Great Performances

-♪ Come on ♪ -♪ Come on ♪ -Next on "Great Performances," Lyric Opera of Chicago presents "Chicago Voices," a celebration of the city's influence on musical history. Ranging from blues to jazz, folk, rock, gospel, hip-hop, and classical, by a diverse range of homegrown singers. -♪ Summertime ♪ -♪ And the livin' is easy ♪ -Renée Fleming hosts an all-star evening with performances from Jessie Mueller, Kurt Elling, Shemekia Copeland, Lupe Fiasco, The Handsome Family, Terrence Howard, Matthew Polenzani, John Prine, Jussie Smollett, Michelle Williams, and the voices of Trinity Mass Choir. Join us for "Chicago Voices."

Cheers and applause

-Please welcome our host of "Chicago Voices," Renée Fleming. -Good evening, everybody. How wonderful to be here to celebrate the vibrant array of voices that have emerged from the great city of Chicago?

Applause

Yeah. This city is built and populated by people from every corner of the Earth. And its music echoes that diversity, and the sounds created, sung, and recorded here have influenced the entire world. And lately, it seems all we see are headlines about violence and division.

And we know -- we know that a concert can't solve these problems. But amidst the fear and heartbreak, we unite here as artists doing what we do best -- lifting up, remembering our history, and protecting our vision for the future of the city we love.

Cheers and applause

Tonight, we celebrate Chicago blues, jazz, folk, rap, gospel, and classical, brought to you by some spectacular artists, each with deep roots in the Windy City. -Ladies and gentlemen, Grammy-nominated blues singer Shemekia Copeland. -Hey, Chicago! Put your hands together with me!

♪ If you sang the song ♪ ♪ The way it was written ♪ ♪ And you march along ♪ ♪ To the beat of the drum ♪ ♪ Hey! Some day soon ♪ ♪ You gonna wake up singing ♪ ♪ The battle is over ♪ ♪ But the war goes on ♪ ♪ Yeah! Everybody plays ♪ ♪ Follow the leader ♪ ♪ But what if the leader ♪ ♪ Picks up a gun ♪ ♪ Remember when you jumped ♪ ♪ To the eight o'clock whistle ♪ ♪ The battle is over ♪ ♪ But the war goes on ♪ ♪ And if you close your eyes ♪ ♪ When you hear the thunder ♪ ♪ And you cry in the rain ♪ ♪ And smile in the sun ♪ ♪ Who do you fool ♪ ♪ But me and your brother ♪ ♪ Oh, the battle is over ♪ ♪ But the war goes on ♪

Guitar solo

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Oh, put your hands together, Chicago! Whoo! ♪ If talk was money ♪ ♪ You'd be a millionaire ♪ ♪ If thoughts could kill ♪ ♪ There'd be nobody here ♪ ♪ So many thinkin' evil ♪ ♪ And talkin' jive ♪ ♪ It's only true love ♪ ♪ Keeps this world alive ♪ ♪ And if you sang the song ♪ ♪ The way it was written ♪ ♪ And you march along ♪ ♪ To the beat of the drum ♪ ♪ Some day soon ♪ ♪ You're gonna wake up singin' ♪ ♪ The battle is over ♪ ♪ But the war goes on ♪ ♪ Oh, Chicago! ♪ ♪ The battle is over ♪ ♪ But the war goes on ♪

Cheers and applause

Thank you so much! Thank you! -Please welcome back Renée Fleming. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ Summertime ♪ ♪ And the livin' is easy ♪ ♪ Fish are jumpin' ♪ ♪ And the cotton is high ♪ ♪ Oh, your daddy's rich ♪ ♪ And your mama's good-lookin' ♪ ♪ So, hush, little baby ♪ ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ One of these mornings ♪ ♪ You're gonna rise up singing ♪ ♪ Then you'll spread your wings ♪ ♪ And you'll take to the sky ♪ ♪ But till that morning ♪ ♪ There's nothin' can harm you ♪ ♪ With Daddy and Mammy ♪ ♪ Standin' by ♪

Vocalizing

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

-Please welcome Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and Tony-winning Broadway star Jessie Mueller.

Cheers and applause

♪♪♪ -Unh! ♪♪♪ ♪ They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway ♪ ♪ They say there's always magic in the air ♪ -♪ But when you're walkin' down the street ♪ ♪ And you ain't had enough to eat ♪ ♪ That glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere ♪

Instrumental

♪♪♪ -♪ They say the women treat you fine on Broadway ♪ ♪Looking at them just ♪ ♪ Gives me the blues ♪ -♪ 'Cause how ya gonna make some time ♪ ♪ When all you got is one thin dime? ♪ -♪ And one thin dime won't even shine ♪ ♪ Your shoes ♪ Yeah!

Instrumental

♪♪♪ -♪ They say that I won't last too long on Broadway ♪ ♪ I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home ♪ ♪ They all say ♪ -♪ But they're dead wrong, I know they are ♪ ♪ 'Cause I have earned so many scars ♪ ♪ I won't quit till I'm a star ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I won't quit till I'm a star ♪ ♪ On Broadway ♪ -♪ On Broadwa-a-a-ay ♪ ♪♪♪ That was a little tune by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

Applause

Who, some of you may not know, they were actually best friends with another very amazing musician and very special lady. Very special and near and dear to my heart, Carole King.

Cheers and applause

-♪ So far away ♪ ♪ Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore? ♪ ♪ It would be so fine to see your face at my door ♪ ♪ And it doesn't help to know ♪ -♪ That you're just time away ♪ ♪ Long ago I reached for you and there you stood ♪ ♪ Holding you again could only do me good ♪ ♪ How I wish I could ♪ ♪ But you're so far away ♪ -♪ You are so far away ♪ -♪ So far away ♪ ♪ Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore? ♪ ♪ It would be so fine to see your face at my door ♪ ♪ And your feet upon my floor ♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ One more song about moving along the highway ♪ ♪ I can't say much of anything that's new ♪ -♪ If I could only work this life out my way ♪ ♪ I would rather spend it being close to you ♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ But you're so far away ♪ -♪ You are so far away ♪ -♪ You are so far away ♪ -♪ You are so far away ♪ -♪ So far away ♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

-Jessie Mueller.

Cheers and applause

Piano playing

-Ladies and gentlemen, acclaimed gospel artist Michelle Williams and the voices of Trinity Mass Choir. ♪♪♪ -♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ My soul looks back and wonder ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I made it over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ You know my soul looks back ♪ ♪ And wonders how I got over ♪ ♪ Just as soon as I see Jesus ♪ ♪ The man who died for me ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, oh, yes ♪ ♪ The man who bled and suffered ♪ ♪ Who died for you and me ♪ ♪ I wanna thank him because he brought me ♪ ♪ Thank 'em 'cause he never left me ♪ ♪ Thank him because he's able ♪ ♪ 'Cause he never left me ♪ ♪ I want to sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ I want to shout ♪ ♪ Over and over ♪ ♪ I want to thank you ♪ ♪ For all he's done for me ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ Over, over ♪ ♪ Thank you ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ Over ♪ ♪ My soul looks back and wonders ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ I want to wear a diamond gem ♪ ♪ In the new Jerusalem ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, oh, yes ♪ ♪ Walk the streets of gold ♪ ♪ In a land that's never been told ♪ ♪ I'm going to view the host in white ♪ ♪ Coming over left and right ♪ ♪ Coming up from every nation ♪ ♪ To the great coronation ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ I might shout this evening ♪ ♪ Over and over ♪ ♪ I want to thank you ♪ ♪ For all he's done for me ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ Over, over ♪ ♪ My soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ How I got over, have you made it over? ♪ ♪ Has your soul looked back and wondered? ♪ ♪ Soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ How I got over, how I got over ♪ ♪ Soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ Over ♪ ♪ I want to thank you, thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ Thank you, thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ Thank you, thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ Thank you, thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ When I think of the goodness of Jesus ♪ ♪ And all he's done for me ♪ ♪ My soul wants to shout hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank God for saving me ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ I might shout this evening ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ My soul looks back ♪ ♪ For all he's done for me ♪ ♪ How I got over, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ My soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ My soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ My soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ My soul looks back in wonder ♪ ♪ How I got over ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪

Cheers and applause

-Ladies and gentlemen, tenor and Beverly Sills artist of the year Matthew Polenzani. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ Be my love ♪ ♪ For no one else can end this yearning ♪ ♪ This need that you and you alone create ♪ ♪ Just fill my arms ♪ ♪ The way you've filled my dreams ♪ ♪ The dreams that you inspire ♪ ♪ With every sweet desire ♪ ♪ Be my love ♪ ♪ And with your kisses set me burning ♪ ♪ One kiss is all I need ♪ ♪ To seal my fate ♪ ♪ And, hand-in-hand ♪ ♪ We'll find love's promised land ♪ ♪ There'll be no one but you ♪ ♪ For me ♪ ♪ Eternally ♪ ♪ If you will be ♪ ♪ My love ♪

Instrumental

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ And, hand-in-hand ♪ ♪ We'll find love's promised land ♪ ♪ There'll be no one but you ♪ ♪ For me ♪ ♪ Eternally ♪ ♪ If you will be ♪ ♪ My love ♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

-Ladies and gentlemen, alternative country duo, The Handsome Family. ♪♪♪ -♪ From the dusty mesa ♪ ♪ Her looming shadow grows ♪ ♪ Hidden in the branches ♪ ♪ Of the poison creosote ♪ ♪ She twines her spines up slowly ♪ ♪ Towards the boiling sun ♪ ♪ And when I touched her skin ♪ ♪ My fingers ran with blood ♪

Instrumental

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ In the hushing dusk ♪ ♪ Under a swollen silver moon ♪ ♪ I came walking with the wind ♪ ♪ To watch the cactus bloom ♪ ♪ A strange hunger haunted me ♪ ♪ The looming shadows danced ♪ ♪ I fell down to the thorny brush ♪ ♪ And felt the trembling hand ♪

Instrumental

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ When the last light warms the rocks ♪ ♪ And the rattlesnakes unfold ♪ -♪ Mountain cats will come ♪ ♪ To drag away your bones ♪ ♪ And rise with me forever ♪ ♪ Across the silent sand ♪ ♪ And the stars will be your eyes ♪ ♪ And the wind will be my hands ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

-Thanks. -Please welcome to the stage rap artist Lupe Fiasco. -Hey, what they say? What they say, Chicago?

Y'all feeling it?

Cheers and applause

♪ What they say, what they say ♪ ♪ What they say, what they say, yeah ♪ Let me hear you make some noise one time, Chi-town!

Cheering and applause

All right, yeah! N.Z. Such a wonderful place to be. How you doing, sweetheart?

We gonna get into it. N.Z. Let me tell you. Uh-huh, uh-huh, look.

♪ First got it when he was 6, he didn't know any tricks ♪ ♪ Matter of fact, first time he got on it, he slipped ♪ ♪ He landed on his hip and busted his lip ♪ ♪ For a week, he had to talk with a lisp, like this-s-s ♪ ♪ Now we can end the story right here ♪ ♪ But shorty didn't quit, it was something in the air ♪ ♪ Yeah, he said it was something so appealing ♪ ♪ He couldn't fight the feeling, something about it ♪ ♪ He knew he couldn't doubt it ♪ ♪ Couldn't understand it ♪ ♪ Branded, since the first kick flip he landed ♪ ♪ Labeled a misfit, a bandit ♪ ♪ Ka-kunk, ka-kunk, ka-kunk, his neighbors couldn't stand it ♪ ♪ So, he was banished to the park ♪ ♪ Started in the morning, wouldn't stop till after dark ♪ ♪ Yeah, when they said "It's getting late in here ♪ ♪ So I'm sorry, young man, there's no skating here" ♪ ♪ And so he kick, push, kick, push, kick, push, kick, push ♪ ♪ Coast, and away he rolled ♪ ♪ Just a rebel to the world with no place to go ♪ ♪ And so he kick and push, kick and push ♪ ♪ And then he kicked and he pushed, and he kick and push ♪ ♪ And he coast ♪ ♪ So come and skate with me ♪ ♪ Just a rebel looking for a place to be ♪ ♪ So let's kick ♪ ♪ And push ♪ ♪ And coast ♪ Some some noise one time.

Cheering

♪ My man got a little older, became a better roller ♪ ♪ Yeah, no helmet, hell-bent on killing himself ♪ ♪ Is what his mama said, but he was feeling himself ♪ ♪ Got a little more swagger in his style ♪ ♪ Met his girlfriend, she was clapping in the crowd ♪ ♪ Love is what what was happening to him now ♪ ♪ He said "I would marry you ♪ ♪ But I'm engaged to these aerials and varials ♪ ♪ And I don't think this board is strong enough to carry two" ♪ ♪ She said "Bow, I weigh a 120 pounds ♪ ♪ Now, let me make one thing clear ♪ ♪ I don't need to ride yours, I got mine right here" ♪ ♪ So she took him to a spot he didn't know about ♪ ♪ Some odd-end apartment parking lot ♪ ♪ She said "I don't normally take dates in here" ♪ ♪ Security came and said "I'm sorry, ♪ ♪ there's no skating here" ♪ ♪ So he kicked and pushed, kick and push ♪ ♪ And he kicked and pushed and kick and push ♪ ♪ And he coast ♪ ♪ And away they roll ♪ ♪ Just lovers intertwined with no place to go ♪ ♪ And so they kick and push, and kick and push ♪ ♪ And they kicked and pushed and kick and push ♪ ♪ And they ♪ ♪ So come and skate with me ♪ ♪ Just a rebel looking for a place to be ♪ ♪ So let's kick ♪ ♪ Push ♪ ♪ And coast ♪ ♪ And coast, yeah ♪ ♪ Before he knew, he had a crew that wasn't no punk ♪ ♪ In they Spitfire shirts and SB dunks ♪ ♪ They would push until they couldn't skate no more ♪ ♪ Office building lobbies wasn't safe no more ♪ ♪ And it wasn't like they wasn't getting chased no more ♪ ♪ Just the freedom was better than breathing, they ♪ ♪ An escape route they used to escape out ♪ ♪ When things got crazy, they needed to break out ♪ ♪ They'd head to any place with stairs ♪ ♪ Any good grinds, the world was theirs ♪ ♪ And their four wheels would take them there ♪ ♪ Until the cops came and said "There's no skating here" ♪ ♪ So they kick, push, kick, push, kick, push, kick, push ♪ ♪ Coast ♪ ♪ And away they roll ♪ ♪ Just rebels without a cause with no place to go ♪ ♪ So they kick, push, kick, push, kick, push ♪ ♪ Coast ♪ ♪ So come and skate with me ♪ ♪ Just a rebel looking for a place to be ♪ ♪ So let's kick and push ♪ ♪ And coast, and coast ♪ ♪ Ma'am, ma'am ♪ If there's any sliders in the building, let me hear you make some noise one time!

Cheering

Hold up, hold up, hold up. Hold up. If the left side is in the building, left side, let me hear you make some noise!

Cheering

Hold up, hold up, hold up. If my people all the way in the back of the balcony out there, if you with us right now, make some noise!

Cheering

Let's raise it up. Let's hear that voice. ♪ Chicago voice, that voice, that voice ♪ ♪ And that kick, and that push ♪ ♪ And that coast ♪ ♪ Real ♪ ♪♪♪ My name is Lupe Fiasco. I love you, Chi-town!

Cheers and applause

-Welcome back to the stage Jessie Mueller.

Applause

-♪ It's not simple to say ♪ ♪ That most days ♪ ♪ I don't recognize me ♪ ♪ That these shoes and this apron ♪ ♪ That place and its patrons ♪ ♪ Have taken more ♪ ♪ Than I gave them ♪ ♪ It's not easy to know ♪ ♪ I'm not anything ♪ ♪ Like I used be ♪ ♪ Although it's true ♪ ♪ I was never attention's sweet center ♪ ♪ I still remember that girl ♪ ♪ She's imperfect, but she tries ♪ ♪ She is good, but she lies ♪ ♪ She is hard on herself ♪ ♪ She is broken and won't ask for help ♪ ♪ She is messy, but she's kind ♪ ♪ She is lonely ♪ ♪ Most of the time ♪ ♪ She is all of this mixed up ♪ ♪ And baked in a beautiful pie ♪ ♪ She is gone ♪ ♪ But she used to be mine ♪ ♪ And it's not what I asked for ♪ ♪ Sometimes life ♪ ♪ Just slips in through a back door ♪ ♪ And carves out a person ♪ ♪ And makes you believe it's all true ♪ ♪ And now I've got you ♪ ♪ You're not what I asked for ♪ ♪ If I'm honest, I know ♪ ♪ I would give it all back ♪ ♪ For a chance to start over ♪ ♪ And rewrite an ending or two ♪ ♪ For that girl that I knew ♪ ♪ Who'll be reckless, just enough ♪ ♪ Who'll get hurt ♪ ♪ But who learns how to toughen up ♪ ♪ When she's bruised ♪ ♪ And gets used by a man who can't love ♪ ♪ And then she'll get stuck ♪ ♪ And be scared of the life that's inside her ♪ ♪ Getting stronger each day ♪ ♪ Till it finally reminds her ♪ ♪ To fight just a little ♪ ♪ To bring back the fire in her eyes ♪ ♪ That's been gone, but used to be mine ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Used to be mine ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ She is messy, but she's kind ♪ ♪ She is lonely ♪ ♪ Most of the time ♪ ♪ She is all of this mixed up ♪ ♪ And baked in a beautiful pie ♪ ♪ She is gone ♪ ♪ But she used to be ♪ ♪ Mine ♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

-Please welcome Grammy Hall of Famer, the legendary folk singer John Prine joined by Renée Fleming. -♪ By a fountain back in Rome ♪ ♪ I fell in love with you ♪ ♪ In a small café in Athens ♪ ♪ You said you loved me, too ♪ -♪ And it was April in Paris ♪ Where I first held you close to me ♪ -♪ Rome, Georgia ♪ -♪ Athens, Texas ♪ ♪ And Paris, Tennessee ♪ ♪ No, we're not the jet set ♪ ♪ We're the old Chevro-let set ♪ ♪ There's no Riviera ♪ ♪ In Festus, Missouri ♪ ♪ And you won't find Onassis ♪ ♪ In Mullinville, Kansas ♪ ♪ No, we're not the jet set ♪ ♪ We're the old Chevro-let set ♪ ♪ But ain't we got love ♪

Instrumental

♪♪♪ ♪ No, We're not the jet set ♪ ♪ We're the old Chevro-let set ♪ ♪ Our steak and martinis ♪ ♪ Is draft beer with weenies ♪ ♪ Our Bach and Tchaikovsky ♪ ♪ Is Haggard and Husky ♪ ♪ No, we're not the jet set ♪ ♪ We're the old Chevro-let set ♪ ♪ But ain't we got love ♪ ♪ No, we're not the jet set ♪ ♪ We're the old Chevro-let set ♪ ♪ The John and Renee set ♪ ♪ Ain't the flaming suzette set ♪ ♪ Our Bach and Tchaikovsky ♪ ♪ Is Haggard and Husky ♪ ♪ No, we're not the jet set ♪ ♪ We're the old Chevro-let set ♪ ♪ But ain't we got love ♪

Instrumental

♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

-Ladies and gentlemen, star of TV's "Empire," Jussie Smollett.

Cheers and applause

-♪ I was born by the river ♪ ♪ In a little tent ♪ ♪ Oh, and just like the river, I've been running ♪ ♪ Ever since ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ A change gon' come ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, it will ♪ -Please welcome Terrence Howard. -♪ It's been too hard living ♪ ♪ But I am afraid to die ♪ ♪ 'Cause I don't know what's up there ♪ ♪ Beyond the sky ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ A change is gon' come ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, it will ♪ -♪ And I go to the movies ♪ ♪ Then I go downtown, oh ♪ -♪ Somebody keep telling me, boy ♪ ♪ What you doing in this town ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ -♪ It's been a long ♪ -♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know, I know, I know ♪ ♪ A change gon' come ♪ -♪ A change is gon' come ♪ -♪ Oh, yes, it will ♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ You know, I went to ♪ ♪ I went to my brother, yeah ♪ ♪ I said brother, brother ♪ ♪ Help me, please ♪ -♪ Then I said, I'd like to, I really would ♪ ♪ I'm just not able ♪ -♪ Then I look around ♪ -♪ Look around ♪ -♪ Drive back down on my knees, whoa ♪ ♪ There been times when I thought ♪ ♪ I couldn't last for long ♪ -♪ Now, it seems I'm able to carry on ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know, I know ♪ ♪ A change is gon' come ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, it will ♪ -Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to say a few words, especially to those who were there, who were present, when this song was written. Who was watching these conditions. A long time has gone by for us to make a change.

A long time has gone by for us to be better. Let's choose it now. Let's collectively say, we are going to be a better world.

Cheers and applause

-♪ Oh, oh, a change gon' come ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ -♪ It's been a long ♪ -♪ Long time coming ♪ -♪ But I know ♪ -♪ I know ♪ ♪ A change gonna come ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, yes ♪ ♪ It will ♪ ♪ Yes ♪

Cheers and applause

♪♪♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yes, it will ♪ -♪ Yes, it will ♪

Cheers and applause

-Terrence Howard! -Jussie Smollett! -Chicago for life!

Cheers and applause

-Make a change.

Cheering and applause

-Please welcome back to the stage Renée Fleming joined by the Reverend Jesse Jackson. -The "Chicago Voice's" initiative encourages you to find your individual voice and tell the stories of your life, your community, and your truth through song. Not everyone is a singer. But each of us has a sound as unique as a fingerprint, and every single one of us deserves and needs to be heard.

Reverend Jackson, will you help us close tonight's program? -We thank you. We need you. There's anxiety in the air.

Hearts are heavy. There is great division, and yet, we need a healing hand. A lot of pain in the room tonight, and yet we champions play with pain. We will not surrender.

The water's deep, but deep water does not drown you. You drown when you stop kicking. We're not gonna stop kicking. That's who we are.

Cheers and applause

God has blessed you with a healing touch in your voice. We need your voice as never before, and we thank you for sharing it. And we, the people -- One writer said, "The weeping may endure for a night, but hold on and hold out. Don't give up because joy comes in the morning." When it's real, real dark, the stars shine most clearly.

We need your star to continue to shine. And writers said, the -- most profoundly, said -- To live, love, and gift 'tis but one greater thing. Open the heart and let it sing. Keep singing.

We love you, and we need you.

Cheers and applause

-Oh, thank you. Oh, my gosh. Thank you. Thank you, Reverend Jackson.

All of tonight's performers, joined by the wonderful voices of Trinity Mass Choir want to end with this song that encapsulates everything we hope for tonight and everything you just said. Thank you so much, Reverend Jackson. -Thank you, Renée. -We're coming together.

♪♪♪ ♪ Come to the water ♪ ♪ The water will flow ♪ ♪ Stand to the night ♪ ♪ See the light, let it grow ♪ ♪ Hold on for hard winds ♪ ♪ Are starting to blow ♪ ♪ Stand up ♪ ♪ Hold on ♪ ♪ And swear you won't let go ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ Whatever I said doesn't matter ♪ ♪ Whatever you said doesn't hurt ♪ ♪ Whatever we meant and whatever we did ♪ ♪ Is lost in the water ♪ ♪ Whatever I felt I've forgotten ♪ -♪ Whatever I planned I released ♪ -♪ But come take my hand ♪ ♪ Come down to the water ♪ ♪ Come down to the water ♪ -♪ Where people are coming together ♪ ♪ And people are falling apart ♪ -♪ And no one can hide ♪ ♪ We're caught in the tide ♪ ♪ And punched in the heart ♪ -♪ But people are harder than diamonds ♪ ♪ And people are stronger than knives ♪ -♪ We breathe and we burn ♪ ♪ But we'll never return ♪ ♪ For the rest of our lives ♪ ♪ For the rest of our lives ♪ -♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ -♪ Come down to the water, come down to the water ♪ -♪ Where people are coming together ♪ -♪ People are coming together ♪ -♪ And people are falling apart ♪ -♪ We'll pick up the slack ♪ ♪ But we'll never go back ♪ ♪ For the rest of our lives ♪ -♪ For the rest of our lives ♪ -♪ People are coming together ♪ -♪ Hold on ♪ -♪ People are coming together ♪ -♪ Come to the water ♪ ♪ The water will flow ♪ ♪ Stand to the night ♪ ♪ See the light, let it grow ♪ ♪ Hold on for hard winds ♪ ♪ Are starting to blow ♪ ♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Stand up ♪ ♪ Hold on ♪ -♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Hold on ♪ -♪ Hold on ♪ -♪ People are coming together, oh, yeah ♪ -♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are co ming together ♪ -♪ Coming together ♪ ♪ All across the world ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ All across the world ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ People are coming together ♪ ♪ All across the world ♪ -♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Hold on ♪ -♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Hold on ♪ -All right, all right, all right, all right! -♪ Stand up ♪ -♪ Hold on ♪ -♪ And swear you won't let go ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

♪♪♪ -♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Back to that same old place ♪ ♪ Come on, y'all ♪ ♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Don't you want to go right now ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Don't you want to go right now ♪ ♪ Back to that same old sweet place ♪ ♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ -♪ Well, one and one is two ♪ -Yeah, baby. -♪ Six and two is eight ♪ ♪ Baby, that copper's got it, baby, don't make me wait ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Back to that same old place ♪ ♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ -♪ Don't you wanna go? ♪ -♪ Come on, come on, baby, don't you want to go ♪ -♪ Don't you want to go ♪ -♪ Back to that same old place ♪ ♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪

Trumpet solo

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Oh, baby don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Come on, come on ♪ ♪ Baby, don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Don't you want to go ♪ ♪ Back to that same old place ♪ ♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪

Cheers and applause

♪♪♪

Cheering and applause

Cheers and applause

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ -♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪ ♪♪♪ -To find out more about this and other "Great Performances" programs, visit pbs.org/greatperformances, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. ♪♪♪ -♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Sweet home Chicago ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

Cheers and applause

♪♪♪