At The Purchaser's Option - Rhiannon Giddens at Augusta Vocal Week 2016 

This woman is a unique American treasure. We are extremely fortunate that she has chosen to spend so much effort examining the roots and history of our music within the context of society and culture -- not just Black society and culture (although that has been overlooked for two centuries), but ALL American society and culture. If there were a Hall of Fame for beautiful people (not superficially, but souls), she would get in on the first ballot.

I was in prison in West Virginia and heard Rhiannon on PBS. I heard this song and Julie. Fell in love. Never saw her but a voice from heaven. Used to play with the Carolina chocolate drops. She is exceptional

Highly an emphatic artist: she can put herself into the skin of those who had suffered. Even during the singing, she is immersed in that pain.

I'm a truck driver and love music,I listen to this song at least 20 times a day I love it so much.

That song felt like it was channelled. Her performance was so focused or tranced, it was chilling!

We owe so much to our black citizens - music, dance, etc. Just came from a kidney scan - performed by a kind young black women - who made me feel so comfortable.

She truly plays from her soul and you can hear it in her music.

Beat box over banjo and upright bass!! A musical dream going on here!

She is so much more than a musician.... A beautiful ambassador for women and all of humanity.... What a gift to the world you are my dear! Thank you!

There are no words of praise that would do this justice.. Amazed..

I took a class about African-American history through songs for a week at Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins WV. It was wonderful learning from her and singing with her. I remember being in the audience at this concert and this song touched my heart.

The reason for this song that she give brought me instantly to tears.

She was featured in the most recent Smithsonian Magazine. I had NO idea that she is such a music historian of southern music, especially that of black banjo players. When I saw her picture I said "That's the girl from Nashville!" completely unaware of her real accomplishments in musicology. Even her banjo is an older style, based more on the African instrument it descended from

The intensity of her singing is only equalled by the intensity of the lyrics... truly amazing and deeply moving.

I must say this is actually pretty powerful, I am proud to be an American I am proud to hang my American flag, I am proud to call this lady a fellow American I love what she's doing and I will continue to collect her music and if anybody tries to say else will stuff their head in the toilet. This is one of the best folk singers that I have ever heard in all my days and God has blessed her with a voice for doing so God bless America God bless this young folk song singer. Don't ever let anybody discourage you and don't let nothing come between you and music you are fantastic..

Rhiannon Giddens, you are SO deeply talented. I would like to echo previous commentators: The Soul of that enslaved woman, should she hear your song, I hope would be able to find a measure of peace. This song is wrenching and beautiful.

Beautiful music from a Beautiful woman! Her music touchs the soul!

Some singers and songs burn a hole into your heart and soul. Need I say more !

What an American jewel she is! I'm impressed on several levels and moved by her music, lyric, and style.

What the hell just happened. I have no words . Wow

You are light and pure power. Peace and love to you.

This powerful song distills a historic truth in a way volumes haven’t. Love the background of body sounds and that bass. It’s like a time travel.

Rhiannon, I see your eyes in trance back there with that woman and now with all of us who think they can own us.

I hope the soul of that young Black woman is able to see from her resting place, as a young, free, Black woman sings a song about her and her babe. What would she think? Wouldn't she be amazed?

Thank you Ken Burns for introducing me to this national treasure.

This woman has the spirit of Judah. I've listened to her music and I know the soul and sound of Judah when I hear it and she definitley has it.

Its a fretless Banjo, isn't it or what? This is so great... Im totally in love...

Amazing! That banjo sounds so interesting.

Everything is perfect. The voice, the music, the story. Not often a song or artist can touch me to the depths of my soul. This has done it. Magnificent!!!!!

That's a beautiful banjo and it matches her look and style perfectly. Great song. Heartfelt and compelling

Her music is so amazing live. I saw her in Portland OR in 2017 when she co headlined a tour with Aimee Mann, and she blew me away.

Love this tune.the woman who gave me music recommended it may the road go with you mary

This lady is powerful... her career did not happen overnight.

My soul aches for what was done in the cause of greed.... my lord, the abuse... forgive me Lord

I think I enjoy watching her channel the "character" of the song the most. She does it here. In this video, you can see her transport her own soul to that long-forgotten woman's soul and empathize with her experience. It is pretty amazing.

OMG this is real soul music. What a heartfelt performance. Brilliant lyrics.

She is simply amazing!!!!!! When this virus thing goes away and we can somehow get back to normal I would love to see Rhiannon and her group play in concert. I’ve been watching a lot on RU-vid.

Profoundly moving, thank you for the story behind the song as well as for the song itself.

There are no words, that would do her justice.

Well, I have Ken Burns' Country Music series to thank for introducing me to her! I'm so glad to have found her and her band. What beautiful art. God bless!

Wow!! ...just wow!!

Sultry and soulful and smooth. Man!! Excellent ekphrastic writing and fine execution of an orginal song. Simple and haunting. What a voice! Wow!

Damn! That's deep and I love it!!!

I am SO THANKFUL that this wonderful woman is keeping this memory of a most sad injustice alive !!!!!!

There's a lot going on here. Music, history, love and pain. Very amazing and touching too. All the best from UK.

Thank you beautiful people for sharing true emotions what can i say words not enough to thank you for sharing.

Hauntingly beautiful and sad. I stumbled onto this amazing artist on my side feed showing Irish folk music. She did "Wayfaring Stranger" beautifully and I also found her singing "La Vie en Rose". I am hooked!!

She’s the best thing that could’ve happened to bluegrass music. Her IBMA address was absolutely stunning. This genre has a stereotype (and many adherents to) of racism. The way she is actively educating through her music is wonderful.

What a sad premise for a song. Giddens is a beautiful soul.

Thank you, Augusta Heritage Center, for putting this online! And for bringing black and white traditional musicians together in oldtime, blues & swing, and vocal weeks.

Young American Music Legend - simply beautiful in every sense of the word...

Anyone else immediately start crying when she started singing?

Powerful, powerful lyrics presented so simply. Lyrical melody sung tenderly and simply. My heart breaks.

Ireland is so lucky to have her.

Rhiannon you have such a lovely voice and are an excellent musician. Keep it going.

I could feel that pain in my D.N.A., what a great song

I don't remember having heard a beatboxer functioning like this. It works and dammit, with RGs voice on top it's nice.

One of my favorite artists!

Heartbreaking. And it becomes more heartbreaking when you reflect on how this cruelty lives on today in new forms.

She's a genius. I wish I owned clearplay I'd just have her on repeat for everyone's morning drive on all their stations..

Wow! I'm literally lost for words! Love her beautiful voice!

This lady is an amazing talent but when she plays the banjo it is transcendental.

This is so chilling and sad... Thank you for confronting me with with this, even if it is hard to hear that story. The beauty of the song brings the history to life so vividly.

Epic! Thankyou! Best music i have heard in a looong time! Standing ovation& this is 🏅🏅🏅💜👂👀🙏🤩👏👏👏👏👏💐💐💐💐💐

So much talent in this world that I'm just recently discovering.

Glorious (and tragic) song. And that bass!

A difficult and weighing heavily on the heart piece and with such breathtaking tone. This is the first Rhiannon Giddens piece that I have listened to. Definitely will explore her musical art and storytelling. 🌻

I was at this show...one of the best!

Oh How much I love that music and Miss Giddens

What a powerful message to this humanity! love it.

Wow! Never heard the background of song before - that woman’s groan from the audience says it all!

I love her singing, everything about her.

Beautiful. Awesome. Powerful. I have listened to this song at least ten times, and I am weeping -- every time. I am so grateful that Rhiannon wrote this song. I am so proud of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I am so ashamed of slavery -- not just the institution but the racism. Their incredible music is the the only thing those poor people had -- that and each other which is what the music was all about -- to help maintain their sanity. Seething anger and hatred sustained some. Others maintained themselves through drug addiction. There were others like Friedrich Douglas who were able to rise above it. Rhiannon understands the totality, and the anger and the hatred, and she is able to get beyond that and show us what it felt like. That is a miracle. Those who found Jesus eventually found peace, love and freedom. There were many different stories -- some sad and tragic, some uplifting and inspirational. But the truth is, things went on in the Old South that were as bad as anything the Hitler's SS did in WWII. It was a crime against humanity. You cannot overstate how evil it was, or the violence and damage it did to people. That damage is still with us in some people today. But, also, there are millions of normal, decent, black skinned Americans who are living normal lives too. We just need to resque every precious child we can resque. We can not help the poor girl that inspired this song, but we can help her great great grandchild. Anybody with me?

This song rips my heart out.

You are an awesome person. I'm glad I found your music.

Saw her live in LA last week. JUST WOW!!! SO TALENTED!

on this 4th of July this voice speaks to the nation as a whole

Good Lord! Goosebumps!!!

She made the same statement introducing this song when she played in Sydney, Australia and the crowd made an audible gasp.

Rhiannon: You have a real gift, my dear. A, real, gift.

Beautiful unified creative triad raising our consciousness in what we continue to do to each other blindly to benefit no one!😢

Least we Forget... The 1st thought came into my mind while listening to this was my Grandmother's stories she use to share with me ............. One of the most profound stories was : The red stripes on the American flag represented the blood that use to run down their faces after getting beat by the police , ....... The stars was what they seen when they got hit in their head with the sticks........ and the white part was the obvious : She said don't ever give allegiance to a flag that ( HATE ) you , give allegiance to " THE MOST HIGH GOD " who will deliver you from the hand of your enemy and land of captivity ./ but the Lord laughs them to scorn And they shall afterward become dishonored corpses and an unceasing mockery among the dead,. For he shall strike them down speechless and prostrate and rock them to their foundations; They shall be utterly laid waste and shall be in grief and their memory shall perish.

I was reading Garden & Gun when I saw she was named a Southern Hero. She is amazing.

this beautiful woman is living magic 🎼🎻

I keep coming back for this.

I am weeping. This is absolutely amazing.

Beautiful! Sad! I am crying!

Wow just wow !!!!

Oh dearest Rhiannon Giddens, I fell in love with your talent. How I wish I can meet you even if it is gonna be brief in life. muah😘😍

I could watch her incredible hands forever.

What an incredible talent this beautiful lady is! I have a wish! Maybe they both will read this and do it: I wish to see Rhiannon in a co-operation with the equally beautiful and talented Tracy Chapman! Wouldn't that be something?

Absolutely fantastic she is one of a kind

WOW, please stay as pure as this sounds, love it! Thank you.

This, is what music is about... Love her spirit.

Just excellent you are a one of a kind !!!This song I feel in my soul !

Mercy she’s incredible! 🙏

The best of the best

Thank you for posting this track! Appropriate for al this craziness.

good , good , or even the best 💜

Voice to literally die for