I just read that comment about stardust said. I will tell you that I met her once in her house in Syracuse NY. She was well into her 80’s at that time. I was there to accompany her daughter to her doctor’s appointment. Libba told me virtually her whole life story. She was gracious and sweet. I was in my Thirties. I’m now in my 70’s. I never forgot that time. God gave me a blessing for sure.
She’s got that bluesy ragtime feel. A bit like Blind Blake or Blind Boy Fuller. A real Piedmont blues sound though, but then she was from North Carolina.
I have played Freight Train for decades now and only today came to know about the lady who wrote it. I am ashamed by my ignorance. What an outstanding artist, songwriter and person Libba Cotten was! And a great film with the great Pete Seeger.
When youre a millenial who has spent his whole life listening to hipster shit like Wipers, Suicide or other weird acts, you get to a point where youre almost 30 years old and beyond and all you need to listen to is that whole fucking video to finally feel something again. Libba's music will forever sounds so fresh and new because of the way she shares her memories and the pure nostalgia she feels everyday for all the deep stuff she lived through. What I love the most is the fact that she is one of the most relatable musician ive ever seen or heard. Even if shes really old in all the footage we can consume of her, she manages to sound like a kid exploring life in the most hectic way possible. Her presence is simple clear though it is deep and scary at the same time. im not even gonna get into the fact that she learned how to play a guitar that was upside down, all by herself. What a true icon of American Music.
I've loved 'Freight Train' since the 50's. My mother would sing it to rock me to sleep and she later bought the record for me. I was frozen in time when I again heard this song 60+ years later on UA-cam. Seeing her play it is so wonderous. Thanks so much for the memories!
😂 I’m a new player and one of my stings popped a few months back so I have been playing with just 5 strings and I have made a ton of progress despite the odds. So I got excited when I heard that she did the same things as a kid. ❤❤❤❤
Seulement 21 commentaires ? Mais le bonheur c'est de voir qu'il y en a un il y a seulement 8 jours. Alors cette video est encore vivante, habitée. Gros plaisir !
@stardust4225 Pete meant no disrespect: the performance was being recorded live on one reel of film, once the film runs out, the show is over. And the world would have lost a recording of the immortal Libba Cotten playing her most famous composition, Freight Train.
It's "Cotten Picking" for one, and SHE named it that for another. Her name is Elizabeth Cotten. Nobody will ever know how stupid you are, until you open your mouth.
@@jaccabwa7914Elizabeth Cotten herself referred to it as “Cotton Picking” because her style of playing the guitar inverted, switching the usual thumb-bass and index-melody method, was almost wholly unique to her as an artist. It has no connotation with her race, at least none which is known regarding the etymology of her husband Frank Cotten’s name he gave her. I believe very strongly in contextualizing the history of American folk music including all aspects racial but this is just a reach and obliquely insulting to Ms. Cotten.
Nobody told her what's up and down on a guitar so she chose to play it like that. Sorry folks but for me it's no guarantee for authenticity. The "cotton picking" thing that Pete Seeger mentions are his own words. The style existed many years before Elizabeth Cotton. "Cotton Picking" is a racist way to describe the style. Unfortunately it has gone into the English language for describing a guitar style which was invented many years before by non left-handed guitar players.
What's wrong with the words "cotton picking" ? The "racism" is in your own mind, not in the words. Stop this kind of pigeonhole thinking, it will be better for you.
If you’re going to go down this route I probably should point out that it’s not ‘Cotton’ picking. It’s ’Cotten’ picking, ie, her surname. It’s subtle, and clearly that subtlety is lost on you. Think of it as racist if you want, but it’s clearly called that because of her name.
@@juliev940 Fingerpicking styles that uses only the thumb and forefinger are unusual in themselves, and using the forefinger for the bass and the thumb for the melody is pretty unique. I would say even more unique than the "Carter Scratch" or "Travis Picking"
I just read that comment about stardust said. I will tell you that I met her once in her house in Syracuse NY. She was well into her 80’s at that time. I was there to accompany her daughter to her doctor’s appointment. Libba told me virtually her whole life story. She was gracious and sweet. I was in my Thirties. I’m now in my 70’s. I never forgot that time. God gave me a blessing for sure.
what a gift to have been there in person having her tell you about her life. 😊
She was gorgeous. Inside and out.
Her and Mississippi John hurt are so heart warming
She’s got that bluesy ragtime feel. A bit like Blind Blake or Blind Boy Fuller. A real Piedmont blues sound though, but then she was from North Carolina.
Left handed like Jimi, so sweet to hear
“Honey Babe, Your Papa Cares About You” is enchanting. Reminds me of that John Fahey sound.
John Fahey use to date Libba, take her to parties. They were friends. Libba taught John quite a bit about playing slide in some of the Open Tunings.
@@Whoisthiskid1Did they really date?
Around 7:06 she answers the question and she plays guitar same time, and in sounds like a song.
I have played Freight Train for decades now and only today came to know about the lady who wrote it. I am ashamed by my ignorance. What an outstanding artist, songwriter and person Libba Cotten was! And a great film with the great Pete Seeger.
WOW...the high E string up top and with 2 fingers.
She is a gentle soul,she does not have bitterness in her heart
Such a humble lady. Brilliant guitar work.
One of my favorite guitarists of all time. She was such an amazement
Agreed
Literally no words to describe this
All respect to that lady.i would have been proud to have known her.may she rest in peace ❤
How sweet she could smile 😊
When youre a millenial who has spent his whole life listening to hipster shit like Wipers, Suicide or other weird acts, you get to a point where youre almost 30 years old and beyond and all you need to listen to is that whole fucking video to finally feel something again. Libba's music will forever sounds so fresh and new because of the way she shares her memories and the pure nostalgia she feels everyday for all the deep stuff she lived through. What I love the most is the fact that she is one of the most relatable musician ive ever seen or heard. Even if shes really old in all the footage we can consume of her, she manages to sound like a kid exploring life in the most hectic way possible. Her presence is simple clear though it is deep and scary at the same time.
im not even gonna get into the fact that she learned how to play a guitar that was upside down, all by herself.
What a true icon of American Music.
Well said! 👊
I agree ❤
What the hell? If you're trying to make a sentence, you need to use punctuation lol
@@Asperulous_Despairagus English is not my first language. But i would be happy to talk about it if you want.
Love the wipers, love Suicide, love Liz!!
This is such a nice calming interview! Thank you soooooo much for uploading!!!!💖💛💖💖🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Its great isn't it!
@@bluesincolour It truly is.💖💛💖💖🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I agree - her playing as well as her whole demeanor. So very calming
The Great Pete Seeger !!!
Rest in Eternal Peace Elizabeth 🙏🏾🙏🏾
Brilliant musician
Pure magic - thank you
@@KlausPeterBenz-xm7cr No problem at all more people need to hear her 💙
Quel femme super ! Respect éternels pour vous Madame
I've loved 'Freight Train' since the 50's. My mother would sing it to rock me to sleep and she later bought the record for me. I was frozen in time when I again heard this song 60+ years later on UA-cam. Seeing her play it is so wonderous. Thanks so much for the memories!
Beautiful, TALENTED soul.
Jorma listened to that song to get inspired for "Embryonic Journey" for sure.....wow
Man she’s playing left handed on a right hand guitar not too many people learn like that awesome!!!!
Jimi H
I'm going to try it. Maybe that's what's wrong with me.
My ex-husband plays that way. He never learned guitar tabs either. He played by ear. By trade he is a drummer.
...Elizabeth Cotton...pure music...pure soul...Pete knew he was privileged to be at the foot of a master...
What a beautiful soul.
😂 I’m a new player and one of my stings popped a few months back so I have been playing with just 5 strings and I have made a ton of progress despite the odds. So I got excited when I heard that she did the same things as a kid. ❤❤❤❤
Alternate guitar tuning. fun will increase whilst learning. Any guitar tips. comment and i shall reply. id like to hear on your acoustic journey.
I never knew she was such an awesome picker! Thank you for posting this!
😀😀😀
There is a picking style known as cotton picking which is named after her.
this story is incredible. thank you
👊
Positively beautiful!
I'm sorry, but that.. Couldn't possibly be a Django reference, could it?
A lovely interview and recital.
Seulement 21 commentaires ? Mais le bonheur c'est de voir qu'il y en a un il y a seulement 8 jours. Alors cette video est encore vivante, habitée. Gros plaisir !
❤
simply beautiful
A soulful virtuoso💜💜💜 absolutely beautiful
Que musicaaa Lindaaaa, ela toca surpreendentemente ❤
thank you thank you thank you!
👊
Warms my soul ❤
❤❤ muito bom mesmo 👏👏👏👏
Thank you for uploading this! What an amazing little set and moment between them.
WOW JUST WOW
Could you imagine being one of the Seiger kids growing up with the undiscovered Elizabeth Cotten. Very lucky and a great story
Thanks!
All kinda strang music❤
🌹
Amazing!!!!❤
wow...amazing interview! Thank you!!!
👊
Genius
Esta mujer era una guitarrista con estilo único y como sabía expresarse en fingerstyle.
loves me some LIZA!❤️
she was telling a story...he told her she better start playing the song. id have like to have heard the rest of her story
@stardust4225 Pete meant no disrespect: the performance was being recorded live on one reel of film, once the film runs out, the show is over. And the world would have lost a recording of the immortal Libba Cotten playing her most famous composition, Freight Train.
@@EricS16 i see, ty for the info 😊✌️
She was his Nanny as kid. The story she's telling about the folk singer was Pete's mother
@@Ramzblood She was actually Pete's stepmother, his half-brother,Mike Seeger's mother.
@@ptournasno mikes mom was ruth, libba was his nanny
Dead fish eyes…. That’s where ya get that nice “subtle f*ck you”, that Cotton aces. I love this human.
She's so talented I love elizabeth respect the people that came before you I like her style rip elizabeth ❤
👊
❤
Like Jimi.
Wonderful!!!👏🎶🌷
Bet she has a lot of stories
This reminds me so much about Paul Simon style, I bet he was influenced of this. :X
All bluegrass really
Ofcourse he was
Imagine a left guitar of 10 strings The geat Elizabeth Cotten.
Her last name is Cotten not Cotton
*Cotten
Calling the picking style "Cotton picking" is brutal
edit: jesus christ guys I just found it a bit funny
But that’s her name …
It's "Cotten Picking" for one, and SHE named it that for another. Her name is Elizabeth Cotten.
Nobody will ever know how stupid you are, until you open your mouth.
@@carlitosfreetos yeah but let's be real, they knew what they were doing
They ? Its her name , several picking styles are named after the person who invented them not everything is about race baiting , enjoy the music
@@jaccabwa7914Elizabeth Cotten herself referred to it as “Cotton Picking” because her style of playing the guitar inverted, switching the usual thumb-bass and index-melody method, was almost wholly unique to her as an artist. It has no connotation with her race, at least none which is known regarding the etymology of her husband Frank Cotten’s name he gave her. I believe very strongly in contextualizing the history of American folk music including all aspects racial but this is just a reach and obliquely insulting to Ms. Cotten.
Nobody told her what's up and down on a guitar so she chose to play it like that. Sorry folks but for me it's no guarantee for authenticity. The "cotton picking" thing that Pete Seeger mentions are his own words. The style existed many years before Elizabeth Cotton. "Cotton Picking" is a racist way to describe the style. Unfortunately it has gone into the English language for describing a guitar style which was invented many years before by non left-handed guitar players.
What's wrong with the words "cotton picking" ? The "racism" is in your own mind, not in the words. Stop this kind of pigeonhole thinking, it will be better for you.
If you’re going to go down this route I probably should point out that it’s not ‘Cotton’ picking. It’s ’Cotten’ picking, ie, her surname. It’s subtle, and clearly that subtlety is lost on you. Think of it as racist if you want, but it’s clearly called that because of her name.
@@juliev940 Fingerpicking styles that uses only the thumb and forefinger are unusual in themselves, and using the forefinger for the bass and the thumb for the melody is pretty unique. I would say even more unique than the "Carter Scratch" or "Travis Picking"
Like Butta 🔥