WATKINS FAMILY HOUR

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

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

THIS WEEK, WELCOMING WATKINS FAMILY HOUR.

IT'S DEEP-DOWN MUSICAL DIVERSITY AT THE CAVERN SESSIONS, COMING UP NEXT.

♪ I AVOIDED THE CURE, BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - HELLO, EVERYONE.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) (GENTLE BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (GENTLE BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (GENTLE BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (GENTLE BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH ♪ ♪ AS LONG AS EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME ♪ ♪ I AVOIDED THE CURE, BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ ♪ I WAS LOOKING FOR A REDO ♪ ♪ BUT MY GAME HADN'T CHANGED ♪ ♪ AND HOPING FOR A DIFFERENT OUTCOME IS INSANE ♪ ♪ THIS IS GOOD, THIS IS REAL ♪ ♪ IT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO FEEL ♪ ♪ RIGHT HERE AND NOW ♪ ♪ BOTH FEET PLANTED ON THE GROUND ♪ ♪ I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH ♪ ♪ AS LONG AS EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME ♪ ♪ I AVOIDED THE CURE, BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BREAK DOWN ♪ ♪ AND THROW EVERYTHING AWAY ♪ ♪ TAKE A LOOK AT IT ALL ♪ ♪ IT'S A CURTAIN CALL OF YESTERDAYS ♪ ♪ NOW AND THEN YOU GOTTA LEAVE TOWN ♪ ♪ AND YOUR ZERO-SUM GAMES ♪ ♪ FOR A PLACE WITH NO SOUND AND NO ONE AROUND ♪ ♪ WHO KNOWS YOUR NAME ♪ ♪ THIS IS GOOD, THIS IS REAL ♪ ♪ IT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO FEEL ♪ ♪ RIGHT HERE AND NOW ♪ ♪ BOTH FEET PLANTED ON THE GROUND ♪ ♪ SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BREAK DOWN ♪ ♪ AND THROW EVERYTHING AWAY ♪ ♪ I AVOIDED THE CURE, BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ THIS IS GOOD, THIS IS REAL ♪ ♪ IT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO FEEL ♪ ♪ RIGHT HERE AND NOW ♪ ♪ BOTH FEET PLANTED ON THE GROUND ♪ ♪ I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH ♪ ♪ AS LONG AS EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME ♪ ♪ I AVOIDED THE CURE, BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ ♪ SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BREAK DOWN ♪ ♪ AND THROW EVERYTHING AWAY ♪ ♪ I AVOIDED THE CURE, BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ ♪ BUT IT FOUND ME ANYWAY ♪ (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - AH, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

SARA AND I ARE SIBLINGS, AND WE GREW UP PLAYING BLUEGRASS.

AND WE WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE FAMOUS BLUEGRASS SHOWS IN CAVES FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

AND WE'VE NEVER DONE ONE, SO WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

- IT'S OUR FIRST CAVERNS.

- YEAH, IT'S OUR FIRST CAVERNS.

(AUDIENCE CHEERS AND APPLAUDS) WELL, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE GREW UP PLAYING BLUEGRASS MUSIC FROM A YOUNG AGE.

I WAS NINE.

SARA WAS SIX WHEN WE STARTED.

AND WHEN YOU GROW UP PLAYING BLUEGRASS, THE FIRST THING YOU LEARN ARE SLEW OF FIDDLE TUNES, TUNES LIKE-- - THESE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT-- - YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT FIDDLE TUNES.

- I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW THE-- - "SOLDIER'S JOY", "RED HAIRED BOY", YOU KNOW, "SALLY GOOD'N", THE HITS, YOU KNOW.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING) AND THEY'RE AMAZING, BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU WANNA TRY AND MAKE ONE UP OF YOUR OWN.

SO THIS IS ONE I MADE YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

IT'S CALLED "BELLA AND IVAN".

(PICKS GUITAR) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - OH MY GOSH, YOU GUYS ARE TOO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING) - WE'LL DO A SONG OF MINE, THIS IS OLDER.

ABOUT 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO, I GAVE MYSELF A WRITING ASSIGNMENT.

I WANTED TO TRY AND WRITE A MURDER BALLAD.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING) I COULDN'T DO IT, THOUGH.

LACK OF EXPERIENCE, THOUGH, IS I THINK...(CHUCKLES) YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY OLD FAMOUS BLUEGRASS MURDER BALLADS LIKE "BANKS OF THE OHIO", "KNOXVILLE GIRL".

- [SARA] "POLLY".

- ANY SONG WITH A FEMALE CHARACTER NAMED POLLY.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING) - OR NAMED ANYTHING, REALLY.

IF SHE HAS A NAME, SHE'S PROBABLY GONNA DIE.

- SHE'S PROBABLY GONNA DIE IN THE FIRST VERSE.

- YEAH.

- SO I SAT DOWN, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA TRY AND WRITE SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THOSE OLD CLASSIC MURDER BALLADS.

BUT AS I SAID, I JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

LACK OF EXPERIENCE, I SUPPOSE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

BUT YEAH, AS I SAID, I WANTED TO WRITE SOMETHING AT LEAST FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A SEMI-DEVIOUS CHARACTER.

AND SO I DUG DEEP, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I COULD IMAGINE MYSELF DOING SOME LOW-LEVEL, LIGHT STALKING, (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) VERY, VERY LOW LEVEL, WHICH I NOW REALIZE SOUNDS EVEN MORE CREEPY THAN JUST BEING A REGULAR STALKER, (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) 'CAUSE AT LEAST IF YOU'RE A REGULAR STALKER, PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, AND IT'S LIKE, YEAH, THAT GUY'S A STALKER, DON'T MESS WITH HIM.

BUT A LIGHT STALKER, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SNEAKY.

I DON'T LIKE IT.

(SARA LAUGHING) ANYWAY, THAT WAS THE HEAD SPACE I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO.

BUT THIS WAS BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO NOWADAYS, IF YOU'RE ON INSTAGRAM AND YOU HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP WITH BY SOMEONE, AS I HAD BEEN, EVERYONE IS A LIGHT STALKER, YOU KNOW?

YOU'RE GOING ON INSTAGRAM.

YOU'RE SEEING WHO THEY'RE MESSAGING OR TALKING TO, COMMENTING ON.

SO I DON'T REALLY FEEL THAT BAD ANYMORE ABOUT IT, IS MY POINT.

WE'RE ALL LIGHT STALKERS.

(GUITAR STRUMMING) (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ I CAN'T BE WITH YOU WHENEVER I WANT TO ♪ ♪ I CAN'T CONSOLE YOU WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG ♪ ♪ I CAN'T SAY WITHOUT WORDS THAT I WANT YOU ♪ ♪ BUT I CAN STILL WRITE ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU A SONG ♪ ♪ I CAN'T STOP LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER ♪ ♪ COULDN'T SLOW YOU DOWN ♪ ♪ YOU CANNONBALL ALONG ♪ ♪ I CAN'T STOP WINTER FROM GETTING COLDER ♪ ♪ BUT I CAN STILL WRITE ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU A SONG ♪ (LIVELY GUITAR STRUMMING) (LIVELY GUITAR STRUMMING) ♪ I CAN'T OPEN YOUR HEART WITH A CHURCH KEY ♪ ♪ CAN'T HOLD MY BREATH BY THE PHONE TILL YOU CALL ♪ ♪ YOU SURE AREN'T HERE RIGHT NOW LYING CLOSE BESIDE ME ♪ ♪ BUT I CAN STILL WRITE ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU A SONG ♪ (GENTLE VIOLIN PLAYING) (GENTLE VIOLIN PLAYING) ♪ THERE'S NO LEVER I CAN PULL TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ MY PRAYER BOX IS FULL, STILL NO ANSWERS FROM ABOVE ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ YOU CAN CALL ME CRAZY IF YOU LIKE ♪ ♪ I COULDN'T PROVE YOU WRONG ♪ ♪ I KNOW I SHOULD MOVE ON ♪ ♪ I'M KISSING MY OWN ARM ♪ ♪ AND YOU'RE LONG SINCE GONE ♪ (LIVELY VIOLIN PLAYING) (LIVELY VIOLIN PLAYING) ♪ YEAH, I CAN STILL WRITE, YEAH ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU A SONG ♪ ♪ YEAH, I CAN STILL WRITE ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU ♪ ♪ I CAN STILL WRITE YOU A SONG ♪ ♪ YEAH, I CAN STILL WRITE YOU A SONG ♪ (LIVELY BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - WHEN WE WERE MAKING THE RECORD, THERE WAS A LOT OF HEARTBREAK, AS THERE OFTEN IS ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING ABOUT THE STORY OF MIGRATION, THE STORY THAT WE GREW UP HEARING AS THE GREAT MIGRATION STORY, WE GREW UP CHRISTIAN, IS THE MIGRATION OF THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT.

AND IT'S A STORY THAT KEEPS GOING.

AND IT'S SO HEARTBREAKING.

AND SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT TIME.

IT'S CALLED, "MILES OF DESERT SAND".

(SOMBER VIOLIN PLAYING) (SOMBER VIOLIN PLAYING) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ YEARS OF TROUBLE HERE THAT BIND US ♪ ♪ DANGER CLOSING IN ♪ ♪ ALL WE KNOW WE LEAVE BEHIND US ♪ ♪ AND WE WON'T GO BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ OH MY BROTHER, COME AND TAKE MY HAND ♪ ♪ WE'LL WALK TOGETHER TILL WE REACH THAT PROMISE LAND ♪ ♪ ALL THE SORROW AND THE PAIN HERE ♪ ♪ IS GREATER THAN THE MILES OF DESERT SAND ♪ (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ IN THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY ♪ ♪ THERE'S FRUIT ON EVERY TREE ♪ ♪ OUR FEET BLISTERED AND BLOODY ♪ ♪ BUT OUR CHILDREN WILL BE FREE ♪ ♪ OH MY SISTER, COME AND TAKE MY HAND ♪ ♪ WE'LL WALK TOGETHER INTO THAT PROMISE LAND ♪ ♪ ALL THE PAIN WE LEFT BEHIND US ♪ ♪ IS GREATER THAN THE MILES OF DESERT SAND ♪ (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ GREATER THAN THE MILES ♪ (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (ENERGETIC BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - MAN, THANK YOU, GUYS.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - WE'D LIKE TO DO ONE MORE SONG FOR YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF HUMANS TO PLAY MUSIC FOR.

YOU ARE HUMANS, CORRECT?

YES, ALL RIGHT.

THIS HAS JUST BEEN A PLEASURE.

WE HOPE TO COME BACK REAL SOON.

THIS IS AH... - THIS IS AN OLD CHARLEY JORDAN SONG THAT I HEARD YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

IT'S CALLED, "KEEP IT CLEAN".

(SARA LAUGHS) (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ WELL, I WENT TO THE RIVER ♪ ♪ COULDN'T GET ACROSS ♪ ♪ JUMPED ON YOUR PAPA 'CAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS A HORSE, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ ♪ WELL, UP SHE JUMPED AND DOWN SHE FELL ♪ ♪ HER MOUTH FLEW OPEN LIKE A MUSSEL SHELL, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ YOUR SISTER WAS A TEDDY, YOUR DADDY WAS A BEAR ♪ ♪ PUT A MUZZLE ON YOUR MAMA 'CAUSE SHE HAD BAD HAIR, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) ♪ IF YOU WANNA HEAR THAT ELEPHANT LAUGH ♪ ♪ TAKE HIM DOWN TO THE RIVER AND WASH HIS YES, YES, YES, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ (LIVELY GUITAR PLAYING) (LIVELY GUITAR PLAYING) ♪ IF YOU WANNA GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU D-I-E ♪ ♪ YOU BETTER PUT ON YOUR COLLAR AND YOUR T-I-E, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ ♪ IF YOU WANNA GET THE RABBIT OFF THE L-O-G ♪ ♪ YOU BETTER PUT ON YOUR COLLAR AND YOUR T-I-E, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ (LIVELY VIOLIN PLAYING) (LIVELY VIOLIN PLAYING) (LIVELY GUITAR PLAYING) (LIVELY GUITAR PLAYING) ♪ WELL, RUN HERE, DOCTOR, RUN HERE FAST ♪ ♪ SEE WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HIS YES, YES, YES, NOW ♪ ♪ RIDE HIM OVER, GIVE HIM COCA-COLA ♪ ♪ LEMON SODA, SAUCER OF ICE CREAM ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ ♪ SOAP AND WATER, FOR TO KEEP IT CLEAN ♪ (UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) - AH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU GUYS.

WHAT A PLEASURE.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) ♪ ♪ ♪