Kermit Ruffins - When I Die, You Better Second Line

This is a video I created for a class I am teaching (Langue vivante - anglais) at the University of Limoges, France. It is supplemental material for a lesson on Second Lines in New Orleans. The soundtrack is "When I Die, You Better Second Line" by Kermit Ruffins, and the video footage is a montage from the HBO series "Treme".

[@wortham1997]

My son passed away in new orleans on October. 28, 2013 he was a drummer there mostly on Frenchman. His dad,brother and sister went to get him and his belongings. We had a celebration of life for him here in Yuma,,az. We played this song for him. Even in the midst of grief when the music started I had to get up and move around in the crowd and got people to clap but only got my niece to get up with me. I knew it was what my son would want.

[@eloquenthillbilly]

Sorry for your loss from a fellow NOLA transplant when I die I want a new orleans parade no crying life is to short for that

[@wortham1997]

yes u are so right

[@drhambone1598]

Connie Wortham-Beshears my deepest condolences on your loss

[@1camera2men]

Your sonTyler was a fine young man. Hell of a drum player. I know he was smiling at you doing your two person second line for him!

[@iayyam]

Connie Wortham-Beshears so sorry to hear of your son's homegoing. Peace and blessings to you.

[@marieannedantonio-hunt2120]

8 dislikes?! Them folks probably clap on the 1 and the 3, too.

[@3Nails1Cross4Given]

+Marieanne D'Antonio-Hunt As a worship band musician clapping on 1 and 3 happens all the time in church. DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!

[@Steen020-]

+Marieanne D'Antonio-Hunt Whohahahaaa!

[@Sweetswagga93]

+Marieanne D'Antonio-Hunt clap on 1 and 3 im weak!!!

[@kaydickerson1229]

Marieanne D'Antonio-Hunt 🎺🎺🎺🎺

[@cassaleelee]

lol!

[@bobbiescott4777]

My niece passed away October 24 2021 Im leaving Thursday November 4 2021 going to New Orleans for her service Saturday November 6 2021.She loved to Second Line and that's what we going to do in her honor

[@coloursprogram]

Great post...Khandi Alexander always walks like she runs the world...love it

[@iayyam]

coloursprogram she sure does. She has a power that rolls with her.

[@nikkirandolph1284]

Wow I'd love to go to NO just for this. This is love. It's the total opposite from Our funerals. We celebrate life while crying and wearing black and being sad. This, this is how life should be celebrated! Amazing. I love their culture. This is how I want to go out. Beautiful.

[@1blastman]

New Orleans has more culture in one city block than most cities have in all their high priced philharmonic halls and subdivisions.

[@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL]

True, but it seems EVERYONE is moving to "the ATL" *100,000 last year alone !!

[@exelmans8855]

1blastman The French heritage my friend

[@EqualsDeath]

john exelmans not really. It’s the mix, French is just a small part . Music is black

[@exelmans8855]

EqualsDeath well, I was mostly focusing on the word "culture"

[@orleanslouisian3886]

@@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL why they be doing that😯⚜ We still get people coming in right Why all these new orleanians be going to Atlanta or Houston???!

[@Roman-mi1rd]

Not from New Orleans but i've been in love with the cultural all my life. When I go it feels like home.

[@jimpalmer2981]

Same here.

[@lwendt1]

Man, is this soulful!!!! LOVE IT! Nothing better!

[@rkwoods5526]

This song affirms me that life is for living it to the fullest...Ya heard me!!!

[@GuyAye]

This show was amazing

[@dr.troylepper6869]

Thanks so much for this video. I will be using it in my Race and Ethnicity class this semester when I talk about the importance of culture, and possibly my intro to sociology classes when we cover religion and death. Dr. Troy Lepper, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO.

[@jarrettekallen]

Thank you, Sir. I hope that went well!

[@jarrettekallen]

Her name is Juanita Brooks, and she's from New Orleans. She passed away back in 2009. There are a few obituairies for her where you can read a little about her; you can find them on google. And yes, her voice is angelic. ;-)

[@Blueluise]

Mambo number VVVVVVVVVVVVV

[@Bacalao2929]

Washington heights which boarders on Harlem never sleeps, Merengue a fusion of everything African, French , East Indian, and their food is called creo, very similar influences, and it is far from boring,

[@tekiali]

Thanks for the knowledge!❤👊🏾🙏🏾💯🔥

[@Freekick141]

RIP Lionel that was a send of tribute that I could only dream of. Peace.

[@Xtrablack1]

Lawd Jesus ... just the music alone makes me long for N.O ... being away is painful ... as a New Orleanian , when I die I want to be buried in my Saints shirt ... don't wear no shirt and tie to my funeral ... Saints tee shirts only nothing fancy ... and I want this song played Lawd Jesus my soul is filled with emotions when I hear this song .. Lawd Jesus

[@mark1952able]

Great comment! I visited N.O. six times and always thought I must of had another lived there before. Hope everything is good for you now.

[@dixiecyrus8136]

Amen❤️

[@yvetch33]

Emotion ! to see Uncle lionel alive ... I love the TREME serie, these is the last DVD.

[@1blastman]

Had a chance to buy him beers at the Howlin' Wolf during Jazzfest before he passed. What a gentleman, classy, funny and really knew the New Orleans music scene. He mentored so many great New Orleans musicians including Kermit.

[@navyflyer7465]

New Orleans is my Southern Capital of the United States. I love New Orleans. One the next Presidents of the United States of America is going to come from New Orleans. Talk about accommodating, ...this is how I want to feel life. Long live the essence of the people an the music of New Orleans. Need I say more ......

[@iayyam]

Malcolm Dendtler me too!

[@1blastman]

A president coming from New Orleans? Hell, we can't even get an honest, decent Mayor!!

[@mark1952able]

HBO series 'Treme' was one of their best!

[@thomasmaggio1718]

When you die this is definitely the sendoff you wanna get!

[@1blastman]

"Play for that money, boys." - Now Dat's putting the "fun" in funky and funeral.

[@Doc_Terminus]

Still one of my favorite videos on all of KZbin. Thank you ❤️

[@gkyamo]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!! MISS YOU UNCLE LIONEL!!

[@CTFlink]

oh my god the opening line by Juanita Brooks struck me like lightning.

[@lorascelsi8102]

Love it. History matters. Best American city.

[@hotrod3able]

HOLY JESUS HOLY JESUS GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY SECOND LINE WHEN A LOVE ONE DIES THE MUSIC MAN

[@rodolfosarudiansky]

Im from Brazil. was in NOLA 2 times. Next life I hope would born there

[@AzucaNegra16]

Video footage is from the great HBO show Treme.

[@yaboi5047]

Wendell from new orleans, wearing that kangol, that probably came from meyer the hatter... this is my city.

[@darrenmuse]

Where else are you gonna get a top in New Orleans?!

[@dickrichards9650]

I bought six Kangols one day at Rubenstein's.

[@stewartanstead6857]

This is so well done. So moving.

[@mark1952able]

Thanks for posting and sharing it...........Excellent music!

[@ComradeLeonTrotsky]

I miss this show

[@slimeydon]

This is what I want for my funeral and I live in NYC

[@cecilbedemil]

Great video, great song, great voice.... great serial... Congrats....

[@danceswith7wolves]

Celebration of life!

[@mickcarlon8147]

Bravo! This is wonderful!

[@joeliszek9236]

that was beautiful.

[@marilisasachteleben]

I want a second line when I die.

[@whodey2112]

So much sadness AND happiness in the same song. How?

[@504mrp]

Broad and Dumaine.. here we go!!!!!!

[@cassaleelee]

just as an FYI--the second part, showing the Pigeontown Steppers Second Line, in the colorful suits and feathers, is not connected with any funeral. It's part of the Social Aid & Pleasure Club Second Line tradition, happens every Sunday, Oct-May, with different groups all over the city. It's may absolute fave thing about living here! Never the wrong time to listen to music and dance down the streets for a few hours.

[@dixiecyrus8136]

Zulu, great bunch of people❤️

[@sandykoufax97]

The singer is Juanita Brooks, and, you know, she's great.

[@Research0digo]

TREME!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@celesteb4219]

Damn, I wish I could rock the second line like Miss Alexander!

[@PlanetOnePosse]

Awesome! ♡ this video.

[@mariusperiwinkle6587]

Only Khandi Alexander could make that role work! Just look at her dancing, who could have replaced her?

[@amyb837]

This fabulous!

[@Nola504Nola]

New Orleans will always have my heart #504

[@mikeszymanski9962]

Love the dance and music sync at 4:04

[@Sblue23]

1:36 ❤ look at all those boarded up houses. 11 years ago! All those places are a million $ now 😢

[@Saraband-duo]

Love that.

[@lgesch]

Great post!

[@balenciagadior3391]

2nd line 👏🏾🙏🏾💃❤️

[@jazzmansaxofono1121]

i really like all that people happiness, even thoughg for some moments, live jazz forever!

[@paulcaruso8061]

When I'm dead, I don't want anyone to be sad because I'm gone. I want a big party because I'm free!

[@arrowb3408]

This ain't the first Afro-American funeral I have seen. Always impressive and impressed and I love it so much. Wait, is this movie scene? Still impressed plus got patrol car. Thumbs up.

[@mvaf3513]

Not from a movie scene but hbo show treme!

[@iayyam]

When I died fam, we gon second line!!

[@dianegordon5366]

I think I recognized Wendell Pierce!

[@betteurbain7911]

Yes--this looks like footage of two different funerals since in one his character Antoine Batiste is in the band and in other footage he's among the mourners with his sons and then with his ex-wife and the mother of the boys, LaDonna Batiste-Williams, played by Khandi Alexander.

[@thisismeumbass]

Heck yaa! U better second line!

[@jameswilhite9561]

All things Kermit

[@charligsax4582]

Yes sir !

[@omnomswithoak4302]

Rest In Peace Papa

[@pimmetje]

I want to go like that….

[@thisismeumbass]

Luv u uncle lioneo!

[@donyacona4728]

THIS is what i want for my funeral! of course my relatives have no idea what any of this is but hey, they're a bit on the conventional suburban new jersey side so they need to be educated

[@vaniz766]

👏👏👏👏

[@Dadude0908]

RIP Mr Mr Magic

[@AshMcMiller]

💞

[@alexandrelinodefreitas5246]

Bonito demais.

[@1blastman]

RIP Slick

[@Ayo.Ajisafe]

Sound similar to the changes for "hallelujah I just love her so".

[@tekiali]

From NC…..but they know when I go they better second line

[@agramsci]

I knew Unc.

[@tomhorn6156]

yes

[@tekiali]

You betta…..when I

[@TheFraternalHouse]

How did you get Buy "When I Die - You Better Second Line" Image on your page. Thanks

[@lisellesloan3191]

Who is singing here? I love her!

[@user-cp3tv1lp2g]

Juanita Brooks

[@mark1952able]

@@user-cp3tv1lp2g Thank you!!!

[@tekiali]

Make that 💴 boyz❤❤🎉

[@nicktelfer9121]

Whasn't the frirst singer Juanita Brooks

[@user-us2dt6ox1z]

RIP UNC

[@jarrettekallen]

I'm sure youtube added that.

[@jerramaurice7836]

I wanna go home 😫😫😫😫

[@stephaniedescoteaux4759]

I hope to see your uncle Lionel in heaven. Make sure you get there too, everybody.

[@CorkyWicks]

Who is the vocalist that opens up on the song? Wow!!!

[@betteurbain7911]

Juanita Brooks according to two of the above comments. She passed in 2009 they said.

[@tracydailey1729]

Only in NOLA ❤❤❤

[@nolaboyteroylee9794]

Rip to my Aunt #VanessaHudson in all black #Secondlining with Ladonna💘⚜️🌎💯

[@marlenaasher]

I think this is a great video. I live in New Orleans and have been part of many traditional Jazz Funerals. The only thing that bothers me is when Wendell Pierce says " Play for the money boys" in the beginning. It takes the traditional beauty away from the scene. Kermit sings the best rendition of this song.

[@yaboi5047]

I'd I remember correctly, he says that before his gigs to the fellow band. And in this case, the funeral was just a gig he got called on last minute. Nobody of note was being buried.

[@hugo5581]

I think it's a great line. It shows how this is an important beautiful tradition, but people have to live and need money. In this case he is just doing it for the money. He is a musician and lives by doing gigs.

[@covertLLC]

I hear the Hammond B3 but I don't see it..

[@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL]

This is a scene from the HBO show Treme' NOT a REAL funeral

[@jody024]

Nia Imani-Diarra we know.

[@amapparatistkwabena]

Um... okay? Point? Did you bother to read the description, Einstein?

[@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL]

@@amapparatistkwabena STFU Expert!!!

[@caspermengele6618]

yoo betta munkee shyne

[@Ekim1956]

Saw Kermit at the Blue Nile recently, the man makes you smile and get off your ---, and than go get some barbecue!

[@Blueluise]

Martin Luther the prostetute religion founder.....🍏

[@Chanselleur]

Alley $CHANSElleur saltine `-;