Gillian Welch, Annabelle, A Study Of American Sharecroppers

[MidnightWriter8210]

So very beautiful.

[redzana]

Justified :'(

[GillBJack58]

Really love the way you've put this together. My late father-in-law's family were sharecroppers and he left the south for Chicago! Little wonder!!! Great job with a great song.

[skeetabix36]

What an amazing talent Gillian & Dave are. The 1st time I ever heard of them was from the doc ' Down from the Mountain ' & I loved their music from the very 1st time I heard them. This is REAL music.

[HLutherO]

Yep... went looking for a music video after hearing part of the song on "Hell on Wheels"... glad I did. I really enjoy the song, and appreciate the compilation of photos that you put with it... well done! Gillian Welch has a new fan in me.

[dixieboy74]

Thumbs up if you watched this video because of hell on wheels

[latrivette1]

Love this!!!

[GillBJack58]

What a well put together video, it harmonised beautifully with this amazing song. High five for a great job!!!

[kent1884]

I heard this song on tonights episode of "Hell on Wheels" If you haven't seen I suggest you watch, its a great series

[gnarleymarleyx10]

If we learn anything from history, it's that it usually repeats itself...

[rift267]

that f 'ing voice!!!! its like she singing to my soul i cant even hear it...i feel it

[RaggedIowaBowhunters]

very nice i have a few of he cds there very good

[rift267]

fucking awsome song!!!

[greanteawoman]

Thank so much to all viewers who helped this video hit the 100k mark! When you get a chance please check out Gillian and David's new CD: The Harrow & The Harvest. The CD is released under: Gillian Welch. It's her first CD release since 2002. It's been a long wait for Welch & Rawlings fans, but The Harrow & The Harvest was well worth the wait! Thanks again guys.

[davekelly1957]

@greanteawoman Amazing compilation you put together there. The history of sharecropping isn't so familiar here in the UK, but reminds me of the medieval feudal system. Annabelle is one of my favourite Gillian songs and your study really brings home the reality of this hard way of life. Thank you so much.

[Canoe571]

I agree with you, greanteawoman. A jenny mule is a female mule. A mule-jenny is an automated spinning wheel. They would have rented a mule and the 20 acres from the Alabama Trust bank, with repayment being as described, in true sharecropper fashion. Great post!

[maleo63]

Like a lot of you, it was the series "Justified" that made me look this song up. It really grabs you.

[Johntheresonator]

Unbelievably sad song. The images of crushing poverty and the verse about the loss of (sounds like) an only child just have me in tears every time. Well done for putting this one together, it will stay on my top 6 favourites probably for keeps.

[ctw1966]

It does us all good to remember where we come from. My grandparents/greatparents) from the North/Midwest (Canada - the Eastern Townships - dirt farmers/Nebraska) but grew up comfortably in Connecticut. I feel a strong connection to my roots though.

[Mygrassisblue01]

David and Gillian are so GREAT...a real treat for the ears

[Musicguru1979]

Brilliant song by Gillian Welch! Pure, intense and utterly beautiful!!!

[johnnyswatts]

As a cracker-assed-cracker I'd like to thank you for only showing the white face of tennant farming (aka sharecropping) which was a largely black occupation in some parts of the South. But then y'all might not know much about that, bein' from Nashville an' all...

[babooshkalika]

Beautiful and poignant song. The images really brought it home. Excellent.

[zimmyb123]

JUSTIFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Runestomymemory1]

Gillian Welch is so talented, so is David! I cant get enough of this song!

[Ludlow889]

Best song of the last 30 years. You did a really great job of finding appropriate images for it.

[2cruiz4vr]

Excellent Video & Song!

[igotn0thin]

justified.

[profwaldo]

Great tune, I love it. Wonderful images you've put to it also. Nice work !

[armandsue]

Just love this song and this music. Talks to my heart!!

Thank you.

[greekflatpicker]

Just incredible.

[danu3247]

Simply can't get enough of this song!!

[greekflatpicker]

Beautiful song and a nice video.

[Oekomaelk]

Thank you you for uploading this great song! =)

Gonna buy all Gillian Welch albums now... ''

If i get more money i move to the great USA!

[Mygrassisblue01]

a great song by a great artist with a great collection of Old Pictures...very well done indeed

[RogueDragon05]

Beautiful song, am glad Justified led me here.

[eltank78]

the tv show Justified sent me here :-) love this song and love that show so very much

[Number1HB]

This was used in the show Justified last night. I love when a great show such as that introduces me to great music such as this. Great song.

[FieldMarshal95]

@Number1HB That's the whole reason I'm here, too! That episode was so sad. );

[calvinwoohoo]

justified brought me here.

[stang351clv]

I just heard this song at the end of an episode of Justified and man oh man is this a beautifull song. Thank you for posting it.

[maynardjesus]

this was the song for Helen on Justified tonight. 10 to 1 says this bout to get alot more hits on this page.

[imnotu77]

jesus christ how awesome is this ?!

[EdDueim]

Beautiful song, stunning musicians, great images. Thank you.

[niveazesi]

love love LOVE your video :)

[coolanddark]

one of the worlds greatest songs! nice video work!

[dogpatch75]

Great song by a great artist. If you're interested in some young but incredible bluegrass talent performing this song, search for "Molly Tuttle sings Annabelle".

[Runestomymemory1]

My favorite song from Gillian, thanks for posting!

[justmusicandme]

Sad song, excellent post. Thank you for posting.

[breachborn]

GOODNESS THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS SONG!!

I so enjoy and respect Gillian Welch. Nice to be among friends.

Peace and Blessings.

[greanteawoman]

@breachborn Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment. Gillian and David are two of the Wonder's of the World in my book. I also love Dave Rawlings Machine. The Bells of Harlem is my favorite, no wait a sec. Ruby is my fav --- wait, my favorite DRM really IS ----- I Hear Them All. :-)

[breachborn]

@greanteawoman

DITTO

[getgoth]

Actually it is both. A jenny is the common slang term to describe a female mule. A jack is the male form. But as someone pointed out, it is also the term given a device that was used to spin cotton in the mills. Based on the songs lyrics I believe she is referring to a mule leased for plowing the 20 acres they also were leasing to share crop.

[trl5977]

This is an awesome song! I go to Missouri State University and my professor played it in class yesterday. It makes me proud to come from strong people that did what they had to do to survive. I don't think most people today would have the courage and motivation to do what these people did.

[discjockeyOk]

MASTERWORK



[aerodog2]

So beautiful, so sad.

[123mollieb]

I am proud of my pioneer roots. My family were cotton farmers in Texas. People back then took nothing for granted. We should never forget those who came before us and lived off the land.

[skotxmeyerx9]

great song!

[comradeshow]

family was sharecroppers in alabama/mississippi area. nice song :)

[niveazesi]

love, love, love this video! XD

[Mygrassisblue01]

Davids guitar ( a 1935 epiphone arch top ) has such a great tone to it...Gillian and David really do a great job on this tune....

[michaeltwarogowski]

jenny mule is a female mule, as opposed to a jack mule which is male

[mrsellymae]

This song just rips my heart out. How sadly, sweetly beautiful.

[LetsGoMetsGo33]

Great job with the video. Amazing song.

[maclennan73]

This song makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck every time, Rawlingls little licks toward the end bring a tear to the eye,

[bectrek]

Thank you for this one

[001Bigred]

no matter how we try. Til we've all gone to JESUS. Amen.

[caomhain45]

I think some may be referring to Spinning Mules and Spinning Jennys which were Industrial Revolution inventions to speed up the textile process. This song is lovely and sad. You can see the Irish and Scot influence in the music (theme, mood, and melody).

[singmeluv]

Beautifully sad! This was superb in sound and playing! I love Gillian's voice. ! My heart breaks for those who had nothing. RIP to all who left their loved ones too soon..

[Scotirishrob]

My great-grandparents lived this kind of life sharecropping in Southern Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, Great grandfather died at the age of 38 worked himself to death trying to feed seven children and a loving wife. This song makes me sad I see so much of my family history in the photos and song.

[Nationsnotregimes]

My mother lost her father when she was ten years old in 1939, he came in sick from putting in tobacco one and died the next, he had water in lungs and there was not doctor to call that would come. She had a 18 year old sister married, and three younger sisters to care for and five older brothers and two went in the Army before before Dec. 7,1941.

My point is some many our grandfathers died young working struggling against difficult situations and our reward was another war, and open borders!

[TEB1952]

Nation...: you are right. Our parents and G-parents worked hard to make a better country. Now greed and the filthy rich want more, and they don't mind reducing us to a 3rd world existance.

[HazCheezburger]

less than a 3rd world existence- they HAVE our jobs.

[wizzard1956]

what a treasure, her wonderful gift , real music for the "few " real americans, . . . those who dont understand it , neverwill, . . gods own chosen voice,

[aerodog2]

A 'ginny mule is short for a Virginia Mule. It's just where they're bred, that's all.

[TEB1952]

Aero...: Interesting So where are henny mules bred?

[HazCheezburger]

a h*I*nny mule is the sterile offspring of a male horse and a female mule. Where Are you ppl from?

[TEB1952]

Haz: you are right. A Jenny is a female mule (cross between a mare and male donkey), while a hinny is a cross between a stallion and a jennet (female donkey). I was just commenting on a statement that "jenny" referred to location of breeding, which is incorrect, as was my spelling of "hinny" Do you want to know where "we people" originated, or where we live?

[aerodog2]

@TEB1952 Aero withdraws his previous incorrect statement. Interestingly, I got that wrong info from an ex-sharecropper nsg home resident I knew. He even had pictures in his room of him in bib overalls in the 1930's straight out of "Sounder", but he was not an educated man as to his mules, I suppose. Still, it SEEMED to make sense.....

[TEB1952]

aero: I know how you feel. It would make sense to me also. Truth is that, in his area, it may have had a local meaning. So many words are like that. A good example is "cracker" as applied to people. The word started out describing Scotch-Irish Americans, but in Florida the same word was used to decribe the cattlemen. And in modern times, blacks mis-applied it to all whites, so that now everyone uses it that way. I still confine its use to Scotch-Irish Americans.

[brownsrd16]

Very interesting Doubletap about the mule chromasomes. So which animal are we looking at in 0.17?

However, I still believe Gillian sings 'Jenny wheel' around that time on the video. In which case it make a derivative of 'Spinning jenny ' , which by coincidence is followed by 'Spinning mule' in my dictionary. Interesting eh? Regards from NZ.

[ak47doubletap]

YEP,SONG ABOUT JENNY MULE-:mule is cross between a mare & jack (donkey stallion). Cross between a stallion & jennet (female donkey) is a Hinny. Mules R M & F- like horses, w/ all sexual organs, females (called mollys mare-mules or JENNY mules) do cycle & males (called johns, jack-mules or horse-mules) need 2 B castrated R they will get stud-y. Though, donkeys have 62 chromosomes & horses have 64, mules have an uneven # 63, which makes them sterile hybrid. Little info from country gal.G'day!

[Nationsnotregimes]

Country Gal

Thank you for that post, when I was little my uncles put me atop mules hauling in tabbacco from the fields. I even help tie the leaves on the 1x1 sticks to hand in a barn.

Remember old very large peach tree where I had climbed up on big limbs to get them, and I have never tasted peach's like those again nor seen a tree that size.

[TEB1952]

AK: I did some research a while back. Can't remember which it is, but one of the offspring mules can reproduce.

[TEB1952]

ak: just a little insignificant side note: mollies on rare occasion produce offspring - about 1 in a million chance: probably not worth the trouble of trying.

[imback4thcav]

Gillian sure is Great!!

[hammerpunch1000]

A jenny mule is actually a piece of machinery, not an animal.  I might be mistaken, though.

[greanteawoman]

Thanks for the comment hammerp :-)

I found some references to a 'mule jenny' that is a cotton/wool spinning machine and many references to 'Jenny Mule's' for sale around the country - as in animals. I think Gillian was referring to an animal.

[rmstudio]

Greanteawoman: its your depth of understanding of things as "Mule Jenny" that keep me coming back to learn more and have a better understanding of the 1920's and 1930's and of the sharecropper's. The stories captivate me to no end.. Thank you again for your insight and wisdom on the subject.

[001Bigred]

@greanteawoman Yes, I am certain the songwriter did mean a plow animal. It was common practice at that time to plow using a mule.

[pelliroja2000]

Lovely song and moving images, but where are the African-American sharecroppers?

[razorhips]

good point. i think ancestors were some. i like you.

[TEB1952]

Who cares. There were share croppers of every ethnicity. She dose not need to show them all to make a beautiful sad story. Leave race out of this video and enjoy the tragic tale she is showing.

[TEB1952]

Besides pelliroha, at 0.32 it looks like a black family.

[ak47doubletap]

Yes, many, many ~ in a 'sense' slavery did not die ~ existed in Share Croppers. White & Black alike ~ common thread is poverty.

Poverty knows no color, under the land owner's thumb, whims ~ based on poverty less than color.

My personal opinion and observation .

And yes Lovely song.

[geotuc1]

Really nice

[benjcole]

beautiful. a true modern classic.

[benjcole]

beautiful. a perfect example of a modern classic.

[Mmmousemaid]

So sad.

Mmmousemaid

[brownsrd16]

"We can not have all things to please us, no matter how we try.

Until we've all gone to Jesus

We can only wonder why."

Regards from NZ.

[highpinedrive]

ok thid reminds of Woody Gutherie

[001Bigred]

This is beautiful. I love the music especially the guitar solo(picking) I would like to see the lyrics to this. I can hear most of them on this recording, but not the chorus.

[RDRulez]

song. awesome. =]

[mwindle1973]

I love Gillian Welch's music. THis is one of her best. Great slide show video. Brings a lot of life to the song.

[swazanbee]

I can't stop listening to/watching this...it's so tragically beautiful and timely. Perfect pairing of this song and these photos...thank you!

[rmstudio]

Funny How now I find the Irany in this video and my words I have preached to others for several years now. That a depression was coming from the things we are ignoring. Now take a look at whats going on in the last few months. Now it will be time to see who survives and why. I have even more respect for those old folks that shared this story with me when I was a little boy. Hope you are doing well Greanteawoman.

[singingwendy]

Simply beautiful, and so touching...

[samgluck55]

I am blown away by this beautiful woman, she sings deep into my heart

[saphistische]

I *love* her voice and the slideshow. Thanks and keep up the great work -- hint, hint.

[bulbheadmyass]

Hi Joy. Congratulations on 10,000 views. This is a fabulous song and vid and it certain deserves it. Here's to the next 10,000 views!

[greanteawoman]

Thank you so much for dropping by Jan! (Ms. 116,779 views on Execution Row! ... as I post this note) I watch your vid's often & want you to know also how much I enjoy your channel - you are one very talented lady! Please keep 'em coming girl!

[greanteawoman]

Thank you all viewers, for helping this video get over 10,000 views. I appreciate each and every person who has taken the time to watch.

[rmstudio]

You did the world a good dead by once again showing us something that is so important for us not to forget.. The generations now have forgotten the important lessons in those sharecroppers and their immense hardships. As boy I grew up remembering this tail told by the old timers of my day. As well as remembering one of the few books I read as a young boy "Grapes of Wrath" We must not forget as it can happen again. Thank you for not letting us forget.

[greanteawoman]

Thank you RM! Gillian & David are such incredible artist/songwriters. Their music read like mini novels. I'm going to do more vid's of their music, just have to find the time to make that happen. Thank you for being such a supportive friend.

[001Bigred]

@rmstudio I read the comment you made on the song Annabelle. This song gives me hope, though it usually makes me cry first. I love it.

[afghan1964]

The song and photo's make this incredible atmosphere... I definately feel the pain of this poor mother who lost her child...

Great "explanation" of miss Welch and Rawlings... Thank you!...

[57silverhawk]

Stunning.

[JustaCountryPreacher]

Smmooth! TY

[Galacticplane]

Thank you greanteawoman, some of us forget where we come from!

[arkgunslinger]

greanteawoman, Awesome job on the video.

My grandparents were sharecroppers in the deep south( later were able to get there own 40 acres). Very touching and one of my favorite Gillian and David songs. 5/5

[Nationsnotregimes]

We are still suffering from the assault on the Southern States from April 12th 1861 thru 1865, and as it is still felt today for US no matter where we live and or whether we know it or it not.

In the late 1950's many place's in rural N.C. and other Southern areas had no electric power, and the kitchen sink had a hand water pump handle to the side.

Honest folk who work hard till their days ended.

[Nationsnotregimes]

We are still suffering from the assault on the Southern States from April 12th 1861 thru 1865, and as it is still felt today for US no matter where we live and or whether we know it or it not.

As recent as the late 1950's in many place's in rural N.C. and other Southern areasthey had no electric power lines, and the kitchen sink had a hand water pump handle to the side.

[bescotrob]

When will you lot wake up? It's not the Chinese that are making you poor, it's your class system. So much of your wealth is in the hands of a minority, thats why you have so much poverty.

Fantastic song.

[rmstudio]

And we are not speaking of our poverty but what is happening to our country.. When you live here then you can "See" whats going on.... I guess you have eyes on the ground from sitting on that island of yours in the middle of a black ocean.. Please..

[okieredrose11]

Is this video made using Walker Evans' photographs from the study done by Evans and James Agee?

[rmstudio]

UhrTeufel: Amen to that brotha! And dito to everything you said.. Both the video and song as well as the politics.. YOu forgot one other thing we will have to learn how to speak chinese as they will be owning us... I love that Gillian is from were I live and sings about Santa Cruz California..

[greanteawoman]

rm, you're right! Chinese will be spoken in the old USA unless we take back our jobs! I they are trying to 'off us' - toys full of lead, tainted foods and now fake prescription drugs (including diabetes testing strips, etc.), are being imported from China. One pill and !! boom !! - you're gone. Cool that Gillian is from where you live. I played in a concert with she and David once in the early '90s before they were signed. I knew they were SO special when I heard them play for the first time.

[rmstudio]

Greanteawoman: its nice to see that there are some people out there besides myself that dont have heads burried up there "A**" and blind to whats happening around them.. And has good taste in music! I am 1/2 Spanish or Spaniard and italian. Was labeled a minority by the left wing idiots when I was growing up as a kid and thought "Minority" who you kidding.. I have the capablility to see whats going on around me..

[rmstudio]

I am dam proud of the good old USA.. Like I often say I am considered "Politically Uncorrect" in my neck of the woods.. Especially against my own kind and catch hell for it but I dont care whats right is right.. ANd whats going on to our country aint right...

[rmstudio]

Greanteawoman: its nice to see that there are some people out there besides myself that dont have heads burried up there "A**" and blind to whats happening around them.. And has good taste in music! I am 1/2 Spanish or Spaniard and italian. Was labeled a minority by the left wing idiots when I was growing up as a kid and thought "Minority" who you kidding.. I have the capablility to see whats going on around me..

[UhrTeufel]

Damn good video that REALLY complements the words of "Annebelle" brilliantly sung by Gillian Welch! Unfortunately, America will very soon be in much the same shape that it was when these sad images were first captured back in the 30's! FWIW, as we continue "out-sourcing" an' "off-shoring", it'll ALL be over just about the time our shrinking "middle class" is going, going, g.o.n.e.! ... :-(

[greanteawoman]

Uhr, you have nailed it! Something has got to give and got to give soon. We need the jobs brought BACK to this country. If the situation was in the past, the way it is today, I don't know what in the world my father would've done for work. He worked in the textile mills and actually made a decent living for our family. The mill where he worked is abandoned now. Makes me purely sick when I see what has happened in this country in the name of "free trade".

[beachmuse]

beautifully done!

[Cameragirl803]

great job with this video, really made the song come to life 5*****Jane

[twinklefrufru]

beautifully sad americana, great job!