Austin City Limits

-Recorded live from Austin, Texas, it's "Austin City Limits" with Dolly Parton.

- Made only from rags But I wore it so proudly And although we had no money, I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors Mama made for me -And new bluegrass from Nickel Creek.

-Now the quintessential country singer-songwriter, her first time ever on "Austin City Limits," Dolly Parton.

- Train, train It's gonna take him on out of this town Train, train Gonna take him on out of this town Yeah, that man I'm in love with Lord, he's Memphis bound He's leavin' here Like a raggedy old coat And he's leavin' me That no good so-and-so Yeah, that man I'm in love with Lord, he wants to go Let him go!

Ooh-ooh Goodbye, goodbye I'll find myself another man Goodbye, goodbye I guess I'll find myself another man Take that night train to Memphis Ooh, leave while you can Take that night train to Memphis Ooh, leave while you can Well, now.

Good mor-r-r-r-r-ning, captain Good mor-r-r-r-r-ning, captain [ Cheers and applause ] Oh!

Ah.

Glad I got big lungs.

[ Laughter ] Good morning to you, sir Oh, could you use another mule skinner Even if it is a her?

[ Yodeling ] [ Vocalizing ] Take that night train, take that mule train, take that I don't know what you get when you cross a mule and a train.

Do you?

[ Laughs ] [ Cheers and applause ] Well, hello, "Austin City Limits"!

[ Laughs ] Little sparrow, little sparrow Precious, fragile little thing Little sparrow, little sparrow Flies so high and feels no pain All ye maidens, heed my warning Never trust the hearts of men For they will crush you like a sparrow Leaving you to never mend They will vow to always love you Swear no love but yours will do And then they'll go and court another Break your little heart in two Little sparrow, little sparrow Precious, fragile little thing Little sparrow, little sparrow Flies so high and feels no pain Oh, oh, oh Now, if I were a little sparrow O'er these mountains I would fly And I would find him, I would find him Look into his lyin' eyes I would flutter all around him On my little sparrow wings And I would ask him, I would ask him Why he let me love in vain But I am not a little sparrow I am just the broken dream Of a cold, false-hearted lover And his evil, cunning scheme Oh, little sparrow, little sparrow Precious, fragile little thing Little sparrow, little sparrow Flies so high and feels no pain But all ye maidens Heed my warning Never trust The hearts of men For they will crush you like a sparrow Leaving you to never mend Little sparrow Little sparrow Oh, the sorrow Never ends Little sparrow Mm [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

We like them sad songs!

You're a lot like me.

And some people deserve to suffer.

[ Laughter ] Give me a word, give me a sign Show me where to look and tell me what will I find What will I find?

Lay me on the ground, fly me in the sky Show me where to look and tell me what will I find?

What will I find?

Yeah Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine Love is in the water, love is in the air Show me where to go and tell me will love be there Will love be there?

Lord, teach me how to speak, teach me how to share Teach me where to go and tell me will love be there Will love be there?

Yeah Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine Oh, give me a word, give me a sign Show me where to look and tell me what will I find What will I find?

Lord, teach me how to speak, teach me how to share Teach me where to go and tell me will love be there Will love be there?

Yeah Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Oh, heaven, let your light shine Oh, heaven, let your light shine down Heaven, let your light shine down Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Heaven, let your light shine down Shine, shine Shine [ Chuckles ] [ Cheers and applause ] Pretty as an angel from the day that she was born Skin as fair as lilies, hair as golden as the corn They knew that she was special From the moment she first cried She was a mountain angel certified She was her mama's baby, she was her daddy's pride Good at home, at church and school At everything she tried Everybody's darlin' led a charmed and happy life The perfect mountain angel till he arrived And, oh, she fell so deeply And, oh, she couldn't stop She gave herself to him, yielding completely He lifted her so high, then let her drop She gave up everything for him that mattered in her life And all the others that had loved her And she vowed to be his wife She dreamed of bearing children In an ivy-covered house The mountain angel's sunshine turned to clouds The wicked, handsome stranger just left the way he came He broke her heart and broke her mind She never was the same Some say he was the devil That had come to steal her soul She never loved another it was told They say she had a baby.

They say that it had died.

They it's just as well, as it had been the devil's child.

They say good conquers evil.

But here, evil won the prize.

And so the mountain angel took to the wild.

And, oh, she couldn't take it Years passed, and she had long since lost her mind She waited for him as her beauty faded And her parents died from grief before their time She tried to gather pieces of her life, they wouldn't fit Beside the tiny grave deep in the woods is where she'd sit Talking to the child, herself, to him, who knew for sure?

Possessed, they say, by Satan's insane lure High atop the mountain, for years they say she's seen Lookin' down upon the town where she had once been queen She'd sneak around the playgrounds Watch the little children play They'd see that crazy lady, then run away They say she roamed these hills for years, wearing not a stitch, the once-lovely mountain angel now thought to be a witch.

She made those wailing mournful sounds That you could hear for miles Long after she lay down upon her baby's grave and died And, oh, her ghost is callin' She's wailing for the ones that she adored Through spring and summer, fall, when snow is fallin' The mountain angel's voice is ever more Her spirit roams these hills forevermore And you can hear her singing.

[ Vocalizing ] [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

Yee-haw.

I wrote a fun, little song.

Let's get out of them mountains and away from them crazy women.

[ Laughter ] Let's get to some girls.

Okay.

This one's called "He's Gon' Marry Me."

Think they're gonna keep me out of this band?

[ Laughter ] Yee-hoo!

Well, I met a boy from Grassy Branch, fine as he can be I met him at the big barn dance And he took a shine to me Big, blue eyes, a big, wide smile And tall as a sycamore tree He's real smart with a real good heart And he's gonna marry me Yeah, he's gonna marry me, and we're gonna go to town We're gonna buy us a real good car And we're gonna drive around We'll hold hands, touch and hug, he talks so sweet to me 'Cause he knows a lot about love and stuff And he's gonna marry me Well, his mama don't like me one little bit But you know I don't care Let her pitch her hissy fit, 'cause I ain't a-marryin' her He's always been a mama's boy, it's just plain jealousy She's as mad as an old red hen 'Cause he's gon' marry me Oh, but he's gonna marry me, and he's gonna buy me a ring We're gonna be so free, cut Mama's apron strings He's gonna build me a pretty little house Have a pretty little babe or three 'Cause he's done kiss me on the mouth And he's gonna marry me Yeah, he's gonna marry me, he's gonna buy me a ring We're gonna be so free, cut Mama's apron strings He's gonna buy me a pretty little house Have a pretty little babe or three 'Cause he's done kiss me on the mouth So he's gotta marry me Yeah, he's done kiss me on the mouth, so he's Gonna marry Me-e-e-e [ Vocalizing ] [ Cheers and applause ] That one's a fun one, ain't it?

Made you want to dance, and we ain't got a dance floor.

Here's another sad song from the new album.

As you walk away As we say goodbye What I wouldn't give For a tender lie Say you'll never stop lovin' me Just as if it were true How much more damage now honestly Could one tender lie do?

When we fall so far Are we wrong to try To keep out the truth With a tender lie?

Say you're gonna come back to me And I'll believe that it's true How much more damage now honestly Could one tender lie do?

Say you're gonna come back to me And I'll believe that it's true How much more damage now honestly Could one tender lie do?

How much more damage now honestly Could one tender lie Do?

[ Vocalizing ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Ah!

Last night, my tears they were fallin' I went to bed so sad and blue Then I had a dream of you I dreamed I was strollin' in the evenin' Underneath the harvest moon But another was there, too And then you met me in the moonlight The stars were shining in your eyes But another was there, too I don't believe you've met my baby You looked at her, you looked at me And I wondered who you were talkin' to I shook the hand of your stranger But I was shaking more inside 'Cause I was still wonderin' who Your arm was restin' on her shoulder You smiled at her, she smiled at you Her eyes were filled with victory She said my brother wants to marry And then my heart was filled with ease 'Cause I knew that you would marry me I don't believe you've met my baby [ Cheers and applause ] You know, I write a lot of songs and have through the years about my growing-up days back in the Smoky Mountains, and most of you -- Well, some of you may or may not know that I grew up in a family of 12 children.

There's six girls and six boys in our family, and my folks had a hard time making it.

We didn't have anything money could buy, but we had a lot of good stuff, stuff money don't buy anyway, things like love and kindness and understanding.

And, 'course, Mama used to make a lot of our clothes from rags that people used to send up home for her to make quilts out of, and this one time, she made me a little coat.

And the story pretty much tells its own self, so I thought you might want to hear this one, even though it's not on the new album.

Back through the years I go wanderin' once again Back to the seasons of my youth And I recall this box of rags someone gave us And how my mama put those rags to use There were rags of many colors But every piece was small And I didn't have a coat And it was way down in the fall Mama sewed the rags together, sewin' every piece with love She made my coat of many colors That I was so proud of While Mama sewed, she told a story From the Bible, she had read About a coat of many colors Joseph wore and then she said "I hope this coat will bring you Good luck and happiness" And I just couldn't wait to wear it And Mama blessed it with a kiss My coat of many colors that my mama made for me Made only from rags, but I wore it so proudly And although we had no money, I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors Mama made for me So with patches on my britches And holes in both my shoes In my coat of many colors, well, I hurried off to school Just to find the others laughing And making fun of me And my coat of many colors that Mama made for me And, oh, I couldn't understand that, 'cause I felt I was rich.

And I told 'em of the love Mama sewed in every stitch.

I even told 'em all that story that Mama told me while she sewed and why my coat of many colors was worth more than all their clothes.

They didn't understand it, and I tried to make them see One is only poor only if they choose to be It's true, we had no money.

But I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors Mama made for me 'Cause she made it just for me.

[ Cheers and applause ] But like I say, I've written many, many songs about my life and my growing-up days and about my folks and all, but every now and then, I get lucky, and I'll write a love song that other people like and want to sing.

And this particular song, it's been done every which way in the world.

It's been a hit since the '70s.

About every 10 years, it becomes a hit again.

and I'm looking for somebody to do it.

And since we are doing a little bit more of acoustic, kind of bluegrass, country flavor, I thought I'd see if I could do this one just a tiny bit different.

And I hope you'll remember it, and I hope you'll like hearing it again.

If I should stay I would only be in your way So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you each step of the way And I will always love you I will always love you I will always love you Bittersweet memories I guess that's all I'll be taking with me Goodbye.

Please don't you cry.

'Cause we both know I'm not what you need But I will always love you I will always love you And I hope life... Will treat you kind And I hope that you have all you ever dreamed of I wish you joy And happiness But above all this I wish you love And I will always love you I will always love you I will always love You [ Cheers and applause ] [ Upbeat bluegrass music playing ] And that is it for that story!

God bless you!

I've had a great time here on "Austin City Limits"!

Thank you!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] I love songwriting better than anything else.

In fact, I've been writing songs since I was a little, bitty kid.

My mama used to keep stuff before I could write.

She'd keep things -- She'd write 'em down that I had made up, 'cause she was just fascinated that I could rhyme everything so good.

Plus, I listened to everything.

I'm very touched by everything I hear.

And most of the songs that I sing, if I haven't suffered that or lived that story, somebody I love has lived that or suffered that.

So I really feel all that.

So I'm glad I can write, because it's my therapy.

I'd probably be a total lunatic -- I'm just a little crazy now, but I'd probably be nuts if I couldn't write.

What I love to do is to be able to really just let it all come and then let it all come out.

-Now a bright, new sound in modern bluegrass from Nickel Creek.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

-We can't believe that we're here at "Austin City Limits."

-Like, we're on fricking "Austin City Limits."

[ Cheers and applause ] This one's called "When You Come Back Down."

You got to leave me now, you got to go alone You got to chase a dream, one that's all your own Before it slips away When you're flyin' high, take my heart along I'll be the harmony to every lonely song That you learn to play When you're soarin' through the air I'll be your solid ground Take every chance you dare I'll still be there When you come back down When you come back down I'll keep lookin' up, awaitin' your return My greatest fear will be that you will crash and burn And I won't feel your fire I'll be the other hand that always holds the line Connecting in between your sweet heart and mine I'm strung out on that wire And I'll be on the other end To hear you when you call Angel, you were born to fly, and if you get too high I'll catch you when you fall I'll catch you when you fall Your memory's the sunshine every new day brings I know the sky is calling Angel, let me help you with your wings When you're soarin' through the air I'll be your solid ground Take every chance you dare, I'll still be there When you come back down Take every chance you dare I'll still be there When you come back down When you come back down [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

1, 2.

1, 2.

- Where am I today?

I wish that I knew 'Cause lookin' around there's no sign of you And I don't remember one jump or one leap Just quiet steps away from your lead I'm holding my heart out but clutching it, too Feeling this short of a love that we once knew I'm calling this a home when it's not even close And playing the role with nerves left exposed And standing on a darkened stage Stumbling through the lines Others have excuses I have my reasons why We get distracted by the dreams of our own And nobody's happy while feeling alone -[ Scatting ] - And knowing how hard it hurts when we fall We lean another ladder against the wrong wall And climb high to the highest rung To shake fists at the sky Others have excuses I have my reasons why - With so much deception - It's hard not to wander away - Hard not to wander away - Hard not to wander away And climb high to the highest rung To shake fists at the sky Others have excuses I have my reasons why [ Cheers and applause ] - Oh, the fox went out on a chilly night And he prayed for the moon to give him light For he'd many a mile to go that night Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o He'd many a mile to go that night Before he reached the town-o He ran till he came to the farmer's pen The ducks and the geese were kept therein He said, a couple of you are gonna grease my chin Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o A couple of you are gonna grease my chin Before I leave this town-o He grabbed the gray goose by the neck And he threw a duck across his back And he didn't mind the quack, quack, quack And the legs all dangling down-o, down-o, down-o He didn't mind the quack, quack And the legs all dangling down-o Old Mother jumped out of bed She ran to the window, and she popped out her head Crying, "John, John, the gray goose is gone The fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o John, John, the gray goose is gone And the fox is on the town-o" Oh, Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine And I'm on the pavement thinking about the government The man in the trench coat, badge off, laid off Says he has a bad cough and wants to get it paid off Look out, kid, it's somethin' you did And God knows when if you do it again you better Jump down an alleyway lookin' for a new friend Man in a coonskin cap in a pig pen He wants eleven dollar bills, and you only got ten [ Cheers and applause ] Oh, be ran till he came back to his den And there were the little ones, eight, nine, ten Sayin' Daddy, Daddy, better go back again It must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o Daddy, Daddy, go back again For it must be a mighty fine town-o Oh, the fox and his wife, without any strife They cut up that goose with a fork and a knife And they never had such a supper in their life And the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o They never had such a supper in their life And the little ones chewed on the bones [ Cheers and applause ] Thanks a lot.

-Thank you very much.

[ Cheers and applause ] -I can't believe how responsive and -- It just seems like everybody's really, really paying attention.

And so, you know, there's a little bit of intensity going on 'cause you think, like, if you mess up, they're probably gonna know.

-We've pretty much grown up together.

We started going to a pizza parlor and listening to live music, and a band called Bluegrass Etc.

played there.

And we just all got really inspired by hearing them play and hearing the music our parents played in the house.

And so to make a long story short, the members of that band became our individual teachers.

And they had us onstage, and we grew up playing together every week.

And then one day, somebody wanted a kids' band to play at a festival, so... -That was like 11 years ago.

-That was us.

And, yeah, we've been together 11 years now.