huh ♪ ♪ And how would you sue ♪ ♪ If you to live like we do ♪ ♪ Do, do ♪ - Yes.

Yes.

- It's a real song, bro.

- It is.

It is a real good song.

It's a little short.

- Real and real good.

- I feel like we didn't go long enough.

- How 'bout we do the... Can we do the other part again?

♪ How do... ♪ I like that part.

♪ And how can you sleep and be unbothered ♪ ♪ When you see tragedy on the news ♪ ♪ You might show compassion, understanding ♪ ♪ If you tried on a different shoe ♪ ♪ And what would you do ♪ ♪ If this life was given to you ♪ ♪ Uh-huh ♪ ♪ And how would you sue ♪ ♪ If you have to live like we do ♪ ♪ Do, do, doo ♪ - Oh yeah.

That is our message from our hearts to your ears.

And we hope that you are in a place where you could receive that message because it's all about the message, see.

You know, speaking of messages, you know, nowadays, with the younger generation, it's really hard to get to 'em and get over to 'em and get a message to 'em.

♪ Well, well, well ♪ - And a lot of them receives a message better through music.

Huh?

And this next particular song is called "The Warning."

♪ Well, well, well ♪ - And oftentimes people ask, why do you call it a warning?

Because it is exactly just that.

- The warning.

- It's a warning to the younger generation, warning them of what could happen, you know?

So much have gone wrong around the world especially to us as a culture, to us as a nation.

And the reason for this "1964" project is to speak on what has been going on.

So this song is simply a message.

It's a message, but it's a warning.

And I hope you find it not robbery, we take a few minutes of your time to tell you about this warning.

You know, it could be your son, it could be your daughter.

Yeah.

But however, we just wanna talk to you a few minutes.

We hope that you're listening and you have the heart to receive.

♪ Black boy, don't mess around on the wrong side of town ♪ ♪ They'll try to gun you down ♪ ♪ The first chance they catch you now ♪ ♪ And black girl, don't beat no fool ♪ ♪ Tighten up and stay in school ♪ ♪ Live like a lady do and make 'em reach back too ♪ ♪ Listen, I know you wondering about what I say ♪ ♪ But you'll never know what's happened these days ♪ ♪ I'm sure big Floyd didn't know he'd be down ♪ ♪ Face to the pavement making a sound ♪ - What he saying?

♪ I can't, I can't breathe, ♪ ♪ I can't, I can't breathe, ♪ ♪ Please officer, get up off of me ♪ ♪ I just wanna warn all of the youngins to ♪ ♪ Look out for the bad ones out here wearing blue ♪ ♪ Mmm, brown boy, don't run too loose ♪ ♪ 'Cause around here they hang strange fruit ♪ ♪ And brown girl, watch what you do ♪ ♪ They don't care, they'll hurt you too ♪ ♪ In plain sight, they'll hide the truth ♪ ♪ In cold blood, they're killing you ♪ ♪ In plain sight, they'll hide the truth ♪ ♪ In cold blood, they'll kill you too ♪ ♪ Listen, if you don't want pain, best hear what I say ♪ ♪ If Aubrey were here, he'd tell you the same ♪ ♪ A flame in the fire, out here in the streets ♪ ♪ And they are some liars if they can't hear me ♪ - What they saying now?

♪ I can't, I can't breathe ♪ ♪ I can't, I can't breathe ♪ ♪ Please officer, get up off of me ♪ ♪ I just wanna warn all of the youngins too ♪ ♪ Look out for the bad ones out here wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ ♪ Let me say, I can't, I can't breathe, can't you hear ♪ ♪ I can't, I can't breathe ♪ ♪ Oh, please Officer, get up off of me ♪ ♪ Now, I just wanna warn all other youngins too ♪ ♪ Look out for the bad ones out here wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ ♪ Wearing blue ♪ - Mmm, mmm, mmm.

- Yeah.

- That is a- - Heavy.

- Heavy song that speaks so boldly and so clearly.

- Mmm-hm.

- Yeah man, why don't we kind of pick it up.

- Lets enlightened the mood 'cause that got a little heavy, man.

- It's pretty heavy right now.

- But I will say this if you don't mind.

- Go ahead, brother.

Put my eyes back on.

- To all of the families and anybody that has ever had to experience that, we love you, prayers is up for you and such a true song.

Just be careful, be aware, be mindful.

And it's just heavy right now, man.

- But you know, most of all, I like to say this a lot of times, we are salesman of love.

- Yes.

- So I think we should sell some love right now.

[light guitar music] What is that?

Oh yeah.

Well I'm gonna take my hat off on this one, fellas.

All right.

You know, what I wanted to say was behind every great man, you'll find a great woman.

- That's right, brother.

- You know?

- Mm-mmm.

Beside every man.

- Thank God Almighty.

- She's not behind.

- She's not behind, she's beside him.

- She's beside you.

- Standing right beside me.

- We walk in equality.

- Equality.

That's the name of the game.

Equal, huh?

So this song speak directly to the women.

- Women.

- You know, we want to tell you that outta all that you do for us, it's never unnoticed.

Basically what we're trying to say is, no matter where we go, no matter what we do, we see you.

We always see you.

We always have seen you.

And we always gonna see you.

Please listen to the words if you will.

Lelo.

♪ For all the nights you spend alone at the crib ♪ ♪ For all the promises to you that I give, baby ♪ ♪ For all the nights I had to go ♪ ♪ 'Cause bills gotta get paid, for sure ♪ ♪ I just want you to know that I see you ♪ ♪ And if you never known that before ♪ ♪ Know that I see you ♪ ♪ I know you got finals in a couple days, yeah ♪ ♪ Still somehow you gotta get your rent paid ♪ I've been there too.

♪ Got more bills than money ♪ ♪ And I don't mean to sound funny ♪ ♪ But keep grinding, baby ♪ ♪ Yeah, I see you ♪ ♪ I know you got a line on your heart, sugar ♪ ♪ Woo, I see you ♪ ♪ And when you're standing there looking in the mirror ♪ ♪ Be proud, I see ya ♪ ♪ And through all the pain you could deliver ♪ ♪ You held it down, I see ya ♪ ♪ Oh, and when your back is against the wall ♪ ♪ You find a way through it all ♪ ♪ And I gotta let you know, girl ♪ ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ It's not hard what I'm trying to say ♪ ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ I know you gotta a lot on your heart too, girl ♪ ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ After all that you've been going through ♪ ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ Ooh, woo, I see you ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Shorty, I see you ♪ - It's another short one, but a real one.

- Yeah.

- You know, I wish we put that out when they had the International Women's Month.

That'd have been a nice song for that.

- But guess what?

International Women's Month- - Is every month!

- Every month.

- That's right.

- I celebrate my woman.

- To us.

- To us, but it comes every year to the world.

- So fellas, celebrate your woman.

Huh?

Feel me, 'cause if not not... - You're gonna be gone.

- On four wheels.

- Can we sing the I see you part again?

The woo, ooh, ooh.

- Yes.

- I was gonna request it.

- Yeah, but you request it.

I don't wanna take it from you.

- Can we sing that part again?

- So listen, if yous in the doghouse, if you have messed up- - Before she- - Put you outta there, all you gotta do is say this.

1, 2, 3, say... ♪ Woo, I see you ♪ ♪ You, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Shorty, I see you ♪ - If you forgot to take the trash out and she told you to take it out before she went to work, and she got home, and not only did you not take the trash out, but you did not help your daughter with her schoolwork, all you gotta do is say.

♪ Woo, woo, I see you ♪ ♪ You, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Shorty, I see you ♪ - If you- - Are a fisherman.

- Are a fisherman- - And you like to go fishing- - And you didn't bring any fish home, and you know you done messed up, you know what you did.

- You can't eat for dinner.

- You know what you did.

Look at her and tell her this one last time.

♪ Ooh, woo, I see you ♪ ♪ You, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Shorty, I see you ♪ - If all you men out there that can't sing, just go, "I see you, girl.

I see you, girl.

I see you, girl."

- Boy, you are something else, boy.

- "I see you, girl."

You know, now, hold on.

You know what?

No, I-I-I-I-I wanna say this right now.

- Go ahead, brother.

- See this song that we about to do right now, it's y'all fault this song is a big song for us.

You see, the reason why I say is because Brother Anthony Hamilton, when we were singing with him, he gave us opportunity to-to-to-to-to-to-to sing this for y'all.

And you folk, we had a concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, I'll never forget it, cuz the video's still going round, I seen it the other day.

And-and-and we sung this song for the first time and the folk jumped up out they seat like they knew it.

And they kept sharing the videos and they kept sharing the video and they kept sharing the video and they kept sharing it, and when we go to the city and you hear this chord right here... [upbeat music] I ain't talking my about that part.

- Hold it.

Hold it.

- This part right here.

- Hold it.

There you go.

- Uh-huh.

- You know, when you heard this, people would run to the stage happy, "Woo, this is my song," you know.

So listen, I know I can't hear you but I'm gonna... ♪ Let me hear you say yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Say yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ Now, while you got a little time, clap your hands like this for me.

This is our happy song.

You know what I'm saying?

♪ Oh yeah, listen here ♪ ♪ You got to be kidding me ♪ ♪ If you think that I'm a fool ♪ ♪ I been around too long ♪ ♪ This is what I'm gonna do ♪ ♪ I'm gonna tell you once ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna say it again ♪ ♪ Whoo, baby, I love you ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, but these days have got to end ♪ ♪ Oh yeah now, baby, as long as you're running with me ♪ ♪ You'll never go wrong ♪ ♪ 'Cause this song is true, oh baby ♪ ♪ And now, together we can never be weak ♪ ♪ But only be strong if that's what you wanna do ♪ ♪ Oh, sugar ♪ ♪ Ooh-hoo-hoo ♪ ♪ No longer wasting each other's time ♪ ♪ We gotta do it right ♪ ♪ We gotta treat each other right, baby, now ♪ ♪ Can we make love and not fuss and fight ♪ ♪ We gotta do this thing together ♪ ♪ If you want it to last forever, you've got to be loving me ♪ ♪ You gotta be loving me, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ The way that I love you ♪ ♪ You got to be loving me, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ You gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Yeah, the way that I love you ♪ ♪ Oh, you gotta be kidding me ♪ ♪ If you think that I'm a fool ♪ ♪ I've been around too long ♪ ♪ And this is what I'm going do ♪ ♪ I'm gonna tell you once ♪ ♪ I aint gonna say it again ♪ ♪ Ooh baby, I love ya, oh yeah ♪ ♪ But this day has got to end ♪ ♪ Ooh-hoo, as long as you're rocking with me, now ♪ ♪ You'll never go wrong ♪ ♪ Darling, this love is true ♪ ♪ Oh, baby, Hamiltones, sing it ♪ ♪ Together we could never be weak, always be strong ♪ ♪ 'Cause that's me and you ♪ ♪ Oh, girl, can't deny that, darling ♪ ♪ Alright, no longer wasting each others' time ♪ ♪ This time we gotta do it right ♪ ♪ We gotta treat each other right ♪ ♪ Can we make love and not fuss and fight ♪ ♪ We gotta do this thing together ♪ ♪ But if you want it to last forever ♪ ♪ You gotta to be loving me, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh, loving me like the way that I love you ♪ ♪ You got to be loving me, you gotta to be loving 'em ♪ ♪ You gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Me-ee-ee-ee-ee ♪ ♪ Whoa, me ♪ ♪ Me, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Everybody out there, join the fun ♪ ♪ Every everyone, oh, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh, love me, oh, me ♪ ♪ Well, me ♪ ♪ Well, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh, loving me, oh, me ♪ ♪ Well, me ♪ ♪ You gotta be loving me ♪ - One more time, one more time ♪ Everybody say yeah ♪ - Yeah.

♪ Oh yeah ♪ - Oh yeah.

♪ Say yeah ♪ - Yeah.

♪ Oh yeah, get fancy with it ♪ ♪ Everybody say yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, ha, ha, ha, ho ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, one more time, sing it, fellas ♪ ♪ You gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh, girl, me, oh, me ♪ ♪ Yeah, me, oh, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh, loving me, oh, me ♪ ♪ Yeah, me, you gotta be loving me ♪ - We are Hamiltones and this is Freight Train Blues.

And we had a good time.

Don't forget to follow us on all social media platforms @TheHamiltones and see all digital music platforms at The Hamiltones, you know what I mean?

Music is everywhere.

- Everywhere.

- Go get it.

- All around the world.

- It's waiting on you to come get it.

- All around the world.

- All around the world!

All around the world.

We gotta feed our families.

[Corey laughing] - Oh yeah.

- We love y'all, man.

We had fun.

[all laughing] Yo, I love this man.

This is an opportunity for me to be myself, for us to be ourselves.

But most of all, we get to do it with you and we can't do it without you.

So keep supporting us, keep doing what you're doing because guess what.

The more you do it, the more you gonna hear from us.

But until then, keep loving on somebody.

You know why?

♪ Well now, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh, loving me, oh, me ♪ ♪ Oh, me, oh now, you gotta be loving me ♪ ♪ Oh darling, me, oh, me ♪ ♪ Me, you gotta be loving me ♪ - God bless you.

That was new what we just did there.

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah!

Don't be a fisherman with no fish.

Bring some fish home and she'll love you even more.

God bless you.

♪ Yeah ♪ [music concludes] [musician giggles] [light guitar music] [light guitar music continues] ♪ Oh, freight train, freight train down the line ♪ ♪ Freight train, freight train down the line ♪ ♪ Please don't tell what train I'm on ♪ ♪ Don't know what route I'm goin' ♪ [light guitar music] ♪ Please don't tell what train I'm on ♪ ♪ Don't know what route I'm goin' ♪ Freight train.

[chuckling] "Freight Train Blues" is funded in part by Come Hear NC.

A program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.