Amythyst Kiah Performs “Wild Turkey” in Mother’s Memory
Clip: Episode 2 | 4m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Grammy-nominated artist Amythyst Kiah performs “Wild Turkey,” a tribute to her mother.
Dulé Hill meets Amythyst Kiah, a Grammy-nominated musician from Appalachia. Amythyst shares how she processed her grief from the loss of her mother to suicide with a moving performance of her song, “Wild Turkey.”
This program was made possible by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation.
Amythyst Kiah Performs “Wild Turkey” in Mother’s Memory
Clip: Episode 2 | 4m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill meets Amythyst Kiah, a Grammy-nominated musician from Appalachia. Amythyst shares how she processed her grief from the loss of her mother to suicide with a moving performance of her song, “Wild Turkey.”
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[Playing "Wild Turkey"] ♪ ♪ Late at night when I feel alone ♪ ♪ I cry in darkness, screaming to the unknown ♪ ♪ 'Cause she's never coming back ♪ ♪ No, she's never coming back ♪ ♪ Body and water for days and days ♪ ♪ Hopes for a safe return, my hopes in vain ♪ ♪ 'Cause she's never coming back ♪ ♪ No, she's never coming back... ♪ Phillips: The moment I found out she was a budding singer-songwriter was when her mother died.
She said she was going to work, and I called work.
She hadn't showed up, and she left a note in my truck.
Kiah: ♪ Tried so hard to be an automaton ♪ ♪ Body of steel and wired circuits for my backbone ♪ ♪ 'Cause she's never coming back ♪ ♪ No, she's never coming back ♪ ♪ Wild Turkey in the car seat ♪ ♪ The bottle's empty ♪ ♪ I hope it gave her some relief ♪ ♪ 'Cause she's never coming back... ♪ When they found the car at the Tennessee River with the bottle of Wild Turkey empty, the detective asked my dad, "Did your wife drink?"
We honestly have no idea what all she was doing to cope with things.
♪ Stayed numb for years to escape despair ♪ ♪ When your soul dies ♪ ♪ You just can't hide it ♪ ♪ Everyone can tell ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord, will I ever feel?
♪ ♪ Phillips: She walked off in the river... ♪ and that's the last day I saw her.
Kiah: With depression, it's crazy how distorted your thinking becomes.
If you could hang in there for a couple more days or, like, maybe go talk to somebody, then maybe you'd feel differently.
♪ ♪ When I was 17 ♪ ♪ I pretended not to care... ♪ Phillips: At the funeral, she got up.
She wrote a song, and she sang the song at her mother's funeral.
Kiah: ♪ When your soul dies ♪ ♪ You just can't hide it ♪ ♪ Everyone can tell ♪ ♪ Oh, Lord, will I ever feel ♪ ♪ Will I ever feel ♪ ♪ Right again?
♪ ♪
Amythyst Kiah Performs “Empire of Love” Live in Raleigh
Video has Closed Captions
Amythyst Kiah performs “Empire of Love” live at the North Carolina Museum of Art. (2m 6s)
Video has Closed Captions
Dulé Hill explores how music can provide solace and healing in Appalachia. (30s)
Dulé Meets Master Luthier Doug Naselroad
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Dulé Hill learns how stringed instrument making can help those in recovery for addiction. (2m 27s)
Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop Perform “Hermano Migrante”
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Musicians Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop perform “Hermano Migrante.” (2m 47s)
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This program was made possible by a grant from Anne Ray Foundation.