Austin City Limits

-"Austin City Limits" presents the dynamic and eclectic husband and wife duo known as The War and Treaty.

- Five more minutes, five more minutes I need five more minutes to love Oh Five more minutes, five more minutes I need five more minutes to love -And Austin's own powerhouse singer and songwriter Ruthie Foster.

- And oh, oh, yeah It feels like freedom - All my favorite colors Right All my favorite colors Yes, ma'am My sisters and my brothers See 'em like no other All my favorite colors It's good day to be, a good day for me A good day to see my favorite colors Colors My sisters and my brothers They see 'em like no other All my favorite colors -Now, the bluesy but joyful songs of Michael Trotter and Tanya Blount Trotter, The War and Treaty.

- Leaving so soon It's like we just arrived Did I play the right tune For your pleasure tonight?

Stay with me Don't leave just yet We've got all night So please forget About tomorrow Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love - Have you tasted the wine Smoked a little wisdom in the rain Are you-ooh feeling li-li-li-li-ike Getting a little crazy Stay with me Don't leave just yet We've got all night So please forget About tomorrow Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love Yeah, stay with me Don't ya leave just yet We've got all night So please forget About tomorrow Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love Five more minutes Five more minutes I need five more minutes to love [ Cheers and applause ] [ Michael laughs ] Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Michael.

-And I'm Tanya.

-And we are The War and Treaty, and we're so happy to be here in Austin, Texas!

[ Cheers and applause ] And so honored to be able to say that we played Austin City Limits.

[ Cheers and applause ] And not only did we play it, we played it in a special moment, one of...one of the most crucial moments in our history.

The American people once again are surviving this pandemic, so we're here to sing to you, America.

We're here to sing not just to Austin and not just the beautiful, beautiful people that are in this theater right now, but we are here as a representation of what thriving and overcomers look like, so let's give ourselves a hand.

[ Cheers and applause ] It's my big brother -- ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Will Merrell.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing piano ] I didn't see the future But it came in so clear You were calling I came running, dear We were walking through the valley Where the fog was your breath And you breathed it all out I knew you had nothing left When I looked you in your face From your eyes fell a tear Then you went away Left us standing here We're not human But what we are is beautiful Beautiful - Oh you are, you are so Beautiful Bright and morning star, you are so - I never seen such a pretty thing You're so beautiful to me - And I never seen such a pretty thing Oh, you are So beautiful - In the morning when you rise You'll be beautiful, so beautiful to me - Your skin's the globe and your eyes are the skies And you're beautiful, so beautiful to me - Got a glimpse of your new face And it's beautiful, so beautiful to me - And when I get there, oh, what a day You'll be beautiful, so beautiful - We're not human - But what we are is beautiful Beautiful O, you are, you are so Beautiful Bright and morning star, you are so - I never seen such a pretty thing You're so beautiful to me - And I never seen such a pretty thing Oh, you are - It hurts right now It's hard to see But I can feel you stand in front of me And it's beautiful So beautiful Save a glass just for me Fill it up with that milk and honey, yeah It'll be beautiful So beautiful Beautiful Oh, you are, you are so Beautiful Bright and morning star, you are so - I never seen such a pretty thing You're so beautiful to me - And I never seen such a pretty thing - Oh, you are So beautiful Beautiful So beautiful [ Cheers and applause ] -For all those listening at home, and for everyone in here... Don't leave anybody alone, y'all.

We dedicate this song to you.

- Take me in Like I've never been Lead me now to your heart's chagrin Take me in By the river's bend There I can wash away my sins Oh, won't you take me in Walk me down To the hallowed ground There I promise not to lose my crown Walk me down To the batter's mound The shouts of victory are the only sounds - Whoa, won't you walk me down 'Cause I've been there once and I'll go again Just as long as you're the one to take me in Like a free bird circling in the wind I'll fly to your cage so you can take me in Oh, won't you take me in 'Cause I've seen our mothers cry within From our fathers who refuse to call us kin But I sink my hands and nails in their skin Let's break this curse, oh, won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in Let's go Ya, ya, ya Ya, ya, ya, ya Oh, won't you take me in Ya, ya, ya Ya, ya, ya, ya Oh, won't you take me in Let's go Ya, ya, ya Ya, ya, ya, ya Yeah, oh, won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in America 'Merica Now is the time It's time to unite We the people It's time to unite Oh, yeah It's time to unite Oh, beautiful For spacious skies For amber waves of grain Yeah!

Everybody say yeah!

- Ya, ya, ya Ya, ya, ya, ya Won't you take me in -One more time!

Say yeah!

- Ya, ya, ya -We need each other!

We need each other!

Sing!

- Ya, ya, ya, ya Won't you take me in -One more time!

- Ya, ya, ya Ya, ya, ya, ya Won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in Oh, won't you take me in -Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] This next song, there's a special young lady in our life, from a little town called Albion, Michigan.

She's a... singer/songwriter, she's still in high school... She's so beautiful -- -She's our baby.

-And... [ Applause ] Thank you.

We'd like to dedicate this song to you, Ann Wade.

This song is called "Jubilee."

I see the morning coming in your eyes Jubilee, jubilee It's shining brighter than the sun in the sky Jubilee, jubilee Aw, yeah, come on, mama.

- I hear the joy bells ringing in your voice Jubilee, jubilee Your kind of singing cutting through the noise Jubilee, jubilee Oh, jubilee, yeah - Jubilee You're the kind of joy that I need It's shining brighter than the sun in the sky Jubilee, jubilee - Ah, yeah Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh Well, jubilee, yeah - Jubilee You're the kind of joy that I need -Come on, mama!

It's shining brighter than the sun in the sky Jubilee, ju-u-u Bi-- [ Laughing ] - Bilee!

[ Laughter ] Bilee -[ Laughs ] Thank you!

-You tried to get me.

[ Applause ] Our family deals with PTSD -- Michael is a two-time Iraqi war veteran, he served two tours in Iraq.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thank you -- and thank him and all the soldiers who fought.

I just wanted to say that a lot of people don't know the struggles that people with PTSD go through, but whenever I look at Michael, I always just want to know how he wakes up every morning and he's just so vibrant, and he's just hanging in the sky with all this joy, and I just look at him like the beautiful moon -- -I wake -- I wake up like this.

-[ Laughs ] You wake up like that?

-Where's the alarm clock?!

That's how I wake up in the morning.

-But you're such a beautiful person -- -Thank you, baby.

-And I'm not saying that because you're my husband, but because you find a way to bring joy and put joy in everything.

-Well, thanks for being my caretaker.

I love you.

This song is called "Hey Pretty Moon."

Thank you, darlin'.

-To you, Ray Charles.

Hey pretty moon Bright and fair How do you hang In the air up there?

Looks like you hang Free from all cares - Free from all cares - Mmm - Silver circle Light and round In the dark Look at the peace you found Looks like you hang - Looks like you hang - Free From all cares - Free from all cares - How do you shine While the darkest hour Burns under your luminous eye?

- Teach me how To shine the way You do No matter how grey the sky Hey, pretty moon Bright and fair How do you hang In the air up there?

Looks like you hang Free from all cares -Ladies and gentlemen, on the trumpet, from Knoxville, Tennessee, Mr. Joe Jordan!

Whoa You find a way - You find a way - To stay up high - To stay up high - While all the stars Fall by your side - While all the stars Fall by your side - Even the sun Sometimes fails to show You always Keep your glow - Hey, yeah Hey, pretty moon Bright and fair How do you hang - How do you hang - In the air up there?

- Ooh Looks like you hang - Yeah, baby Free from all cares - Free from all care - Oh, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Looks like you hang Free - From all Cares Oh, look like you hang [ Cheers and applause ] -The song "Five More Minutes," I think, is -- is the song that has the most personal story of all.

-I served two tours in Iraq, and from there, I, uh, like, I got what they call PTSD.

Depression hit me hard, and... anxiety, and I was ready to just... give it up.

And, uh, I had a plan to end it all that day.

I remember my wife getting down on her knees and holding me by my face and saying, "I just need you to give me five more minutes to love you, and I promise I'll give you reason to keep going."

And I gave her five minutes, and that five minutes led to us being right here in Austin, on Austin City Limits -- I'm still living the five minutes.

-Next, and Austin artist who blurs the lines between soul, gospel, folk, and blues -- Ruthie Foster!

- Uh-huh, ooh, uh-huh, ooh Uh-huh, ooh, uh-huh, ooh [ All vocalizing ] [ Clapping in time Uh-huh, ooh Lost hope, I got life Got pain, got strife You don't need nobody Tell you how to life your life Sometimes you hurt So down you can't work Couldn't see a better way Keep trustin' one more day My heart, my mind Is open wide Forgiveness see me through I'm free, are you?

Friendships come and they go Lesson learned and so Meanwhile keep an eye One daybreak at a time Cause love heals Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day You know, love heals And love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day Whoo!

Might stumble along the way Knocked down, that's okay Meanwhile I say Follow the promise of a brand-new day You know love heals Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day You know love heals Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day A-ha, whoo, a-ha, whoo, a-ha, whoo, a-ha It might sound untrue But this song's for you Let come what may Follow the promise of a brand-new day You know love heals Whoo!

Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day You know love heals Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day [ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ] Thank you!

[ Laughs ] Pretty women wonder Where my secret lies I'm not cute or built to suit Or fashion-model size But when I start to tell them They think I'm tellin' lies I say it's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips The stride in my steps The curl of my lips I'm a woman Phenomenal woman Whoa, I'm a woman, yeah Baby, that's me I walk into a room Just as cool as you please And to a man the fellas stand And they fall down on their knees And then they swarm around me Like a hive of honey bees Whoa, I say it's in the fire in my eyes The flash of my teeth The swing of my waist The joy in my feet I'm a woman - Phenomenal woman - Phenomenal woman - Phenomenal, phenomenal Phenomenal woman - Whoa, I'm a woman, yeah - Phenomenal, phenomenal Phenomenal - Baby, that's me Oh, it's in the arch of my back The sun of my smile The ride of my breast The grace of my style Yeah - Whoo - Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed I don't shout or jump about I don't have to talk real loud But when you see me passin' It oughta make you smile Hey, it's in click of my heels The bend of my hair The palm of my hands The need for my care 'Cause I'm a woman - Phenomenal, phenomenal Phenomenal woman - Phenomenal woman, yeah - Phenomenal, phenomenal Phenomenal woman - Oh, I'm a woman, yeah Oh, baby, that's me It's in the palm of my hands And the need for my care Phenomenal, phenomenal Phenomenal woman, yeah Oh, baby Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby - Baby, yeah - Baby Baby That's me That's me Yeah [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

Thank you -- that's Scottie Miller over there.

[ Cheers and applause ] This is -- the next song was brought to me by... uh, a singer/songwriter in L.A. Beautiful tune and I... First thing I said to her was, "Can I have it?"

This is a -- it's a beautiful song, it's called "Feels Like Freedom."

We want to do this one for you.

The sun is coming up again Those winds of change are blowin' in And I know Yes, I know It feels like freedom Been a long and lonely road But I'm finally comin' home And, oh Oh, yeah It feels like freedom Are you ready now?

'Cause I'm ready now For a change to come Feet, don't fail me now 'Cause I'm ready now To move on Sing a new song Storm clouds are breaking And my worries, they are fading And, oh Oh, yeah It feels like freedom And my sisters and my brothers I see 'em coming together And, oh, oh It feels like freedom Are you ready now, 'cause I'm ready now For a change to come Feet, don't fail me now 'Cause I'm ready now To move on Are you ready now, 'cause I'm ready now For a change to come Feet, don't fail me now 'Cause I'm ready now To move on The sun is coming up again Those winds of change are blowing in And I know Yes, I know It feels like freedom [ Cheers and applause ] You know, I do love me some Mavis Staples, so... here's a -- here's one I got permission to record, call this one "The Ghetto."

If you ever Lived In the ghetto It may be At the close Of your day From your front porch You hear the sounds Of a jukebox Of a neighborhood Caf At noon You may hear Neighbors fussing When a kid Breaks A window pane Oh, at night At night You may be wakened By the sounds Of an outward-bound train Outsiders They refuse To help us Yeah, and they down us For living The way we do Oh, but when you're born The child A child of a poor man They say the ghetto Is the only Place for you But if there's Such thing As a hereafter And I'm satisfied Oh, I'm satisfied that there will be Oh, yeah Oh, when they build When they build Oh, New Jerusalem There won't be No more ghetto For me Oh, yeah There won't be No more ghetto For me Yeah There won't be No more ghetto For me Mmm Oh, yeah, yeah Ooh Yeah, yeah [ Cheers and applause ] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Time to go down Mississippi for a while, let's go to Mississippi.

Call this one "Runaway Soul."

Down in Mississippi, down in Mississippi, y'all They got the blues down there, yeah, yeah They got the blues and the gospel too Yeah, yeah Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes, sometimes They mix it all together They mix it all up I do believe we can mix the blues and the gospel In this house this evening Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Oh, yeah, well, well, now Yeah Well I do a little bit of "Runaway Soul" Gonna bring the gospel And the blues In one house together, y'all Well, I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind Hope you don't mind Here we go Yeah, all right We got one, two One, two, three I believe my soul's found a happy home I believe My soul's found a happy home Oh, it left me waitin' here To suffer on my own Well, it's hard to say I'm sorry So easy to be cruel I'm a long way from right And I'm breakin' all the rules I believe My soul's found a happy home Left me waitin' here To suffer on my own Somebody save me, pray for me tonight I've got a long way to go Before I see the mornin' light And I believe My soul's found a happy home Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah And left me waitin' here To suffer on my own [ Instrumental ] Somebody save me, pray for me tonight I've got a long way to go Before I see the mornin' light I do believe My soul's found a happy home Yeah, yeah Oh, it left me waitin' here To suffer on my own Yeah I believe - My soul's found a happy home - Yeah I believe My soul's found a happy home It left me waitin' here To suffer on my own Runaway Runaway, runaway Runaway Runawa-a-a-ay Runaway Soul Yeah [ Cheers and applause ] Yeah, y'all.

Thank you!

[ Cheers and applause ] And y'all stay safe, stay healthy.

Until we get a chance to see you again, be blessed.

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] I wanted to do something with a big band because that's something I used to do when I was in the Navy.

I was a big band singer in front of a 15-piece orchestra for the most part.

And I thought it was time to bring that to the stage and just let folks know that, yeah, this is part of my past, too.

You will never out-sing brass instruments.

That's the number-one thing to remember.

-You shouldn't even try.

-No, it's not gonna happen, especially when they're right behind you.

So it was really about phrasing.

I learned a lot about phrasing singing big band music and listening to some of the greats -- Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan.

These are incredible people who knew a lot about how to phrase when they sang, and that's where it's at.

They find -- You find those -- those holes, you know?

And it's about the -- you know, playing with levels and what you do with your voice.

Yeah, you are an instrument, so it's basically find a place in that.

- Time will Reveal a brand-new day A-ha, whoo, a-ha, whoo, a-ha, whoo, a-ha It might sound untrue But this song's for you Let come what may Follow the promise of a brand-new day You know love heals Whoo!

Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day You know love heals Love kills Time will Reveal a brand-new day