BUFFALO NICHOLS

- HIDDEN DEEP BENEATH THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS IN GRUNDY COUNTY, TENNESSEE LIES ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST MAGICAL MUSICAL ADVENTURES, THE CAVERNS SESSIONS.

THREE MILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING, THE PURE ACOUSTICS OFFER MUSIC FROM THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, CENTER STAGE AND DEEP INSIDE THE MOUNTAIN.

THIS WEEK, WELCOMING BUFFALO NICHOLS.

(GUITAR AND SINGING) IT'S DEEP DOWN MUSICAL DIVERSITY AT THE CAVERNS SESSIONS COMING UP NEXT.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE AND CHEERS) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ YOU KNOW A PRETTY GIRL WILL MAKE YOU DO UGLY THINGS ♪ ♪ LIKE SMOKE CIGARETTES AND BUY DIAMOND RINGS ♪ ♪ I KNOW I AM NOT A HEARTLESS MAN ♪ ♪ BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I HARDLY UNDERSTAND ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ WELL, THERE'S ONE THING YOU DID WAS GOOD FOR ME ♪ ♪ YOU SHOWED ME THINGS THAT I JUST COULDN'T SEE ♪ ♪ YOU MADE ME REALIZE I DO NEED LOVE ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ EVEN THOUGH IN THE END I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH ♪ ♪ OH, THE WAY YOU HURT ME SHOWED ME HOW TO LOVE ♪ ♪ THE WAY YOU HURT ME SHOWED ME... ♪ ♪ HOW TO LOVE ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ I SOLD EVERYTHING I HAD AND BOUGHT A LIE ♪ ♪ THERE AIN'T A POWDER OR A PILL ♪ ♪ COULD EVER GET MY HOPES THIS HIGH ♪ ♪ I BOUGHT A LIFE OF SIN, IT BROUGHT ME TO MY KNEES ♪ ♪ LOVE COULD HAVE BEEN THE CURE, BUT YOUR LOVE WAS A DISEASE ♪ ♪ AND THE WAY YOU HURT ME SHOWED ME HOW TO LOVE ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ THE WAY YOU HURT ME SHOWED ME HOW TO LOVE ♪ ♪ THE WAY YOU HURT ME SHOWED ME HOW TO LOVE ♪ ♪ OH, THE WAY YOU HURT ME SHOWED ME... ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ HOW TO LOVE ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ WELL, I HARDLY RECOGNIZE YOU ANYMORE ♪ ♪ IT'S BEEN SO MANY YEARS SINCE YOU WALKED OUT OF THE DOOR ♪ ♪ AND NOW I SEE THAT YOU COULD HARDLY HURT A FLY ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ THE WAY YOU TREATED ME WAS WRONG ♪ ♪ BUT I KNOW THE REASON WHY ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE THE WAY THEY HURT YOU SHOWED YOU HOW TO LOVE ♪ ♪ THE WAY THEY HURT YOU SHOWED YOU HOW TO LOVE ♪ ♪ THE WAY THEY HURT YOU SHOWED YOU HOW TO LOVE ♪ ♪ OH, THE WAY THEY HURT YOU SHOWED YOU... ♪ ♪ HOW TO LOVE ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) THANK YOU.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ IF I COULD BE YOUR PLACE TO HIDE ♪ ♪ I'D TELL YOU THE SWEETEST LIES ♪ ♪ KNOWING WE WON'T GET HIGH ON LIFE ♪ ♪ I'D TELL YOU THAT WE'LL BE OKAY ♪ ♪ IF I COULD BE YOUR MERCY SEAT ♪ ♪ WHERE YOUR SECRETS COME TO SLEEP ♪ ♪ AND NOT THE REASON THAT YOU WEEP ♪ ♪ I WOULDN'T BE ALONE ♪ ♪ WITH MY HEART IN MY THROAT ♪ ♪ AND MY STOMACH ON THE FLOOR ♪ ♪ I'M BEATEN AND I'M BROKEN ♪ ♪ BUT I'M COMING BACK FOR MORE ♪ ♪ AND I MISS YOU LIKE AN EAGLE WITH A BROKEN WING ♪ ♪ MISSES THE SKIES ABOVE ♪ ♪ WHERE HE WOULD WATCH OVER THESE THINGS ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ IF I COULD BE UP THERE WITH YOU ♪ ♪ I WOULD ONLY TELL THE TRUTH ♪ ♪ AND IF IT HURTS LIKE PULLING A TOOTH ♪ ♪ THEN IT ONLY HURTS ONE TIME ♪ ♪ I'D PROTECT YOU FROM THEIR LIES ♪ ♪ BUT THE ONES I TELL WOULD FLY ♪ ♪ CIRCLING UP ABOVE OUR HEADS ♪ ♪ TO FEAST ON A LOVE THAT'S DEAD ♪ ♪ WITH YOUR BODY CLOSE TO MINE ♪ ♪ AND MY HEART IN YOUR HAND ♪ ♪ IF WE'RE GONNA DIE TOGETHER ♪ ♪ LET'S DO IT TO THE RHYTHM OF THE BAND ♪ ♪ AND I'LL DANCE TO YOUR BEATING HEART ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL DANCE ON MY GRAVE ♪ ♪ JUST PROMISE THAT YOU'LL BREAK MY NECK ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU KNOW I CAN'T BE SAVED... ♪ ♪ FROM ALL THESE THINGS ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ ALL THESE THINGS KEEP ME WIDE AWAKE AT NIGHT ♪ ♪ ALL THESE THINGS USED TO KEEP MY TUNNEL BRIGHT ♪ ♪ AND NOW ALL THESE THINGS ♪ ♪ JUST MAKE ME SCARED OF GETTING OLD... ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE YOU'RE NO LONGER HERE ♪ ♪ AND NOW ALL I HAVE TO HOLD... ♪ ♪ ARE ALL THESE THINGS ♪ (UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC) - THANK YOU.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) - NOW, IF YOU'RE THINKING, "HEY, I LIKE THOSE SONGS, THIS GUY'S NOT BAD," (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) IT'S STILL EARLY, SO.

(LAUGHS) YOU'LL ALL BE OFFENDED BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, DON'T WORRY.

(AUDIENCE CHUCKLES) (SLOW, DRAMATIC MUSIC) (SLOW, DRAMATIC MUSIC) (SLOW, DRAMATIC MUSIC) (SLOW, DRAMATIC MUSIC) (SLOW, DRAMATIC MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ ONLY TWO KIND OF PEOPLE COME HERE AFTER 3:00 ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ THAT'S POLICE AND CROOKS, AND THEY'RE THE SAME TO ME ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ THAT'S WHY THEY SAY YOU'LL EITHER END DEAD OR IN JAIL ♪ ♪ YEAH... ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ 'CAUSE THEY BOTH WANNA TRY YOU WHEN YOU START LIVING WELL ♪ ♪ LIVING WELL ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ SO NOW I ASK THE QUESTION THAT I KNOW TOO WELL ♪ ♪ WILL I DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN?

♪ ♪ OR KEEP...

LIVING IN HELL ♪ ♪ LIVING HELL, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, LIVING IN HELL ♪ ♪ LIVING HELL, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, LIVING HELL ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ WELL, I NEVER RELAX ♪ ♪ I GET TOO PARANOID ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ I LOST COUNT OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'M TRYING TO AVOID ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ AND I STILL GO TO CHURCH, BUT IT AIN'T TO SAVE MYSELF, NO ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ I JUST LIKE TO HEAR THE STORIES ♪ ♪ ABOUT HOW YOU GON' BURN IN HELL ♪ ♪ BURN IN HELL ♪ ♪ SO NOW I ASK THE QUESTION, BUT I KNOW FULL WELL ♪ ♪ WILL I DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN ♪ ♪ OR KEEP LIVING IN HELL ♪ ♪ LIVING HELL, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ LIVING HELL, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, LIVING HELL ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ I'M CLINGING TO THE MEMORY OF A BRIGHT AND PEACEFUL DAY ♪ ♪ BUT I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER THAT THINGS EVER WERE THAT WAY ♪ ♪ BUT MY TROUBLES WILL BE OVER ♪ ♪ ONE DAY I'LL BE SET FREE ♪ ♪ FROM THE CHAINS AROUND MY NECK ♪ ♪ FROM THIS MANMADE MISERY, BUT... ♪ ♪ UNTIL THAT DAY COMES ♪ ♪ I STILL LIVE IN ♪ ♪ A LIVING HELL, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, LIVING IN HELL ♪ ♪ LIVING HELL, LIVING HELL ♪ ♪ WILL I DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN ♪ ♪ LIVING HELL ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS FUN, RIGHT?

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (GUITAR PLAYS) - THIS IS A SONG, A SPECIAL SONG, UNRELEASED SONG, FOR ALL MY FRIENDS HERE TONIGHT, AND THAT'S ALL OF YOU, 'CAUSE I LIKE Y'ALL ALL.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) - ALL RIGHT, THIS IS FOR ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT, WHICH IS NONE OF YOU, 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL FRIENDS TONIGHT.

WOW.

I'M ON FIRE TONIGHT WITH THESE JOKES.

THIS SONG IS CALLED, "FRIENDS."

(SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ SUNSHINE CREPT INTO MY BED TODAY ♪ ♪ BUT I WASN'T IN THE MOOD ♪ ♪ SO I KINDLY TURNED AWAY ♪ ♪ AND WAITED TILL IT GREW TOO TIRED TO GLOW ♪ ♪ BECAUSE HE SHOWS ME THINGS THAT I DON'T WANNA KNOW ♪ (GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ I DO APPRECIATE THE ONES WHO TRY ♪ ♪ TO REACH OUT TO THE LONELY, THE NERVOUS, AND THE SHY ♪ ♪ THOSE WHO TRY THEIR VERY BEST TO BREAK THROUGH WALLS ♪ ♪ BUT NEVER WONDER WHY I BUILT THEM UP AT ALL ♪ ♪ SO TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ♪ ♪ I'VE GOT AN EAR TO LEND ♪ ♪ OH, A LOVE THAT NEVER STARTS ♪ ♪ IS A LOVE THAT NEVER ENDS ♪ ♪ I WISH MY DREAMS WERE REAL ♪ ♪ THAT MY WORRIES WERE PRETEND ♪ ♪ I WISH WE COULD BE FRIENDS ♪ (GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ I WROTE DOWN EVERY EVIL THING I DID ♪ ♪ AND IT'S LONGER THAN THE LIST ♪ ♪ OF THE REASONS I SHOULD LIVE ♪ ♪ AND A VOICE FROM SOMEWHERE ENOUGH SAYS ♪ ♪ YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH ♪ ♪ AND SUDDENLY THE MEAN OLD WORLD DON'T SEEM SO ROUGH ♪ (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ I SEE THE CROOKED WAY YOU TRY TO SMILE ♪ ♪ AND THE BROKEN WAY YOU LAUGH ♪ ♪ THAT REVEALS YOUR INNER CHILD ♪ ♪ DID YOU GATHER YOU ALL YOUR DREAMS ♪ ♪ TO BE BURIED IN YOUR PAST ♪ ♪ OR DID THE WORLD LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM LAST ♪ ♪ OH, I'LL TELL YOU HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ IF YOU'VE GOT AN EAR TO LEND ♪ ♪ FOR A LOVE THAT NEVER STARTS ♪ ♪ IT'S THE PAIN THAT NEVER ENDS ♪ ♪ I WISH MY DREAMS WERE REAL ♪ ♪ AND MY WORRIES WERE PRETEND ♪ ♪ I WISH WE COULD BE FRIENDS ♪ (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ KINDNESS IS WORTH MORE THAN GOLD TODAY ♪ ♪ I GUESS THAT'S THE REASON WHY ♪ ♪ WE KEEP IT LOCKED AWAY ♪ ♪ WHERE NO ONE DARES TO LOOK ♪ ♪ OR TRIES TO FIND ♪ ♪ UNTIL YOU LOSE THE LIGHT THAT ONCE SHONE IN YOUR EYES ♪ ♪ AND YOU SEE THAT ALL THE LOVE WAS ONLY LIES ♪ ♪ AND YOU PUNISH ANYONE WHO EVEN TRIES ♪ ♪ AND THE PERSON YOU ONCE WERE BEGINS TO DIE ♪ (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) ♪ IF I TELL YOU HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ WILL YOU PROMISE TO PRETEND ♪ ♪ TO UNDERSTAND MY VIEW ♪ ♪ YOU'D TELL ME PAIN WILL END ♪ ♪ AND MANY OTHER LIES ♪ ♪ BECAUSE LIES CAN DO NO HARM ♪ ♪ SHOW ME WHERE TO FIND RELIEF ♪ ♪ WILL IT LEAD ME TO YOUR ARMS ♪ ♪ TELL ME DREAMS ARE REAL ♪ ♪ AND WORRIES JUST PRETEND ♪ ♪ AND TELL ME I'M YOUR FRIEND ♪ ♪ TELL ME I'M YOUR FRIEND ♪ (SLOW GUITAR MUSIC) (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) - THANK YOU SO MUCH.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) - THAT'S REAL NICE OF Y'ALL.

THANKS.

THIS IS MY LAST SONG.

I'M BUFFALO NICHOLS.

THANK YOU.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (SLOW, DRAMATIC GUITAR) (SLOW, DRAMATIC GUITAR) (SLOW, DRAMATIC GUITAR) (SLOW, DRAMATIC GUITAR) (SLOW, DRAMATIC GUITAR) (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ ANOTHER MAN IS DEAD ♪ ♪ ANOTHER MAN IS DEAD ♪ ♪ ANOTHER MAN IS DEAD ♪ ♪ THEY PUT A BULLET IN HIS HEAD ♪ ♪ ANOTHER MAN IS DEAD ♪ ♪ WHEN MY GRANDPA WAS YOUNG ♪ ♪ HE HAD TO HOLD HIS TONGUE ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE THEY'D HANG YOU FROM A BRIDGE DOWNTOWN ♪ ♪ AND NOW THEY CALL IT STAND YOUR GROUND ♪ ♪ ANOTHER MAN IS DEAD ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ 21ST CENTURY... ♪ ♪ DON'T MEAN A THING TO ME ♪ ♪ 'CAUSE IT MIGHT AS WELL BE 1910 ♪ ♪ THEY'RE KILLING WOMEN AND KILLING MEN ♪ ♪ ANOTHER WOMAN IS DEAD ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ ANOTHER WOMAN'S DEAD ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ ANOTHER WOMAN'S DEAD ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ HER TURN SIGNAL WASN'T ON ♪ ♪ SO THEY LOCKED HER UP, AND NOW SHE'S GONE ♪ ♪ ANOTHER WOMAN IS DEAD ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ WITH NO RESPECT FOR LIFE... ♪ ♪ JUST A SLAVE IN YOUR EYES ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ IF YOU'D RATHER SEE ME IN CHAINS... ♪ ♪ I GUESS SOME THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ WELL, MAYBE I'M JUST ANGRY, AND MY WORDS MAY BE CLICHE ♪ ♪ BUT IT'S HARD TO WRITE A SONG ♪ ♪ WHILE FOLKS GET MURDERED EVERY DAY ♪ ♪ I KNOW IT AIN'T SO SIMPLE ♪ ♪ I JUST KNOW I'M MAD AS HELL ♪ ♪ WHY SHOULD WE CHOOSE BETWEEN A NOOSE AND DYING IN A CELL ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ THEY KILLED ANOTHER MAN ♪ ♪ THEY KILLED ANOTHER MAN ♪ ♪ POLICE PULLED A GUN ON ME ♪ ♪ I WAS ONLY 17 ♪ ♪ BUT I COULD'VE BEEN THAT MAN ♪ (DRAMATIC BLUES MUSIC) ♪ SOME FOLKS BELIEVE THE LIES ♪ ♪ THEY'RE FOOLED BY THE DISGUISE ♪ ♪ NO NEED TO HIDE BEHIND A WHITE HOOD ♪ ♪ WHEN A BADGE WORKS JUST AS GOOD ♪ ♪ ANOTHER MAN... ♪ ♪ IS DEAD.

♪ - I'M BUFFALO NICHOLS FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERS) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERS) ♪ ♪ ♪