Rhiannon Giddens With Jason Isbell: “Yet to Be”
Two of the best singer-songwriters in the business together at last, with a powerful new song and video.
Rhiannon Giddens’ “Yet to Be,” featuring Jason Isbell, from the upcoming album, ‘You’re the One,’ due August 18 on Nonesuch Records. Pre-order now at rhiannongiddens.lnk.to
Video by Robert Edridge-Waks
Original visuals from Library of Congress, National Archives, State Library and Archives of Florida, National Library of Ireland
Prelinger Archives “Home Movies: Can 11281: Cross-Country Road Trip, Visit to New York City and New York World’s Fair, ca. 1964-65” (CC-BY-3.0)
Prelinger Archives “Home Movies: Can 11269: Detroit Family Scenes and Vacation” (CC-BY-3.0)
Prelinger Archives “Home Movies: Can 11283: Niagara Falls, Home Scenes, Birthday Party” (CC-BY-3.0)YET TO BE
(Rhiannon Giddens/Marcus Hummon)She was born on a farm
Working the clay
She ran off when she was 16
Down a long country road
With nowhere to go
She knew that she had to leaveShe hopped a one-way train
With a ticket to ride
In the third class back with the others
She watched the farm fade away
Just hoping and praying
She’d have a better life than her mother’sIt’s a long long way from where we’ve been
The here and now is better than it was back then
Today may break your heart
But tomorrow holds the key
We’ve come so far but the best is yet to beHe was born on the farm
But he didn’t wanna stay
His daddy said he was a fool
So he crept away in the dead of night
And got a steamer out of LiverpoolIt’s far far away from the green fields at home
To the wild Atlantic gray
He was hoping for work and he prayed for the love
Waiting half a world awayIt’s a long long way from where we’ve been
The here and now is better than it was back then
Today may break your heart
But tomorrow holds the key
We’ve come so far but the best is yet to beShe was mopping the floor
He was working the bar
It was a divine collision of the human heart
It was east of her and west of him
They were wishing on the same bright star
And then the baby was a brand new startIn the hollow of his hand
The road is rising up to meet them