Album: Freedom Highway (2017)
Play Video
  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: RHIANNON GIDDENS LAFFAN
    Publisher: Wixen Music Publishing

Comments: 4

  • To Michael From New Jersey from VancouverRhiannon Giddens in another article states that the Union soldiers were who would come to free enslaved peoples in America. Therefore Julie's mistress tells her to essentially go run and hide so that she is not freed. When Julie responds that she will not go (showing that she wants to be freed) the mistress then tries to change her tactics. Therefore when she says "you won't go" it's almost as if she is saying "you wouldn't dare leave me and all you know". The gold trunk is also an interesting line I didn't understand until I read Gidden's article. Giddens states that the mistress asks Julie to lie and say the gold is hers. However Julie replies she "won't lie", or rather doesn't need to, as the gold SHOULD belong to her as the mistress got it when she sold Julie's children at a slave auction. Therefore, Julie is again showing her mistress that she does not love her, and that the mistress has done so many things against Julie. The song seems to show the ignorance of slave owners of the time, and their ideas of their slaves loving them.

    Below is linked the article if you would like to hear it from Gidden's herself.
    bit.ly/3RhJ9Kp
  • Michael from New JerseyI must be dense. I know I am because Ms. Giddens is brilliant so it must be me. Why did the mistress tell Julie to run? Are they Union soldiers who would free Julie? Then why does mistress ask her to stay in 2 verses? Is it like “well if you refuse to go, then at least say the gold is yours so they don’t confiscate it.”?
  • Ken from E2e 1p9The tune is similar to lay me down in the river by The Fortunate Ones from Newfoundland. But hey that's folk music eh?
  • Michelle from NevadaBeautiful and haunting song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?