Rhiannon Giddens "Spanish Mary" on Austin City Limits

Rhiannon Giddens performs "Spanish Mary" on Austin City Limits.
Catch Rhiannon Giddens on October 8, 2016, on your local PBS station. Watch Austin City Limits on PBS. For more visit acltv.com.
About the Episode
Enjoy performances by acclaimed singer/songwriters James Bay and Rhiannon Giddens. Englishman Bay plays songs from his chart-topping debut Chaos and the Calm. North Carolina native Giddens performs tunes from her Grammy-nominated solo debut Tomorrow is My Turn.
About Austin City Limits
ACL offers viewers unparalleled access to featured acts in an intimate setting that provides a platform for artists to deliver inspired, memorable, full-length performances. The program is taped live before a concert audience from The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL is the longest-running music series in American television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that's helped secure Austin's reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The historic KLRU Studio 6A, home to 36 years of ACL concerts, has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2012.
ACL is produced by KLRU-TV and funding is provided in part by Dell, the Austin Convention Center Department, Shiner Beers and HomeAway.com. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits. Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com.
Rhiannon Giddens - vocals
Dirk Powell - fiddle, accordion
Chance McCoy - electric guitar
Hubby Jenkins - guitar
Rowan Corbett - banjo
Malcolm Parsons - cello
Jason Sypher - bass
Jamie Dick - drums/percussion

[@richardbailey2130]

This woman is a National Treasure!😳💜

[@juniorjohnson9509]

The lady is a rare talent.

[@russfry7776]

She smiles while shes giving us goose bumps and controlling that awesome voice.

[@johnnytoobad7785]

The Queen of American Roots music !

[@jodeneantonson985]

Her voice is so powerful and clear as a bell.

[@kennethmcdonald5278]

The deepest roots of music's beginning in America , beautiful folk , by a hauntingly beautiful musician

[@cathylopez1345]

this is not a legend in the making .. this is a legend !!! She inspires me !!! the music is off the charts (literary) no comercial garbage here!!!

[@cuchulainn1659]

I'm Irish, I been listening to jigs and reels me whole life, but damn, Rhiannon has managed to encapsulate the poetic meaning and nuances of Irish music, damn....

[@Machihekamake]

I was thinking this song had Irish hints too. She is very talented.

[@GoogleGoogle-fy3cj]

She actually has recorded some songs in Irish. Give a listen.

[@indigoblue91]

Most Black Americans have Irish ancestry but we dont usually doscuss it in public because of trauma of slavery. However, we lived among the Irish in the north and the south so we shared music food and culture with one another and created new music and had children with each other. Even my family. I learned about the music and the resilience of the Irish and really like the culture. I appreciate Rhiannon is educating America about African, black american and Irish influence in American music.

[@vivdoolan6846]

Yes .... i have irish roots im a bodrhain player and I love playing along to this.

[@markwilliams3174]

No greater force of nature than Rhiannon Giddens

[@robfriesen2341]

Plain and simple one of the best voices in music today. Can't wait to see her resume grow.

[@Oldpiper73]

One of the top talents the day

[@danny4481]

Now THIS is somethin' special!

[@russellme1953]

Trained and performed as an Opera singer for years..

[@user-zl4mx4ec5f]

First time hearing her and to think she's been here all the while, incredible, amazing, reminds me of my younger days when folk music was the genre. What a prize.

[@cherylrawlings8875]

AMAZING AMAZING!! LISTEN TO HER SONG WAYFARING STRANGER!!

[@grundid44]

Excellent execution, perfect ear, pitch is dead on, just beautiful.

[@vgrof2315]

Bravo!!! What a woman.

[@patgeh794]

I'm glad I clicked on this.

[@cathylopez1345]

OMG what a band!!!!

[@carlbowden4712]

Powerful song sung with powerful vocals by powerful lady!

[@grannygirl61812]

Im late 2 years of the best since Austin city limits!!! I love her music of history and LOVE!! MY HUSBAND AND I GO TO PATIO AS LOUD AS WE CAN! LOVE SAN ANTONIO TEXAS

[@victorwadsworth821]

Austin City Limits ROCKS!

[@martinwall7297]

100% the real thing, look listen and feel what's going on, outstanding women! with so much talent

[@theresapelham1918]

Incredible.....no words

[@marioferreira2426]

she is truly amazing!!

[@peterfelperin9405]

Can't get through a day without listening to these singularly talented folks!

[@windchimes4227]

She definitely carries on the rich history of the American folk genre. Cool

[@cn9630]

Was turned onto her just today on ACL WOW MY NEW FAV!!!

[@martinwall7297]

and a great band to match !

[@lesb_socal]

Powerful passion

[@susanhaffner3647]

Austin City Limits brought me here. Sounds awesome. RG is fire. 🔥🔥

[@gbflater]

Wow what a voice!

[@philrobson7976]

I just heard of her for the first time last week. I’m completely hooked. Her music captures the essence of so many cultures.

[@juliestone9371]

Reminds of Pentangle, the banjo, the rhythms, beautiful voice

[@ehotel]

holy shit! awesome.

[@esio7869]

Wow!!!...incredible!!!

[@myheadhurts1927]

** Mind Blown **

[@rasim.ismayilov]

Amazing!

[@r.thomas9648]

I'm glad I found out about her from Red Dead Redemption 2's soundtrack. "Mountain Banjo". Had no clue she could sing too!

[@lertyuis6484]

Incredible. I love the addition of the electric guitar!

[@vincedijanich7274]

lertyuis

[@jmpmusva]

agreed...a different vibe completely!

[@kindguy4106]

Amazing guys

[@pamlovesroots9557]

She's fanstastic!

[@robertjakob7009]

How much of a badass do you have to be to play a fretless banjo?

[@blueblur6447]

Left or Right Handed. She can sing in like 5 languages, in multiple styles... And on and On. One of the best!

[@kernowdrewsta]

With nylon strings?! I am so confused!!

[@larryc3860]

playing ANY fretless string instrument requires a special talent.....it's difficult!

[@saffronskies333]

this is a late reply... but, one helluva badass!!!

[@afro70]

This performance it's like the light St Paul saw on the way to Damasco

[@huffyoga]

Wonderful instrumentation.

[@dmitryponsov2870]

Very! Very! Tnx!

[@Pur9leRain]

She reminds me of Emmylou Harris. Americans keep producing these amazing women! Alicia Keys is another one I love. They can sing with no music or backing singers and still shake the foundations of the building. And we have the Spice Girls 😂

[@coy0te9]

Y'all have Eliza Carthy, Kathryn Tickell and The Unthanks. Plus The Spice Girls who were fun.

[@eddiewillers1442]

Holy BeJesus!

[@elvisdupont]

magnifique !!!!!!!!!

[@stacym735]

WOW!

[@larryc3860]

another ages old traditional ballad from Rhiannon's "catalog" done with a unique arrangement......she good, so is the band!

[@bossglebe7613]

Actually the lyrics are by Bob Dylan, it's off the New Basement Tapes CD.

[@larryc3860]

@@bossglebe7613 true.......however, the melody and "mood" are traditional....Dylan, like most "folkies" of that time, borrowed heavily from anonymous, traditional music.

[@oldskool2044]

damn!!!

[@TheAnticolano]

fantastica

[@frankrosati6403]

There were three sailors, bold and true With cargo they did carry They sailed away on the ocean blue For the love of Spanish Mary So deeply now were they disturbed No longer could they tarry Swoon and swerve For the love of Spanish Mary In Kingston Town of high degree The buffoon, the fool, the fairy All paid the dues and inquired to me For the love of Spanish Mary Beggar man, beggar man tell me no lie Is it a mystery to live or is it a mystery to die? I seek ye not to ask of you It was in Kingston Town indeed It is said they stopped but not for greed But for the love of Spanish Mary I remember well, they came one day The buffoon, the fool, the fairy They asked of me what could I say For the love of Spanish Mary 'Tis not of me to talk absurd No rumour do I carry No, I'll not give you one word But for the love of Spanish Mary Beggar man, beggar man tell me no lie Is it a mystery to live or is it a mystery to die?

[@bonfireblu]

One day Ill see her in Concert, and my guitar gonna get me in the show and by My Luck and good fortune will give me the opportunity to play a song or 2 with her. In my dreams thats how it would go anyway. Lmao

[@forrestbrown4240]

Jason Sypher! Sounds good dude.

[@ibassnote]

Forrest Brown thx!

[@annmills3163]

☮️🎵💜

[@oldtrio1]

Spanish mary

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

Bob DYlan lyrics..she wrot the melody..sort of..(Part of an old folk song)

[@hectormutareli2648]

Parece estar en 1800...

[@SuperSergiosj]

🙏🌈😇💜💥👍

[@oostenmusic]

Wow really wanted to hear the fretless banjo but the guitar and violins are so loud...great mix

[@sergiosonlinework-sranjovi4304]

👍👍💥💥💜💜😇😇🌈🌈🙏🙏

[@jtrevino5268]

Seriously this song scares me

[@waski672]

Not just another bare foot girl playing the banjo.

[@jazzmanchgo]

I always like it when a singer bares her sole.

[@lesfreligh4139]

A definitely amazing thing to behold, especially in this lifetime ! ! !

[@reneepuvvada]

WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gomofly]

Just in case you're mystified by some of the subtitles, here's the lyrics: There were three sailors, bold and true With cargo they did carry They sailed away on the ocean blue For the love of Spanish Mary So deeply now were they disturbed No longer could they tarry Swoon and swerve For the love of Spanish Mary In Kingston town of high degree The buffoon, the fool, the fairy All paid the dues and inquired to me For the love of Spanish Mary Beggar man, beggar man tell me no lie Is it a mystery to live or is it a mystery to die I seek ye not to ask of you It was in Kingston town indeed It is said they stopped but not for greed But for the love of Spanish Mary I remember well, they came one day The buffoon, the fool, the fairy They asked of me what could I say For the love of Spanish Mary ‘Tis not of me to talk absurd No rumor do I carry No, I’ll not give you one word But for the love of Spanish Mary Beggar man, beggar man tell me no lie Is it a mystery to live or is it a mystery to die

[@davidgreen3532]

Celtic blues?

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

David Lindley would be a great fit.

[@zzausel]

Dear recording team, a banjo is not a mandolin. Just for your general education.

[@bergerfry]

The Buffoon, The Fool, The Fairy, not The Buffoon, The FUR, The Fairy.