"Berta, Berta" by Branford Marsalis

From his 1992 release titled "I Heard You Twice The First Time",...here is the GREAT Branford Marsalis featuring vocals by Charles Dutton, Carl Gordon and Roscoe Rocky Carroll from "The Roc". This classic track is from August Wilsons outstanding play "The Piano Lesson".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blues
• jazz
• soul
• berta
• branford
• marsalis
• heard
• you
• twice
• the
• first
• time

[solly2kings]

Glad to find this recording on Youtube. I am orginially from Pittsburgh, PA and am an actor who performed as Boy Willie in "The Piano Lesson". This song, as well as August Wilson,means so much to me. I was able to attend August Wilson's funeral and was able to witness a great homage to a man who contributed so much to Theater. We miss you Mr. Wilson, we thank you, and we will never forget you. RIP

[smilersweetness]

Lovely:)

[Time2AnteUp]

@dragonslayer015 I wouldnt say so. myself ? I train ( heavybag drills ) to this. when i finally feel that im beginning to get tired, the sound of the hammer triggers me to strike harder.

[dragonslayer015]

Is it weird to listen to this while I'm studying?

[Rabshakeh9]

alonthestreet --- berta (alberta) is the name of the woman the prisoner left behind in meridian mississippi after he got his dumb*ss locked up. keep in mind that berta cab be any woman regardless of her name. notice he tells her to marry an army man or railroad man...in today's terminology it would be a dude with steady pay and benefits!

[alonthestreet]

can i ask what berta means please........ its kinda my nickname in school

[ebonknight]

This song moves my heart, my soul, it calls to me in a way that no other song has. I feel this, I feel all parts of this song and I thank you for sharing.

[charlesfransis]

I sang this solo at a poetry reading in a loft in NYC with hardwood floors. The sound of my boot coming down on the floor, rattling the windows/building couldn't come close to the sound of the tools, the grunting, the sounds of the cicadas in trees.

Thanks for posting.

[typhoonH]

This song captures the plight of the hard working man like nothing else I've heard. All respects to the legendary Branford Marsalis.

[richardcorsale]

This is an allegory for every struggle, everywhere.

[blacklungace]

@jtr439 true, thanks for clearing that up

[jtr439]

@blacklungace I dont think it's a slave work song but rather a prison chain gang working on the railroad. He says go head and marry dont you wait on me...might not want you when I go free. Then goes on to say when u get married dont you marry a army man. Finally i think it says "berta in miridian and she living at ease" Miridian is a city outside of Jackson MS. It also sounded like he said he was on Parchman whic is a prison camp, also in MS