Description: Dipping into a lil country blues 🌹When Pickup Music put this afternoon together, I wanted to try something new - and was honored that my friends Jennah Bell and Ariel Posen were down to join in. I'd loved the Ray Charles version of this tune for a while, but Jennah had recently hipped me to his duet with Buck Owens (who wrote it), and it was so beautiful that we decided to give it a go ourselves. Felt so sweet to be in the moment with these musicians, the folks in that living room, and a classic song. // Video by Sam Blakelock , audio by Dillan Witherow, session by Pickup Music https://pickupmusic.com http://www.jennahbell.com/ https://www.arielposen.com/ http://emilyelbert.com

Description: Here's the final video from the "We Who Believe in Freedom" album, an acoustic interpretation of Sweet Honey in the Rock's "Ella's Song," sung with my dear friends Raquel Rodriguez and Jessica Childress. Deep respect and gratitude for Sweet Honey, for songwriter Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, and for civil rights hero Ella Baker, who inspired the song. Though its words were originally written in the context of the civil rights movement of the 60s, and put into song form in the 80s, they feel just as potent and needed today. This song calls attention to many things - a deep need for racial and gender justice (and beyond); understanding and reconciliation of privilege; intersectionality, the elevation of the collective over individual ego, and the value of wisdom sharing between older and younger generations. But perhaps my greatest takeaway comes from its refrain - the idea that in the march towards a more just and loving world, there's always more work to do; deeper work to be done. That can feel like a heavy weight to bear as one person, but it seems so much more achievable if we come together and support each other as a community. My dream in making this album was to provide some inspiration and encouragement for our journey towards collective healing. I feel so inspired by the experience of recording these songs, and even more so in sharing them with you. Thanks for your comments, conversations, listening, sharing, and for being a part of the process. Here's the lyrics to "Ella's Song" - links to learn more about Ella, Sweet Honey, and Dr. Reagon are below. We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers’ sons We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on Is when the reins are in the hands of the young who dare to run against the storm To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail And if I can but shed some light as they carry us through the gale Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot I come to realize That teaching others to stand up and fights the only way my struggle survives I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard At times I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me I need to be just one in the number as we stand against tyranny We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes For more background on Ella Baker and this song: https://bit.ly/2z36NUp For more about Sweet Honey in the Rock: http://sweethoneyintherock.org/ and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon: https://www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com/ Thanks to Nick Warner ( http://youtube.com/nickwarnermedia ) for filming and editing, to Dillan Witherow for recording and mixing the audio, and to Sam Brawner at Blue Dream Studios for having us in. Thanks to Dillan for lending me his Benson Amps and Gibson gear as well. Hear the album - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ywpVro Bandcamp: https://emilyelbert.bandcamp.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2q89oVV

Description: Here's one for Mr. Trump - this time, with the powerful voices of Jessica Childress and Raquel Rodriguez joining in. The videos from "We Who Believe in Freedom" continue with an original, "True Power." We will not be silent. Lyrics: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain Soak up the scandals, honey, drink up the diversion Ignore the voices of the poor and sick and hurting Here's to the one percent, we’re clearly more deserving Almighty dollar is my lover and my savior Transport my golden throne to 16 Pennsylvania Do not believe a thing you’re reading in the papers The only truth is what is written in my favor True power can’t be bought or stolen If you build a wall of hatred, prepare to watch it crumble We will not be silent, no, can’t you hear the thunder So listen fear monger, your days are numbered My daddy told me if I want it I can get it The world’s my oyster and your body is my business I put my tiny hands wherever I can fit them Do not dissent or you’ll be fired like The Apprentice I’m nothing if I’m not a man of family values But poor kids go get your education in the drive thru Don’t drink the water, or see the doctor - you can’t afford to If you’re not rich, white, cis, and straight, then I don’t serve you True power can’t be bought or stolen If you build a wall of hatred, prepare to watch it crumble We will not be silent, hear our voices roar like thunder So listen fear monger, your days are numbered Silence the scientists; I’m sick of their sad opinions Who needs clean air or soil when you’ve got bigly billions That Mother Earth’s like all those other nasty women I try to repress; nevertheless, they are persisting True power can’t be bought or stolen If you build a wall of hatred, prepare to watch it crumble We will not be silent, hear our voices roar like thunder So listen fear monger, your days are numbered Thanks to Nick Warner ( http://youtube.com/nickwarnermedia ) for filming and editing, and to Dillan Witherow for recording and mixing the audio, and to Sam Brawner at Blue Dream Studios in LA for having us. http://sambrawner.com Hear the album - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ywpVro Bandcamp: https://emilyelbert.bandcamp.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2q89oVV For more of Raquel and Jessica's music: http://raquel.la/ and https://www.jessicachildressmusic.com/

Description: rainy Sunday dream hang with a couple of queens 🌦❤️ http://www.instagram.com/raeleenikole http://www.instagram.com/geeclifford http://www.instagram.com/emilyelbert

Description: Here's another tune from the "We Who Believe in Freedom" album - "You Go to Your Church and I'll Go to Mine," originally by Phillips H. Lord in 1930. My dear friend Ric Robertson and I updated just a few of the lyrics for our version, but I love how the song brings a message of religious tolerance and inclusivity to old-time music. You go to your church and I’ll go to mine But let’s walk along together Our families built them side by side So let’s walk along together The road is rough and the way is long We’ll help each other over You go to your church and I’ll go to mine Let’s walk along together You go to your church and I’ll go to mine But let’s walk along together Sending our prayers to the same blue sky Let’s walk along together Thanks to Nick Warner ( youtube.com/nickwarnermedia ) for filming and editing, and to Dillan Witherow for recording and mixing the audio.💛 Hear the album - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ywpVro Bandcamp: https://emilyelbert.bandcamp.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2q89oVV For more of Ric's music: http://www.ricrobertsonmusic.com/

Description: Here's another original tune from the "We Who Believe in Freedom" album. This song is about trying to find the ways that each of us can deepen our awareness of systems of injustice and contribute to our collective healing. ♡ Lyrics: How can I best be of service To help this hurting world heal To feel the depth of my privilege Acting from love, not from fear To stand firm on the shoulders Of wise ones who’ve sacrificed Cause Lord knows that there’s a long road ahead If we’re gonna carry on their work and make things right How can I best be of service Dissolve the distance between To heed the teachings of history Become the change that I seek Our Earth is crying out for allies Singing, justice is love you can see Break through the borders and divides To find how life itself can be a prayer for peace -- thanks to Alex Cantatore of QuickActCasual Productions for filming and editing, and to Dillan Witherow for recording and mixing the audio (and letting me play his guitar and amp) 💛 Hear the album Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ywpVro Bandcamp: https://emilyelbert.bandcamp.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2q89oVV

Description: Here's a live session of another tune from my new album, "We Who Believe in Freedom" - a song by one of the great protest-folk songwriters, Chile's Victor Jara. Lyrics below. Video by Alex Cantatore of QuickActCasual Productions Audio by Dillan Witherow Hear the album Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ywpVro Bandcamp: https://emilyelbert.bandcamp.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2q89oVV Yo no canto por cantar Ni por tener buena voz Canto porque la guitarra Tiene sentido y razón Tiene corazón de tierra Y alas de palomita Es como el agua bendita Santigua glorias y penas Aquí se encajó mi canto Como dijera violeta Guitarra trabajadora Con olor a primavera Que no es guitarra de ricos Ni cosa que se parezca Mi canto es de los andamios Para alcanzar las estrellas Que el canto tiene sentido Cuando palpita en las venas Del que morirá cantando Las verdades verdaderas No las lisonjas fugaces Ni las famas extranjeras Sino el canto de una lonja Hasta el fondo de la tierra Ahí donde llega todo Y donde todo comienza Canto que ha sido valiente Siempre será canción nueva

Description: video numero dos from "We Who Believe in Freedom" - a stripped version of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" ✊🏼 thanks to Alex Cantatore of QuickActCasual Productions for filming and editing, and to Dillan Witherow for recording and mixing the audio (and letting me play his guitar) 💛 Hear the album Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ywpVro Bandcamp: https://emilyelbert.bandcamp.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2q89oVV