Episode 1 Transatlantic Sessions

'Dylan came to my house when I was 11 years old. My dad had a showbusiness party.

'You know, in walks Bob, this was his Freewheeling days and he came really late at night.'

The party was underway and I sidled up to him in my pyjamas

and said "You know, I play guitar, too and I like your songs."

And he said, "Ah, good, you know keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff you know."

# I'm going down that road feelin' bad

# Goin' down that road feelin' bad

# Well I'm goin' down that road feelin' bad, honey babe

# And I ain't going to be treated this way

# What I got gonna sure bring you back

# What I got gonna sure bring you back

# What I got gonna sure bring you back, honey babe

# And I ain't going to be treated this way

# Well, feed me on cornbread and peas

# Feed me on cornbread and peas

# Well, feed me on cornbread and peas, honey babe

# And I ain't going to be treated this way

# Well, I'm down in this valley on my knees

# Down in this valley on my knees

# Well, I'm down in this valley on my knees, honey babe

# And I ain't going to be treated this way

# Well I'm goin' where the weather suits my clothes

# I'm going where the weather suits my clothes

# And I'm goin' where the weather suits my clothes, honey babe

# And I ain't going to be treated this way

# I'm goin' down that road feelin' bad

# But I'm goin' down that road feelin' bad

# I'm goin' down that road feelin' bad, honey babe

# And I ain't going to be treated this way. #

SINGS IN GAELIC

When I was very little, I heard a TV show called the Beverly Hillbillies.

-Did you have that over here?

-Yeah, we did!

Great American export(!)

Oh, yeah!

-The sound of that banjo just thrilled me.

-Really?

I'd never heard anything like it. I was not from a family that had traditional music in it at all,

or any music at all, so it was just a curiosity.

# Oh, the lights of the city are like diamonds

# Aye, the street lamps, the signs and the cars

# Though it's bright in the city, what are diamonds

# When they're turning out all of our stars?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands wi me?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay?

# My pride and my darling to be

# It's so loud in this town, Leezie Lindsay

# Aye, the worry and the workin' and the noise

# Now we cannae hear the birds when they're singin'

# And the river, it's losing its voice

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands wi' me?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay?

# My pride and my darling to be

# When you're beside me, Leezie Lindsay

# I'm not afraid or alone

# We can live anywhere that we choose to

# When I'm with you, I know that I'm home

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands wi' me?

# Wid ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay?

# My pride and my darling to be

# My pride and my darling to be

# My pride

# And my darling

# To be

# Aah-aah, aah-aah

# Aa-a-a-ah

# Ooh, ooh-ooh

# Ooh. #

Well, my grandfather played. His name was James Clarence Hay, he was from Eastern Kentucky,

he played banjo, fiddle and guitar, things like that.

As a teenager, I was very much drawn to him and that music,

and for me it was a chance to find something deeper

than the average American fast-food strip mall situation

a lot of people are raised in, and I realised I had that connection

to the music that was just handed down as a gift.

# Boat's up the river

# And it won't come down

# I believe to my soul

# That I'm water bound

# I'm going down to the river

# I'll bring my rocking chair

# If the blues overtake me

# I'll rock away from here

# Boat's up the river

# And it won't come down

# I believe to my soul

# That I'm water bound

# I'm going down to the station

# I'll get down on the line

# I'm gonna let a southbound train

# Satisfy my mind

# Well, the boat's up the river

# And it won't come down

# I believe to my soul

# That I'm water bound

# Well, the boat's up the river

# And it won't come down

# I believe to my soul

# That I'm water bound

# I believe to my soul

# That I'm water bound. #

What're you looking for over there?

'When I was 10, there was an Annie, the musical Annie,

'sing-alike contest at the public TV station in Champaign, where I lived.'

I entered that contest and started to really enjoy singing after that.

At the same time, we were going to bluegrass festivals, and all that.

-Wow.

-It's an interesting way to get into it!

# Gonna lay my burden down

# Lay my body in the ground

# Cold clay against my skin

# But I don't care at all

# Can't seem to find my peace of mind

# So with the earth I'll lay entwined

# Six feet underground

# My feet are warm and dry

# When I get to the other side, I'll put your picture way up high

# Cos I'm not coming back to you, it's just too far

# If I was cast out on the sea

# Would you come and look for me

# Would you just let me sink beneath the waves so blue

# What if I had learned to fly

# Fly all night till day drew nigh

# Perch down upon a branch and scan the clouds for you

# When I touch my feet on the land

# I'll kiss your lips and take your hand

# But you know I'm not here to stay, it's just too far

# Darling, can't you hear me cry?

# My bones are broke, my tongue is tied

# The moon is swaying back and forth

# Against the navy sky is all that I can see

# My body's trembling on my knees

# Just have a little mercy on me, run away and hide

# When I sleep, the angels sing

# But I cannot hear a thing

# Eyes closed and dreaming of a better day gone by

# When I wake, the trumpets play

# And I'm standing at the gates

# Fall down in joy

# I know my race has just been run

# When I was young, my mama'd say

# Well, life is hard but that's OK

# If you can make it through the day, it's not that far

# No, it's not that far. #

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