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American Utopia (2020) – Transcript

Spike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name.
American Utopia (2020)

American Utopia is a 2020 American concert film directed and produced by Spike Lee, from a screenplay by David Byrne. The film is a live recording of a Broadway performance of a modified version of the album American Utopia, including several songs and contributions from throughout Byrne’s career. Byrne performs alongside 11 musicians, all performing with wireless or portable equipment.

 

 

(birds chirping)

(indistinct conversations)

(cheering and applause)

(“Here” by David Byrne playing)

(slow uplifting music)

(cheering continues)

(soft drumming joins music)

♪ Here is a region ♪

♪ Of abundant details ♪

♪ Here is a region ♪

♪ That is seldom used ♪

♪ And here is a region ♪

♪ That continues living ♪

♪ Even when the other ♪

♪ Sections are removed ♪

♪ Put your hand out of your pocket ♪

♪ Wipe the sweat off of your brow ♪

♪ Now it feels like a bad connection ♪

♪ No more information now ♪

♪ As it passes through your neurons ♪

♪ Like a whisper in the dark ♪

♪ Raise your eyes to one who loves you ♪

♪ It is safe right where you are ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Here is an area ♪

♪ Of great confusion ♪

♪ Here is a section ♪

♪ That’s extremely precise ♪

♪ And here is an area ♪

♪ That needs attention ♪

♪ Here’s the connection ♪

♪ To the opposite side ♪

(vocalizing)

♪ Here, too many sounds ♪

♪ For your brain to comprehend ♪

♪ Here the sound gets organized ♪

♪ Into things that make some sense ♪

♪ Here there is something ♪

♪ We call hallucination ♪

♪ Is it the truth ♪

♪ Or merely a description? ♪

♪ Here ♪

(audience cheering)

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you for… Thank you for leaving your homes.

(audience laughs)

My name’s David Byrne.

-(audience cheering) -Thank you.

I can’t take any credit for that.

I had no choice in the matter.

I read something, well, kinda surprising

and amazing the other day.

I read that babies’ brains

have hundreds of millions more neural connections

than we do as adults,

and that as we grow up,

we lose these connections.

So I wondered to myself, what does this mean?

(scatter laughter)

Does this mean that babies are smarter than we are

and that as we grow up,

we get stupider and stupider

until we reach a…

a plateau of stupidity?

Which is where most of us are now.

Well…

♪ ♪

what happens is…

we keep the connections that are useful to us,

and, yes, there’s a process of pruning and elimination,

and we get rid of a lot of the others

until the ones that are left

define who we are as a person,

who we are as people.

They define how we perceive the world,

and the world appears

to make some kinda sense to us.

And maybe round about that time

we start asking ourselves various questions

like, “Who am I?

“What do I want?

-“How do I work this? -(laughter)

“What are those people doing over there?

“Should I be doing that?

“Are they looking at me?

“Are they like me?

“Should I go over and talk to them?

Huh, maybe not.”

Try to figure this out,

wondering if there’s,

you know, wondering if there’s a logic to it

and wondering if it’s supposed to make some kinda sense.

(“I Know Sometimes a Man Is Wrong” playing)

♪ I know sometimes a man is wrong ♪

♪ I know sometimes I do believe ♪

♪ I know sometimes a man is wrong ♪

♪ I’ll be wrong ♪

♪ Until you’re next to me ♪

♪ I know sometimes ♪

♪ The world is wrong ♪

♪ I know sometimes I do believe ♪

♪ I know sometimes ♪

♪ The world is wrong ♪

♪ They’ll be wrong ♪

♪ Until you’re next to me ♪

♪ They’ll be wrong ♪

♪ Until you’re next to me ♪

(vocalizing)

(“Don’t Worry About the Government” playing)

-(peppy music) -(audience cheering, applauding)

♪ I see the clouds that move across the sky ♪

♪ I see the wind that moves the clouds away ♪

♪ It moves the clouds over by the building ♪

♪ I pick the building that I want to live in ♪

♪ I smell the pine trees and the peaches in the woods ♪

♪ I see the pine cones that fall by the highway ♪

♪ That’s the highway that goes to the building ♪

♪ That’s the building that I want to live in ♪

♪ It’s over there ♪

♪ My building has every convenience ♪

♪ It’s gonna make life easy for me ♪

♪ It’s gonna be easy to get things done ♪

♪ I will relax alone with my loved ones ♪

♪ Loved ones, loved ones ♪

♪ Visit the building ♪

♪ Take the highway, park ♪

♪ And come up and see me ♪

♪ I’ll be working, working ♪

♪ But if you come visit ♪

♪ I’ll put down what I’m doing ♪

♪ My friends are important ♪

♪ Don’t you worry ’bout me ♪

♪ I wouldn’t worry about me ♪

♪ Don’t you worry ’bout me ♪

♪ Don’t you worry ’bout me ♪

♪ I see the states across this big nation ♪

♪ I see the laws made in Washington, D.C. ♪

♪ I think of the ones I consider my favorites ♪

♪ I think of the people that are working for me ♪

♪ Some civil servants are just like my loved ones ♪

♪ They work so hard, and they try to be strong ♪

♪ I’m a lucky guy to live in my building ♪

♪ They own these buildings to help them along ♪

♪ It’s over there ♪

♪ My building has every convenience ♪

♪ It’s gonna make life easy for me ♪

♪ It’s gonna be easy to get things done ♪

♪ I will relax along with my loved ones ♪

♪ Loved ones, loved ones ♪

♪ Visit the building ♪

♪ Take the highway, park ♪

♪ And come up and see me ♪

♪ I’ll be working, working ♪

♪ But if you come visit ♪

♪ I’ll put down what I’m doing ♪

♪ My friends are important ♪

♪ Don’t you worry ’bout me ♪

♪ I wouldn’t worry about me ♪

♪ Don’t you worry ’bout me ♪

♪ Don’t you worry ’bout ♪

♪ Me ♪

(audience cheering)

(“Lazy” playing)

(upbeat electronic music)

(audience cheering)

♪ I’m ♪

♪ Wicked and I’m lazy ♪

♪ Oh-oh, don’t you wanna save me? ♪

♪ I’m lazy when I’m lovin’ ♪

♪ I’m lazy when I play ♪

♪ I’m lazy with my girlfriend 1,000 times a day ♪

♪ I’m lazy when I’m speaking ♪

♪ I’m lazy when I talk ♪

♪ I’m lazy when I’m dancin’ ♪

♪ And I’m lazy when I walk ♪

♪ I open up my mouth ♪

-♪ Air comes rushing out ♪ -(air whooshes)

♪ Nothing doing, nada, never ♪

♪ How you like me now? ♪

♪ Wouldn’t it be mad? ♪

♪ Wouldn’t it be fine? ♪

♪ Lazy, lucky lady dancin’, loving all the time? ♪

♪ Oh, I’m wicked and I’m lazy ♪

♪ Oh-oh, don’t you wanna save me? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Imagine there’s a girlfriend ♪

♪ Imagine there’s a job ♪

♪ Imagine there’s an answer ♪

♪ Imagine there’s a God ♪

♪ Imagine I’m a devil ♪

♪ Imagine I’m a saint ♪

♪ Lazy money, lazy sexy, lazy outta space ♪

♪ No tears are falling from my eyes ♪

♪ I’m keeping all the pain inside ♪

♪ Now, don’t you wanna live with me? ♪

♪ I’m lazy as a man can be ♪

♪ Oh, I’m wicked and I’m lazy ♪

♪ Oh-oh, don’t you wanna save me? ♪

♪ Lazy when I work, lazy all the day ♪

♪ Screaming all you like ♪

♪ But it only fades away ♪

♪ I’m lazy when I’m praying ♪

♪ Lazy on the job ♪

♪ Got a lazy mind, a lazy eye ♪

♪ A lazy, lazy father ♪

♪ Hard men ♪

♪ Hard lives ♪

♪ Hard keeping it all inside ♪

♪ Good times ♪

♪ Good God ♪

♪ So lazy I almost stop ♪

(music stops)

(audience cheering, applauding)

♪ Oh, I’m wicked and I’m lazy ♪

♪ Oh-oh, don’t you wanna save me? ♪

♪ Oh, I’m wicked and I’m lazy ♪

♪ Oh-oh, don’t you wanna save me? ♪

♪ ♪

(music stops)

(cheering)

Thank you.

You know,

meeting people is hard,

but I know…

I know we have to do it.

These people over here,

they all met through apps.

(scattered laughter)

Totally working for them.

These people over here…

don’t need apps.

They’re just supremely confident.

(scattered cheers)

Well, some of ’em might be bluffing.

Some of ’em might be putting up a front

but that doesn’t matter

’cause it’s all working for them.

Meanwhile I’m…

Well, you know, observing,

trying to figure this out.

-Objectively… -(light guitar strumming)

objectively I could never figure out why,

why looking at a person

should be any more interesting

than looking at any other thing,

like, say, a bicycle or a beautiful sunset

or, mm, nice bag of potato chips.

But, yeah, looking at people?

That’s the best.

(“This Must Be the Place” playing)

-(playful lively music) -(audience cheering)

♪ Home is where I want to be ♪

♪ Pick me up and turn me round ♪

♪ I feel numb ♪

♪ Born with a weak heart ♪

♪ Guess I must be having fun ♪

♪ The less we say about it the better ♪

♪ Make it up as we go along ♪

♪ Feet on the ground ♪

♪ Head in the sky ♪

♪ It’s okay ♪

♪ I know nothing’s wrong ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ Hi yo ♪

♪ I got plenty of time ♪

♪ Hi yo ♪

♪ You got light in your eyes ♪

♪ And you’re standing here beside me ♪

♪ I love the passing of time ♪

♪ Never for money ♪

♪ Always for love ♪

♪ Cover up and say good night ♪

♪ Say good night ♪

(audience cheering)

♪ ♪

♪ Home is where I want to be ♪

♪ But I guess I’m already there ♪

♪ I come home ♪

♪ She lifted up her wings ♪

♪ I guess that this must be the place ♪

♪ I can’t tell one from another ♪

♪ Did I find you or you find me? ♪

♪ There was a time before we were born ♪

♪ If someone asks, this is where I’ll be ♪

♪ Where I’ll be ♪

♪ Hi yo ♪

♪ We drift in and out ♪

♪ Hi yo ♪

♪ Sing into my mouth ♪

♪ Out of all those kinds of people ♪

♪ You got a face with a view ♪

♪ I’m just an animal looking for a home ♪

♪ And share the same space for a minute or two ♪

♪ And you love me till my heart stops ♪

(music stops)

(audience cheering, applauding)

(music resumes)

♪ Love me till I’m dead ♪

♪ Eyes that light up ♪

♪ Eyes look through you ♪

♪ Cover up the blank spots ♪

♪ Hit me on the head ♪

♪ I got… ♪

(vocalizing)

♪ Ah, ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Ah, ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Ah, ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

(cheering)

Thank you!

(cheering continues)

Thank you.

There’s more.

(audience laughs)

My friend Brian Eno suggested that we use

a nonsense poem by a Dada artist

as the lyrics for this next song,

which we did.

I was familiar with a different Dada artist

who also wrote nonsense poetry.

His name was Kurt Schwitters,

and he recorded one of these in 1932.

It was called the “Ursonate,”

the primeval sonate.

Schwitters and some of the others in the…

this group were, well…

they were using nonsense to make sense

of a world that didn’t make sense.

To help explain a little bit what that means,

here’s a little bit of the “Ursonate.”

(speaking nonsensical syllables)

(electronic music playing)

(continues speaking nonsensical syllables)

It goes on like that for 40 minutes.

(audience laughs)

It’d be a different kinda movie.

The world they were trying to make sense of, it…

Yes, it was pretty crazy.

Uh, there had recently been an economic crash.

Uh, the Nazis were coming to power.

This is 1932,

and quite a few of the countries they lived in

were sliding into fascism.

The Dada artist Hugo Ball said that their artistic aims

were to remind the world

that there are people of different, independent minds

beyond war and nationalism

who live for different ideals.

(audience cheering)

Hugo Ball wrote the words to this next song.

(“I Zimbra” playing)

(upbeat guitar, rhythmic clapping)

♪ ♪

(audience cheering)

♪ Gadji beri bimba clandridi ♪

♪ Lauli lonni cadori gadjam ♪

♪ A Bim beri glassala glandride glassala ♪

♪ Tuffm, I zimbra ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Bim blassa galassasa zimbrabim ♪

♪ Blassa glallassasa zimbrabim ♪

♪ A bim beri glassala grandrid e glassala ♪

♪ Tuffm, I zimbra ♪

♪ Gadji beri bimba glandridi ♪

♪ Lauli lonni cadori gadjam ♪

♪ A bim beri glassala glandrid ♪

♪ E glassala tuffm ♪

♪ I zimbra ♪

♪ ♪

(audience cheering, applauding)

Whoo!

(“Slippery People” playing)

(lively electronic music)

♪ ♪

♪ What about the time? ♪

♪ You were rollin’ over ♪

♪ Fall on your face ♪

♪ You must be having fun ♪

♪ Walk lightly ♪

♪ Think of a time ♪

♪ You’d best believe that this thing is real ♪

♪ Now put away that gun ♪

♪ This part is simple ♪

♪ Try to recognize what is in your mind ♪

♪ God help us, help us lose our minds ♪

♪ These slippery people, help us understand ♪

♪ What’s the matter with him? ♪

♪ He’s all right ♪

-♪ How do you know? ♪ -♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ Don’t know no games ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

♪ Love from the bottom to the top ♪

-♪ Turn like a wheel ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

♪ See for yourself ♪

♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ We’re gonna move ♪ -♪ Right now ♪

♪ Turn like a wheel inside a wheel ♪

♪ I remember when ♪

♪ Sitting in the tub ♪

♪ Pulled out the plug ♪

♪ The water was running out ♪

♪ Cool down ♪

♪ Stop acting crazy ♪

♪ They’re gonna leave ♪

♪ And we’ll be on our own now ♪

♪ Seven times five ♪

♪ They were living creatures ♪

♪ Watch ’em come to life ♪

♪ Right before your eyes ♪

♪ Backsliding ♪

♪ How do you do? ♪

♪ These slippery people ♪

♪ Gonna see you through ♪

-♪ What’s the matter with him? ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

-♪ How do you know? ♪ -♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ Don’t know no games ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

♪ Love from the bottom to the top ♪

-♪ Turn like a wheel ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

-♪ See for yourself ♪ -♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ We’re gonna move ♪ -♪ Right now ♪

-♪ Turn like a wheel ♪ -♪ Inside a wheel ♪

♪ ♪

(audience cheering)

♪ Bi, b-b-bi, b-bi, b-bi ♪

♪ B-b-bi, b-b-bi, bi-bi b-bi ♪

♪ Bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi ♪

♪ B-b-bi, b-b-bi, b-bi, bi, b-bi ♪

♪ Bi, b-b-bi, b-bi, b-bi ♪

♪ B-b-bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, b-bi ♪

♪ Bi, b-b-bi, bi, b-b-bi ♪

♪ Bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi, bi ♪

♪ What’s the matter with him? ♪

-♪ He’s all right ♪ -♪ How do you know? ♪

-♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪ -♪ Don’t know no games ♪

-♪ He’s all right ♪ -♪ And we’re going to the top ♪

-♪ Turn like a wheel ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

-♪ See for yourself ♪ -♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ We’re gonna move ♪ -♪ Right now ♪

♪ Turn like a wheel inside a wheel ♪

♪ What’s the matter with him? ♪

-♪ He’s all right ♪ -♪ How do you know? ♪

♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ Don’t know no games ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

♪ Love from the bottom to the top ♪

-♪ Turn like a wheel ♪ -♪ He’s all right ♪

-♪ See for yourself ♪ -♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

-♪ We’re gonna move ♪ -♪ Right now ♪

♪ Turn like a wheel inside a wheel ♪

♪ It’s all right ♪

♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

♪ It’s all right ♪

♪ Love from the bottom to the top ♪

♪ It’s all right ♪

♪ The Lord won’t mind ♪

♪ Right now ♪

♪ Turn like a wheel inside a wheel ♪

(cheering)

David Byrne: Thank you!

(cheering continues)

Whoo!

Thank you.

In 1976, the band I was in, Talking Heads, got…

we got a record contract.

(audience cheering)

Okay…

Thank you. It was a contract but not for very much money.

(audience laughs)

I spent some of my money

on a Sony Trinitron color television.

The screen was about that big,

but it was, it was state-of-the-art in those days.

I must have still been a little bit,

a little bit isolated,

still trying to figure things out,

and I had an idea that to help with that,

I should watch more TV.

(audience laughs)

Okay, I saw the TV as being a kind of window,

and I would see the hopes and dreams

and aspirations and foibles of my fellow Americans,

and I might learn something about myself as well,

and maybe,

maybe I’d get some answers to those questions

that I was asking myself earlier.

And I wondered to myself,

did the TV contain those millions of lost connections

between me and them and them and me?

(“I Should Watch TV” playing)

(techno music)

♪ I used to think that I should watch TV ♪

♪ I used to think that it was good for me ♪

♪ Wanted to know what folks were thinking ♪

♪ To understand the land I live in ♪

♪ And I would lose myself ♪

♪ And it would set me free ♪

♪ This is the place where common people go ♪

♪ A global franchise ♪

♪ One department store ♪

♪ Yes, there were many awkward moments ♪

♪ I had to do some self-atonement ♪

♪ Well, if I opened up ♪

♪ Well, it would set me free ♪

♪ I know, I like ♪

♪ Behold and love this giant ♪

♪ Big soul, big lips ♪

♪ That’s me, and I am this ♪

♪ Everybody gets a touched-up hairdo ♪

♪ Everybody’s in the passing lane ♪

♪ Had a reason they can touch all channels ♪

♪ The weird things that live in there ♪

♪ ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ I took a walk ♪

♪ Down to the park today ♪

♪ I wrote a song called “Just Like You and Me” ♪

♪ I heard the jokes from the sports reporters ♪

♪ The rival teams when they faced each other ♪

♪ The more I lost myself ♪

♪ The more it set me free ♪

♪ ♪

♪ How am I not your brother? ♪

♪ How are you not like me? ♪

♪ Everybody’s in the hotel lobby ♪

♪ I’m living in here Yes, I am ♪

♪ I feel it moving in my arms and fingers ♪

♪ Touch me and feel my pain ♪

♪ ♪

♪ All right It’s good to lose ♪

♪ And it’s good to win sometimes ♪

♪ It’s good to die and it’s good to be alive ♪

♪ Maybe someday we can stand together ♪

♪ Not afraid of what our eyes might see ♪

♪ Maybe someday understand them better ♪

♪ The weird things inside of me ♪

-(music ends) -(audience cheering)

About a year ago,

I invited a high school choir in Detroit, Michigan,

to do an interpretation of this next song.

The song’s called “Everybody’s Coming to My House.”

(audience cheering)

Thank you.

And in my version,

and that’s the version you’re gonna hear…

(scattered laughter)

It… It kinda sounds like

the singer is not sure how he feels

about everybody coming over to his house.

And you can sense, although he never says it in the song,

you can sense that he’s thinking,

“When are they gonna leave?”

(audience laughing)

In contrast, their version…

And this was kind of a profound thing for me.

They didn’t change a single lyric.

They didn’t change the melody,

and yet their version has a completely different meaning.

Their version seems to be about welcome,

inviting everyone over, inclusion.

I kinda liked their version better,

and I didn’t know how they did it.

Unfortunately, I am what I am.

(audience laughing)

(audience cheering, applauding)

Not sure how to take that applause.

-(audience laughing) -(man yells)

We have people from many parts of the world in this band.

Uh, I myself, I’m a naturalized citizen.

I… My parents brought me over from Scotland when I was little.

-Man: Yeah! -(cheering)

We have people from Brazil, France, Colombia.

Most of us are immigrants, and we couldn’t do it without them.

(cheering)

(“Everybody’s Coming to My House” playing)

♪ ♪

♪ I wish I was a camera ♪

♪ I wish I was a postcard ♪

♪ I welcome you to my house ♪

♪ You didn’t have to go far ♪

♪ Well, there’s a house and a garden ♪

♪ There are plants and trees ♪

♪ Make a closer inspection ♪

♪ If you get, get down on your knees ♪

♪ Now, everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ And I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ Yeah, everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ And they’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ I’m pointing and describing ♪

♪ And I can be your guide ♪

♪ The skin is just a road map ♪

♪ The view is very nice ♪

♪ Imagine looking at a picture ♪

♪ Imagine driving in a car ♪

♪ Imagine rolling down the window ♪

♪ Imagine opening the door ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And they’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ ♪

♪ We’re only tourists in this life ♪

♪ Only tourists, but the view is nice ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ No, we’re never gonna go back home ♪

(guitar solo)

♪ We’re only tourists in this life ♪

♪ Only tourists, but the view is nice ♪

♪ And everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ And I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ Yeah, everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ And they’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And they’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And they’re never gonna go back home ♪

(audience cheering, applauding)

(“Once in a Lifetime” playing)

(uplifting music)

(cheering continues)

(music intensifies)

♪ You may find yourself living in a shotgun shack ♪

♪ You may find yourself in another part of the world ♪

♪ You may find yourself ♪

♪ Behind the wheel of a large automobile ♪

♪ You may find yourself in a beautiful house ♪

♪ With a beautiful wife ♪

♪ You may ask yourself ♪

♪ “Well, how did I get here?” ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Let the water hold me down ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Into the blue again ♪

♪ After the money’s gone ♪

♪ Once in a lifetime ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ And you may ask yourself ♪

♪ “How do I work this?” ♪

♪ You may ask yourself ♪

“Well, where is that large automobile?” ♪

♪ You may tell yourself ♪

♪ “This is not my beautiful house” ♪

♪ You may tell yourself ♪

♪ “This is not my beautiful wife” ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Let the water hold me down ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Into the blue again ♪

♪ After the money’s gone ♪

♪ Once in a lifetime ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Same as it ever was ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Water dissolving and water removing ♪

♪ There is water at the bottom of the ocean ♪

-♪ Remove the water ♪ -(song echoing)

♪ Carry the water ♪

♪ Remove the water ♪

♪ From the bottom of the ocean ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Let the water hold me down ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Into the blue again ♪

♪ Into the silent water ♪

♪ Under the rocks and stones ♪

♪ There is water underground ♪

♪ You may ask yourself ♪

♪ “What is that beautiful house?” ♪

♪ You may ask yourself ♪

“Well, where does that highway lead to?”

♪ You may ask yourself ♪

“Am I right? Am I wrong?”

♪ You may say to yourself ♪

“My God, what have I done?”

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Let the water hold me down ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Into the blue again ♪

♪ Into the silent water ♪

♪ Under the rocks and stones ♪

♪ There is water underground ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Let the water hold me down ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Into the blue again ♪

♪ After the money’s gone ♪

♪ Once in a lifetime ♪

♪ Water flowing underground ♪

♪ Same as it ever was ♪

♪ ♪

(cheering)

♪ Time isn’t holding us ♪

♪ Time isn’t after us ♪

♪ Time isn’t holding us ♪

♪ Time isn’t after us ♪

♪ Here comes the twister now ♪

♪ Here it comes, here it comes ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Once in a lifetime ♪

♪ Letting the days go by ♪

♪ Once in a lifetime ♪

(drumroll)

-(cheering) -Whoo!

Whoo!

(cheering continues)

Thank you!

(whooping)

(man whistles)

(drum beating)

(“Glass, Concrete & Stone” playing)

(soft instrumental music playing)

♪ Now I’m waking at the break of dawn ♪

♪ To send a little money home ♪

♪ From here to the moon ♪

♪ Is rising like a discotheque ♪

♪ And now my bags are down and packed for traveling ♪

♪ Looking at happiness ♪

♪ Keeping my flavor fresh ♪

♪ Nobody knows, I guess, how far I’ll go ♪

♪ I know, so I’m leaving at six o’clock ♪

♪ Meet in a parking lot ♪

♪ Harriet Hendershot ♪

♪ Sunglasses on ♪

♪ She waits by this ♪

♪ Glass and concrete and stone ♪

♪ And it’s just a house ♪

♪ Not a home ♪

♪ Skin that covers me from head to toe ♪

♪ Except a couple tiny holes ♪

♪ And openings ♪

♪ Where the city’s blowing in and out ♪

♪ And this is what it’s all about ♪

♪ Delightfully ♪

♪ Everything’s possible when you’re an animal ♪

♪ Not inconceivable how things can change ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ So I’m putting on aftershave ♪

♪ Nothing is out of place ♪

♪ Gonna be on my way ♪

♪ Try to pretend ♪

♪ It’s not only ♪

♪ Glass and concrete and stone ♪

♪ And it’s just a house ♪

♪ Not a home ♪

♪ And my head ♪

♪ Is 50 feet high ♪

♪ Let my body and soul ♪

♪ Be my guide ♪

(scatting)

-(music ends) -Man: Whoo.

(audience cheering, applauding)

Thank you.

In 2016, just before the election,

I went to Charlotte, North Carolina,

to encourage people to register if they weren’t registered,

to encourage them to vote if they were registered.

-The election was in a couple of days. -(applause)

We do something similar here.

We’ve partnered with an organization called HeadCount.

They have a table in the lobby.

They’ll register you instantly,

instantly, no matter what state you’re from.

We also did a thing called a pledge.

The pledge consists of a clipboard

and a piece of paper,

and I would go up to people and go,

“Are you gonna vote tomorrow?

“Will you sign this piece of paper

saying that you’re gonna vote tomorrow?”

This is not a legal document.

It was just a piece of paper,

but it’s been shown that

when people put their name down,

it was like they’d made a promise to themselves,

and it increased the odds

that they would actually turn up.

The turnout for that election

was the best it had been in decades.

(audience cheering, applauding)

Fifty-five percent of us turned out to vote.

(laughter)

Okay.

Local elections are another matter.

Local elections, the average turnout is 20%.

To give you a visual idea of what 20% looks like,

here are 20% of the people in this theater.

Here they are.

These are the ones that vote in local elections.

The ones up top are waving and laughing

because, well, they just decided your future

and the future of your children.

But you guys seem to be okay with that.

(scattered laughter)

Here’s another little bit of information.

The average age of the people who turn out

to vote in local elections,

that 20%, is 57 years of age.

-Whoo! -Oh!

There we go.

Hey. (laughs)

Congratulations.

(audience laughs)

Okay, yeah, but 57?

Climate change, right?

Kids…

you’re fucked.

We gotta do better than 20%, really.

(cheering)

Local elections do make a difference.

We gotta do better than 55% too.

(cheering continues)

(“Toe Jam” playing)

(peppy music)

♪ ♪

(scatting)

♪ I was asked in New York City ♪

♪ “Do you like my clothes?” ♪

♪ I’m talking to my tape recorder ♪

♪ Walking down the road ♪

♪ But on Friday night I’m purified ♪

♪ Now my feet don’t touch the floor ♪

♪ When the rubber meets the road in between my toes ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Every day is fucking perfect ♪

♪ It’s a paradise ♪

♪ I watch my life like it’s a movie ♪

♪ I had to watch it twice ♪

♪ Now, a boy looks at a girl ♪

♪ And a girl looks like a pony ♪

♪ She gallops all day long ♪

♪ In between my toes ♪

♪ And now every night she’s purified ♪

♪ She don’t do that dance no more ♪

♪ When the rubber meets the road in between my toes ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ A member of the Juju Nation ♪

♪ Down in New Orleans ♪

♪ You don’t need an application ♪

♪ If you move your feet ♪

♪ Explode if you poke it ♪

♪ Exposed on the floor ♪

♪ It grows if you soak it ♪

♪ It rolls out the door ♪

♪ Now it’s summertime every night ♪

♪ Now my feet don’t touch the floor ♪

♪ She don’t do that dance no more in between my toes ♪

♪ And now him and you, you and I ♪

♪ I don’t do that dance no more ♪

♪ When the rubber meets the road in between my toes ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na ♪

♪ ♪

(gibberish)

♪ The lady starts to sing ♪

♪ But she ain’t no disco dancer ♪

♪ She learned to shake her thing ♪

♪ In between my toes ♪

♪ Explode if you poke it ♪

♪ Exposed on the floor ♪

♪ It grows if you soak it ♪

♪ It rolls out the door ♪

♪ Explode if you poke it ♪

♪ Exposed on the floor ♪

-♪ It grows if you soak it ♪ -♪ Na, na, na, na ♪

-♪ Na, na, na ♪ -♪ It rolls out the door ♪

(cheering)

Whoo!

Thank you.

In 2018, we toured a concert version of this show,

and we played a lot of places.

We played San Antonio twice.

So a friend of mine came to the show,

and we were talking backstage,

and he asked me,

“Are you really playing all that music that we hear,

“or do you have, you know, playback and tracks

and stuff like that?”

And I said, “I have nothing against playback and tracks,

“but in this case everything you hear

“coming off the stage

is being played by this incredible band.”

(audience cheering, applauding)

David: Whoo!

(cheering continues)

I figured other people were maybe thinking the same thoughts

as my friend was thinking,

so I’ve continued to tell this story,

but it’s not enough.

Journalists and reporters will…

they email, and would call my office, and they go,

“I know what he says from the stage,

“but really?

Really?”

So I thought, “Okay, we have to put this matter to rest.”

To do that, I’m gonna introduce the band,

and as I do so, you’re gonna hear

how the next song is put together

right in front of your ears.

(audience cheering)

From New York City, Daniel Freedman!

♪ ♪

Toronto, Canada, Jacquelene Acevedo!

♪ ♪

Red Bank, New Jersey, Tim Keiper!

♪ ♪

Bahia, Brazil, Gustavo di Dalva!

♪ ♪

Joacaba, Brazil, Mauro Refosco!

♪ ♪

Montpellier, France, Stephane San Juan!

♪ ♪

Chicago, Bobby Wooten!

♪ ♪

Milwaukee, Angie Swan!

♪ ♪

Palo Alto, Karl Mansfield!

♪ ♪

Atlanta, Georgia, Tendayi Kuumba!

(audience cheering)

Paramus, New Jersey, Chris Giarmo!

(cheering continues)

(mouths) Thank you.

(“Born Under Punches” playing)

♪ All I want is to breathe ♪

♪ Won’t you breathe with me? ♪

♪ Take a look at these hands ♪

♪ Take a look at these hands ♪

♪ The hands speak ♪

♪ The hand of a government man ♪

♪ Well, I’m a tumbler ♪

♪ Born under punches ♪

♪ I’m so thin ♪

♪ All I want is to breathe ♪

♪ Breathe with me ♪

♪ Won’t you breathe with me? ♪

♪ Find a little space ♪

♪ So we move in between ♪

♪ In between it ♪

♪ Keep one step ahead of yourself ♪

♪ Don’t you miss it Don’t you miss it ♪

♪ Some of you people just about missed it ♪

♪ Last time to make plans ♪

♪ I’m a tumbler ♪

♪ I’m a government man ♪

♪ Never seen anything like that before ♪

♪ What? ♪

♪ Falling bodies tumble ‘cross the floor ♪

♪ I said I’m a tumbler ♪

♪ When you get to where you wanna be ♪

♪ Well, don’t even mention it ♪

♪ When you get to where you wanna be ♪

♪ Thank you, thank you ♪

♪ Take a look at these hands ♪

♪ They were passing in between us ♪

♪ Take a look at these hands ♪

♪ Take a look at these hands ♪

♪ You, uh, don’t have to mention it ♪

♪ No, thanks, no, thanks ♪

♪ I’m a government man ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Goes on, the heat goes on ♪

♪ And the heat goes on ♪

♪ Where the hand has been ♪

♪ And the heat goes on ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ I’m not a drowning man ♪

♪ And the heat goes on ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ And I’m not a burning building ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ I’m a tumbler ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ Drowning cannot hurt a man ♪

♪ Where the hand has been ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ Fire cannot hurt a man ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ Not the government man ♪

-♪ All I want is to breathe ♪ -♪ And the heat goes on, and the heat goes one ♪

-♪ Is to breathe ♪ -♪ And the heat goes on ♪

♪ And the heat goes on ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on, and the heat goes on ♪ -♪ Won’t you breathe ♪

-♪ With me? ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba ♪

-♪ Find a little space ♪ -♪ And the heat goes on, and the heat goes on ♪

-♪ So we move in between ♪ -♪ And the heat goes on, and the heat goes on ♪

-♪ And the heat goes on ♪ -♪ Keep one step ahead ♪

♪ Of yourself ♪

(audience cheering, applauding)

(“I Dance Like This” playing)

(soft keyboard music)

♪ In another dimension ♪

♪ Like the clothes that you wear ♪

♪ A mighty, mighty battle ♪

♪ Sprouting illegal hair ♪

(music swells)

♪ A fitness consultant ♪

♪ In the negative zone ♪

♪ Wandering the city ♪

♪ Looking for a home ♪

(rock music playing)

♪ I dance like this ♪

♪ Because it feels so damn good ♪

♪ If I could dance better ♪

(yells)

♪ Well, you know that I would ♪

♪ I’m working on my dancing ♪

♪ This is the best I can do ♪

♪ I’m tentatively shaking ♪

♪ You don’t have to look ♪

♪ I can’t say I’m sorry ♪

♪ Can’t say I’m ashamed ♪

♪ I can’t think of tomorrow ♪

♪ When it seems so far away ♪

♪ We dance like this ♪

♪ Yeah, oh, yeah ♪

♪ Because it feels so damn good ♪

(gibberish)

♪ If we could dance better ♪

(yells)

♪ Well, you know that we would ♪

(music stops)

-(laughter) -(man whoops)

(audience cheering, applauding)

♪ We dance like this ♪

(rock music playing)

♪ Because it feels so damn good ♪

♪ If we could dance better ♪

(yells)

♪ Well, you know that we would ♪

(music ends)

(audience cheering, applauding)

(“Bullet” playing)

(light, low electronic music)

♪ ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ His skin did part in two ♪

♪ Skin that women had touched ♪

♪ But the bullet went on through ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ It went its merry way ♪

♪ Like an old gray dog ♪

♪ On a fox’s trail ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ His stomach filled with food ♪

♪ Many fine meals he tasted there ♪

♪ But the bullet went on through ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ It went its merry way ♪

♪ Like an old gray dog ♪

♪ On a fox’s trail ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ Through his heart with thoughts of you ♪

♪ Where your kisses he inhaled ♪

♪ The lies and the truth ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ It traveled up into his head ♪

♪ Through thoughts of love and hate ♪

♪ The living and the dead ♪

♪ ♪

♪ The bullet went into him ♪

♪ It went its merry way ♪

♪ Like an old gray dog ♪

♪ On a fox’s trail ♪

(music ends)

(audience cheering, applauding)

David: Thank you.

As you can see,

we don’t have any cables or wires

attached to us in these shows,

attaching to gear or equipment

or any of those kinds of things.

We’re completely untethered.

We can go wherever we like on the stage.

It’s very liberating.

When I began to think about the show,

I realized that,

well, what we humans like looking at the most is,

yeah, other humans.

More than a bicycle, more than a beautiful sunset,

and probably more than a bag of potato chips.

So I thought

about the show, and I wondered,

“What if we could eliminate everything from the stage

“except the stuff we care about the most?

What would be left?”

Well, it would be us, us and you,

and that’s what the show is.

(audience cheering, applauding)

(“Every Day Is a Miracle” playing)

♪ ♪

♪ The rose is pruned ♪

♪ To a perfect shape ♪

♪ Perfect for whom, I wonder ♪

♪ The chicken thinks in mysterious ways ♪

♪ But beauty is not what we’re after ♪

♪ Now, the chicken imagines a heaven ♪

♪ Full of roosters and plenty of corn ♪

♪ And God is a very old rooster ♪

♪ And eggs are like Jesus, his son ♪

♪ Every day is a miracle ♪

♪ Every day is an unpaid bill ♪

♪ You’ve got to sing for your supper ♪

♪ Love one another ♪

♪ A cockroach might eat the “Mona Lisa” ♪

♪ The Pope don’t mean shit to a dog ♪

♪ And elephants don’t read newspapers ♪

♪ And the kiss of a chicken is hot ♪

♪ The brain of a chicken ♪

♪ And the dick of a donkey ♪

♪ A pig in a blanket ♪

♪ And that’s why you want me ♪

♪ What does it feel like ♪

♪ To be your tongue ♪

♪ Moving around in your mouth? ♪

♪ To feel free in the forest of your love ♪

♪ A cockroach ♪

♪ In the cosmos of your house ♪

♪ Every day is a miracle ♪

♪ Every day is an unpaid bill ♪

♪ You’ve got to sing for your supper ♪

♪ Love one another ♪

(vocalizing)

♪ Every day is a miracle ♪

♪ Every day is an unpaid bill ♪

♪ You’ve got to sing for your supper ♪

♪ Love one another ♪

(audience cheering)

(lively electronic music)

♪ ♪

(music ends)

(audience cheering, applauding)

(“Blind” playing)

(upbeat jazz music)

Ha!

♪ Signs ♪

♪ Signs are lost ♪

♪ Signs disappeared ♪

♪ Turn invisible ♪

♪ Got no sign ♪

♪ Somebody got busted ♪

♪ Got a face of stone ♪

♪ And a ghostwritten biography ♪

♪ You know, well, dogs start to rush in ♪

♪ And they’re looking for food ♪

♪ Dogs start to rush in and they’re looking at you ♪

♪ It was light ♪

♪ By five ♪

♪ Torn all apart ♪

♪ All in the name of democracy ♪

♪ He’s hurt! ♪

♪ He’s dying ♪

♪ They claimed he was a terrorist ♪

♪ Claimed to avert a catastrophe ♪

♪ Oh, well, someone should’ve told him ♪

♪ That the buck stops here ♪

♪ Someone should have said he was involved with thieves ♪

-♪ And they’re blind ♪

-♪ Blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

♪ Blind, blind, blind, blind, blind ♪

-♪ Blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

♪ Blind, blind, blind, blind, blind ♪

♪ ♪

♪ No sense of harmony ♪

♪ No sense of time ♪

♪ Don’t mention harmony ♪

♪ Say, “What is it? What is it? What is it?” ♪

♪ Give a little shock and he raises his hand ♪

♪ Somebody shouts out, says, ♪

♪ “What is it? What is it? What is it?” ♪

♪ He was shot down in the night ♪

♪ People ride by, but his body’s still alive ♪

♪ The girl in the window, what has she done? ♪

♪ She looks down at me and says ♪

♪ “I don’t wanna die” ♪

-♪ And they’re blind ♪

-♪ Blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

♪ Blind, blind, blind, blind, blind ♪

-♪ They’re blind ♪

-♪ Blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

♪ Blind, blind, blind, blind, blind ♪

♪ Now, someone should have told me where to go ♪

♪ Crawling all around ♪

♪ Looking for foot, foot, footprints ♪

♪ Now tell me, what the hell have we become? ♪

♪ Some dirty little bastards? ♪

♪ What the hell is going on? ♪

♪ No sense of harmony ♪

♪ No sense of time ♪

♪ Don’t mention harmony ♪

♪ Say, “What is it? What is it? What is it?” ♪

♪ Give a little shock and he raises his hand ♪

♪ Somebody shouts out, says, ♪

♪ “What is it? What is it? What is it?” ♪

♪ He was shot down in the night ♪

♪ People ride by ♪

♪ But his body’s still alive ♪

♪ Girl in the window, what has she done? ♪

♪ She looks down at me and says ♪

♪ “I don’t wanna die” ♪

-♪ And they’re blind ♪

-♪ Blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

♪ Blind, blind, blind, blind, blind ♪

-♪ Yeah, they’re blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

-♪ Yeah, blind ♪ -♪ Blind ♪

♪ Blind, blind, blind, blind, blind ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ ♪

(drum solo)

(vocalizing)

(rhythmic clapping)

♪ ♪

(vocalizing)

(clapping continues)

(music ends)

(audience cheering)

(guitar solo)

(audience cheering)

(“Burning Down the House” playing)

♪ Ahh ♪

♪ Watch out ♪

♪ You might get what you’re after ♪

♪ Cool babies ♪

♪ Strange but not a stranger ♪

♪ I’m an ordinary guy ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ Hold tight ♪

♪ Wait till the party’s over ♪

♪ Hold tight ♪

♪ We’re in for nasty weather ♪

♪ There has got to be a way ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ Here’s your ticket ♪

♪ Pack your bag ♪

♪ It’s time for jumping overboard ♪

♪ Transportation is here ♪

♪ Close enough but not too far ♪

♪ Maybe you know where you are ♪

♪ Fightin’ fire with fire ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ All wet ♪

♪ Hey, you might need a raincoat ♪

♪ Shakedown ♪

♪ Dreams walking in broad daylight ♪

♪ Three hundred and sixty-five degrees ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ It was once upon a place ♪

♪ Sometimes I listen to myself ♪

♪ Gonna come in first place ♪

♪ People on their way to work said ♪

♪ “Baby, what did you expect?” ♪

♪ Gonna burst into flame ♪

♪ Well, go ahead ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ My house is out of the ordinary ♪

♪ That’s right ♪

♪ Don’t wanna hurt nobody ♪

♪ Some things sure can sweep me off my feet ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ No visible means of support ♪

♪ And you have not seen nothing yet ♪

♪ Everything’s stuck together ♪

♪ And I don’t know what you expect ♪

♪ Staring into the TV set ♪

♪ Fight fire with fire ♪

♪ Ohh ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

Whoo!

(music intensifies)

♪ Burning down the house ♪

David: Brr-rr.

♪ ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

(cheering)

Thank you!

Thank you.

The next song was written by

the actress and singer Janelle Monáe.

(cheering)

She sang it at the Women’s March in Washington

a few years ago.

I was there.

I wrote to her a little bit afterwards

and asked what she would think of a white man

of a certain age singing this particular song.

The reason’ll be clear in a minute.

She loved the idea.

She said the song is for everyone,

that it’s for humanity.

(applause)

It’ll be obvious the song is a protest song.

It’s also a requiem,

a requiem for lives that have been senselessly taken.

I also see the song as being about possibility,

the possibility of change,

not just in the imperfect world out there

but in myself, too.

I also need to change.

(“Hell You Talmbout” playing)

(rhythmic drumming)

♪ ♪

♪ Hell you ♪

♪ Hell you talmbout? ♪

-♪ Eric Garner ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Eric Garner ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Eric Garner ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Eric Garner ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Trayvon Martin ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Trayvon Martin ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Trayvon Martin ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Trayvon Martin ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Botham Jean ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Botham Jean ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Botham Jean ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Botham Jean ♪

-♪ Say his name ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

♪ Hell you talmbout? ♪

-♪ Freddie Gray ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Freddie Gray ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Freddie Gray ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Freddie Gray ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Atatiana Jefferson ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Atatiana Jefferson ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Atatiana Jefferson ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Atatiana Jefferson ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Sandra Bland ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Sandra Bland ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Sandra Bland ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Sandra Bland ♪

-♪ Say her name ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

♪ Hell you talmbout? ♪

-♪ Sean Bell ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Sean Bell ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Sean Bell ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Sean Bell ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Marielle Franco ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Marielle Franco ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Marielle Franco ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Marielle Franco ♪ -♪ Say her name ♪

-♪ Emmett Till ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Emmett Till ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Emmett Till ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Emmett Till ♪

-♪ Say his name ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

♪ Hell you talmbout? ♪

-♪ Tommy Yancy ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Tommy Yancy ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Tommy Yancy ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Tommy Yancy ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Jordan Baker ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Jordan Baker ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Jordan Baker ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Jordan Baker ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Amadou Diallo ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Amadou Diallo ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Amadou Diallo ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

-♪ Amadou Diallo ♪

-♪ Say his name ♪ -♪ Say his name ♪

♪ Hell you talmbout? ♪

(audience cheering, applauding)

David: Thank you.

The writer James Baldwin said,

“I still believe

“that we can do with this country

something that has not been done before.”

And this,

this from a man who has suffered

lifelong oppression and discrimination.

Despite all that’s happened

and despite all that’s still happening

I think there’s still a possibility.

We’re a work in progress.

We’re not fixed.

(vocalizing)

Our brains can change.

Maybe those millions of connections in our brains

that got pruned and eliminated

when we were babies

somehow get kind of reestablished,

only now instead of being in our heads,

they’re between us and other people.

Who we are is thankfully not just here,

but it extends beyond ourselves

through the connections between all of us.

-(vocalizing continues) -(audience cheering)

(“One Fine Day” playing)

♪ Saw the wandering eye inside my heart ♪

♪ Shouts and battle cries from every part ♪

♪ I can see those tears ♪

♪ Every one is true ♪

♪ When the door appears ♪

♪ I’ll go right ♪

♪ Through ♪

(vocalizing)

♪ In a small, dark room ♪

♪ Where I will wait ♪

♪ Face to face I find I contemplate ♪

♪ Even though a man is made of clay ♪

♪ Everything can change ♪

♪ That one fine ♪

♪ One fine day ♪

♪ Then before my eyes ♪

♪ Is standing still ♪

♪ I beheld it there, a city on a hill ♪

♪ I complete my tasks one by one ♪

♪ I remove my masks when I am done ♪

♪ Then a peace of mind fell over me ♪

♪ In these troubled times I still can see ♪

♪ We can use the stars to guide the way ♪

♪ It is not that far ♪

♪ That one fine ♪

♪ One fine day ♪

♪ Hope ♪

-♪ Oh, I have hope ♪ -(vocalizing)

♪ I have hope ♪

-(vocalizing) -♪ I have hope ♪

♪ I have hope ♪

-(vocalizing) -♪ I have hope ♪

♪ I have… ♪

♪ Hope ♪

-(clap) -(music ends)

(cheering)

Whoo! Thank you!

Whoo-hoo!

(cheering continues)

Thank you! Thank you!

Whoo!

(cheering continues)

♪ Well, we know where we’re going ♪

♪ But we don’t know where we’ve been ♪

♪ And we know what we’re knowing ♪

♪ But we can’t say what we’ve seen ♪

♪ And we’re not little children ♪

♪ And we know what we want ♪

♪ And the future is certain ♪

♪ Give us time to work it out ♪

(“Road to Nowhere” playing)

(fast-paced instrumental music)

(rhythmic clapping)

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

♪ Come on inside ♪

♪ Taking that ride to nowhere ♪

♪ We’ll take that ride ♪

♪ I’m feeling okay this morning ♪

♪ And you know ♪

♪ We’re on the road to paradise ♪

♪ Here we go ♪

♪ ♪

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

♪ Come on inside ♪

♪ Taking that ride to nowhere ♪

♪ We’ll take that ride ♪

♪ Maybe you wonder where you are ♪

♪ I don’t care ♪

♪ Here is where time is on our side ♪

♪ Take you there ♪

♪ ♪

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

(yells)

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Ha! Ha!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Ooh! Ooh!

♪ There’s a city in my mind ♪

♪ Come along and take that ride ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ And it’s very far away ♪

♪ But it’s growing day by day ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ Would you like to come along? ♪

♪ You can help me sing this song ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ Don’t let them tell you what to do ♪

♪ ‘Cause they’ll make a fool of you ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ There’s a city in my mind ♪

♪ Come along and take that ride ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ And it’s very far away ♪

♪ But it’s growing day by day ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ Would you like to come along? ♪

♪ You can help me sing this song ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ Don’t let them tell you what to do ♪

♪ They’ll make a fool of you ♪

♪ And it’s all right ♪

♪ Baby, it’s all right ♪

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Yee-haw!

♪ ♪

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

You better believe it, baby!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Everybody, now, move ’em out!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Yep! Yep!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Yee-haw!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

(vocalizing)

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Come on!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

(gibberish)

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

(scatting)

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

Yee-haw!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

You better believe it, baby!

♪ We’re on a road to nowhere ♪

(audience cheering)

David:

Whoo!

(cheering continues)

Chris: Oh, my God. You okay?

Jacquelene: Yeah.

Chris: Nice job with that balloon.

-Jacquelene (laughs): Yeah. Right? -Chris: Yeah.

(whooping)

(David laughs)

-Oh, my God! -David: Oh, my God.

-(whooping) -Oh, my God.

That’s the shit right there.

-That was, like… -That’s the shit right there.

That’s it.

That’s my boy! That’s how you do it!

That’s how you… Man.

-We need a hype man. -“Now we’re home free.”

That’s right. World Star.

Now we’re home free.

(laughs)

-Thank you, David. -Oh, thank you.

(whooping)

Woman: Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

-Tendayi: That’s it, right there. -Whoo!

Woman: See you at rehearsal…

(man speaking nonsensical syllables)

(inaudible dialogue)

(man continues speaking nonsensical syllables)

(crowd cheering)

(“Everybody’s Coming To My House” playing)

♪ I wish I was a camera ♪

♪ I wish I was a postcard ♪

♪ I welcome you to my house ♪

♪ You didn’t have to go far ♪

♪ A house and a garden ♪

♪ There’s plants and trees ♪

♪ Make a, a closer inspection ♪

♪ If you get down to your knees ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And everybody’s ♪

♪ Coming to my house ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna go back ♪

♪ Home ♪

♪ I’m pointing and describing ♪

♪ And I can be your guide ♪

♪ The skin is just a road map ♪

♪ The view is very nice ♪

♪ Imagine looking at a picture ♪

♪ Imagine driving in a car ♪

♪ Imagine rolling down the window ♪

♪ Imagine opening the door ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ We’re only tourists in this life ♪

♪ Only tourists ♪

♪ But the view is nice ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ We’re only tourists in this life ♪

♪ Only tourists, but the view ♪

♪ Is nice ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ I’m never gonna be alone ♪

♪ And we’re never gonna go back home ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ Everybody’s coming to my house ♪

♪ I’m never gonna ♪

♪ Be alone ♪

♪ And we’re never ♪ gonna go back home ♪

(laughter)

(singers cheering, whooping)

(overlapping chatter)

Women: Ay, ay, ay, ay. Ay, ay.

Ay, ay, ay, ay.

(birds chirping)

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