GWINE DIG A HOLE is dedicated to the life, memory, family, and friends of Philando Castile. I have no eloquent, clever statement to make in the dedication. The libretto says what I think.
-Ozzie Jones
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Characters
Old Man
Old Woman
The family in the present day: Young Man, Young Woman, and Little Girl
The Crow (a dancer)
The Sheriff/Overseer/Policeman
The Men (on the chain gang)
Dancers/Choir (chorus men and women)
Orchestra: Acoustic guitar, out of tune upright piano, accordion, Harmonica, fiddle, voices, hand claps, and stomps.
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Performance notes
GWINE DIG A HOLE should sound and feel like turn of the century blues, for a source example, listen to the album, Negro Prison Blues and Songs. Not Broadway calcified versions of that, but like that. Also the violence should not be stylistic but should be as realistic as humanly possible. This will be difficult, but it is necessary.
*With the exception of “Gwine Dig a Hole To Put the Devil In” by Leadbelly and Long John, a prison work song from the 1920s, all lyrics are written by Ozzie Jones. [Listen to the recording, below]
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Scene I: The Shack in the Woods
It is right before dawn and an Old Black Man is sitting in a clearing in woods. He is drinking and smoking and playing guitar. His rifle is leaning on a tree stump. He sings and the Choir sings in the distance as if they are voices in the wind.
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
It’s early in de mornin’ lawd
An’ I got murder on mah mind
It’s early in the mornin’ Lawd
An’ I got murder on mah mind
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
De mornin’ is fer thankin’ bout birds and such
An’ what row I got to hoe
De mornin’ is fer thankin bout birds an such
An’ what row I got to hoe
But dis dirty old devil
Got mah mind full of fire
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
Dat damn dirty devil
Got mah soul full of fire
Dat damn dirty devil
Got mah soul full of fire
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
(Speak sing)
Lawd you know mah heart
When I’es a boy I was sweet and soft
Like cotton in a sack
Dis world done kilt that boy
Dragged him down to hell
Now all dats left is a tired ol’ man
Wit scars on his back
(Sing)
It’s early in the mornin’ Lawd
An’ I know I needs to pray
An’ get mah soul to feelin’ fine
But it’s early in de mornin’ Lawd
An’ I got murder on mah mind
An’ I got murder on mah mind
An’ I got murder on mah mind
An’ I got murder on mah mind
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
I got a letta this mornin’
From a time far ahead
De times ahead been talkin’ to me
Since I was a chile
But dis de first time I got a letta
Somethin’ I could touch
I was sittin’ in de woods
Feelin’ de breeze
Takin’ in de air an’ de smells
From de dirt an’ leaves an’ trees
An’ dis crow camed by wit a letta
De crow was black as oil
De paper a autumn leaf
Brown like dem bags you gets from de sto’
An’ de letta was written in blood
Fresh blood
Running down de leaf
Like a livin’ hand had jus wrote it
I been knowed mah folks from de ahead time
I knowed dey faces an dey names
From de time I was a chile
Dey stay talkin’ to me
All day an’ night
Lettin’ me know how dey is
Tellin me bout de stuff dey got
That ain’t ‘round me yet
Dis letta was from a lil’ girl
Mah kin
Sent it to me
Den she showed me
What happened to her daddy
In a dream
I could see clear as day
The video of the Philando Castile murder appears in the sky. Young Woman in handcuffs appears in the back of a police car with her Little Girl. A dancer representing a Crow sits in a tree near the car and watches. Little Girl sings and Young Woman wails.
Young Woman
Where is he?
Oh my god they killed him!
Where is he
Oh my God they killed him!
Little Girl
It’s ok mommy
I’m still here with you
Don’t cry mommy
I’m still here with you
Don’t die daddy
I’m still here with you
Don’t die daddy
I’m still here with you
Young Woman
Where is he?
Oh my god they killed him!
Where is he
Oh my God they killed him!
Little Girl
(To the crow)
Go get somebody
To stop this bad man
Go get somebody
To stop this bad man
(To her mother)
It’s ok mommy
I’m still here with you
Don’t cry mommy
I’m still here with you
Choir moans. The Crow the takes a leaf from the tree and flies away. Back to Old Man in the woods.
Old Man
Dat lil’ girl called to me
From that time far ahead
She got the sight too
We de same
From different sides
I can see de ahead time
And she can see de behind
Little Girl
It’s ok mommy
I’m still here with you
It’s ok mommy
I’m still here with you
Don’t die daddy
I’m still here with you
Don’t die daddy
I’m still here with you
Go get somebody
To stop this bad man
Go get somebody
To stop this bad man
It’s ok mommy
I’m still here with you
Don’t die daddy
I’m still here with you
Old Man
Dat crow landed on mah knee
Looked me in right in mah eyes
De bird’s eyes fulla fright
An’ blues
Knowin’ more dan a animal suppos’ to
Lik’ an ol’ dog you done had from a pup
Right befo’ takin’ yo shotgun
And puttin’ it down
I knewed
Dis bird ain’t come from now time
But dat bird flew from up ahead
I reached out an tooked de letta
And dis is what it said
Young Woman wails in the police car as Little Girl consoles her.
Choir and Little Girl
You never lied to me
Pop Pop
All you had said was true
Told me of our history
When I was in the womb
The devil has killed my daddy
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Come tell us what to do
You told me about de lash
And being chased through the trees
The devil has killed my daddy
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Come tell us what to do
You never lied to me
Everything you said true
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Old Man back in the woods.
Old Man
What I’m suppose ta do wit dat
Me talkin’ to de ahead time
An de ahead time talkin’ back
What Lawd I’m suppose to do wit dat
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
It’s de mornin’ time an’ murder on mah mind
I know good dat ain’t what de Lawd want fer me
But it’s mornin’ time an’ murder on mah mind
I know good it’s wrong but dats all I can see
De whole worl’ look like a ocean
A ragin’ sea o’ blood
Right now dere’s a levee
But in the ahead time its gon’ flood
The whole worl’ look like an ocean
A ragin’ sea of blood
Right now deres a levee
But in de ahead time it’s gon’ flood
A woman’s voice is heard calling from the distance.
Old Woman
Come on in out dem woods man
All dat sittin’ an’ thinkin’ an’ drinkin’
Make you mean
Come on in out dem woods man
Somethin’ about dem trees make you mean
Old Man
I’ll be in when I do
I got figurin’ ta see
I’ll be in when I do
You ain’t got ta worry bout me
Old Woman
Come on in out dem woods man
All dem visions make you mad
Come on in out them woods man
Let me rub yo’ hands
Old Man
Dats mah woman
She pretty like de breeze on cool black night
Lawd I loves when de sun go down.
She loves me like time do
I knows dis cause I met her in dat ahead time
She don’t know it
But she believe me when I tell her
It’s a hard thang to tell somebody bout a place
They cain’t see for dey self
But she got dat woman strength
Seeing thangs before dey seen
But I’m a man
An’ de Lawd done cursed me ta see
But ain’t give me de reach ta do
nothin’ bout what visions come
A man gotta do somethin’ about it
Gotta touch what he see
A man gotta do somethin’ about it
Gotta touch what he see
Now here I’m is
Helpless
Like a 95 pound boy
With a 200 pound sack of cotton
On de edge of a river with a letter in mah hand
From a time ain’t nobody seen befo’
But me
Just me
Only me
Hearin’ mah gran kin
Hollerin’ mah name
Screamin’
Drownin’
In a pool of blood
Wit dat devil’s face de last thing he see
Hangin’ on in pain
Drownin’
In his own blood
Waitin’
Like a lost child
Fer me
Lawd what I’m supposed to do wit dat
What I supposed to do wit dat?
Lawd what I’m supposed to do wit dat
What I’m supposed to do wit dat?
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Woman looks out from the porch.
Old Woman
(Sung)
I need him inside
He been out dere too long
Dere somethin’ in dem woods
Settin’ fire to his mind
I’m worried Lawd,
I’m worried Lawd,
I’m worried Lawd,
I’m worried Lawd,
Bring dat man inside
He been in dem woods alone too long this time
Somethin’ in dem woods
Set fire to his mind
The dancers do an interpretation of the story she tells.
When I met him he was wild
Like weeds in mah flower garden.
Rippin’ and runnin’ and fightin’
‘gainst the wind in a heavy storm.
Lawd knows I loved dat man
Soon as I set eyes on him.
I was out front of de church on Sunday mornin’.
My hand in my mama’s hand
And here he come runnin’ from de law.
He stopped and looked me in my eyes
Like he was tryin’ to see in my stomach.
Made my insides feel like fire and ice.
Was like he forgot all about captain law on his heels
And jes’ stopped
And stared into me.
Then dem white men was on top of him
Beatin’ him liked dey want to squeeze his life out
In dey hands.
Seemed liked de more dey beat on him
De stronger he got.
Something on de inside of dat man
Ain’t from where we is
It’s from somewhere
He tell me he can see
I can’t see where
But I know it’s there
Cause I feel it
On the inside
Deep on the inside
I know what I saw dat day out front de church.
Dem be voices hollerin’ at him so loud
Look like he liked to blow up like a stick of dynamite.
His eyes don’t never rest.
Not even when the sun go down.
Whilst dey dragged him off to that cage
I knew he was for me
I need him inside
He been out dere too long dis time
Dere is somethin’ in them woods
Settin’ fire to his mind
Dere is somethin’ in them woods
Settin’ fire to his mind
I’m worried Lawd, bring dat man inside
I’m worried Lawd, bring dat man inside
He been in dem woods alone too long dis time
Somethin’ in them woods
Settin’ fire to his mind
He been in them woods alone too long this time
Somethin’ in them woods
Settin’ fire to his mind
The present day. Young Woman wails in the police car as Little Girl consoles her.
Choir and Little Girl
You never lied to me
Pop Pop
All you had said was true
Told me of our history
When I was in the womb
The devil has killed my daddy
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Come tell us what to do
You told me about de lash
And being chased through the trees
The devil has killed my daddy
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Come tell us what to do
You never lied to me
Everything you said true
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Old Man is walking with his gun and the letter in his hand and his guitar on his back.
Old Man
I knew de Lawd had somethin’
Particular fer me to do
Cause that devil johnny law
Been tryin’ to take mah life
Since I was but a pup.
So much it had me thankin’
Dere was somethin’ about me
More than jus bein’ a nigger,
Dat kep bringin’ me the lash
I know from livin’ life
That ain’t nowhere far enough
To run from de devil
He starvin’ from thirst for black blood
De devil’s a monster
We got ta face
But de Lawd saw fit to keep me
Livin’ past his drivin’ lash to see me dead
Now de crow done come to me and showed me
In de ahead time he still
Bleedin’ mah kin
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
Dis dirty old devil
Got mah mind full of fire
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
But damn dirty devil
Got mah soul full of fire
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
Dis dirty old devil
Got mah mind full of fire
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
Damned dirty devil
Got mah soul full of fire
And mah soul like rotten fruit hangin’ low
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
An’ I got murder on mah mind
An’ I got murder on mah mind
An’ I got murder on mah mind
An’ I got murder on mah mind
Old Man comes to the porch and Old Woman is waiting there for him.
Old Woman
You been in the woods longer than usual
Old Man
I don’t know nothin’ bout the time
I jus’ be where I be
Old Woman
I can see your mind cryin’ in your eyes
It’s somethin’ different than the whiskey
What did you see out there?
Old Man
I got a letter this mornin’ from a time far ahead
We got a gran baby past the clouds
That the captain shot down dead
Old Woman
We got a gran baby past the clouds
That the captain shot down dead?
Old Man
The crow brought me a letter
And that was what it said
Old Man hands Old Woman the leaf. The Choir hums the melody of Gwine Dig a Hole under this exchange.
Old Woman
Man why you got that gun
With that wild look in your eyes
What you fixin’ to do wit that?
Ain’t no bullet reachin’ past the clouds
You got murder in your eyes
Old Man
Our baby is callin’ for me woman
I see and hear her plain as day
She callin’ for me woman
For me to come to tomorrow
Today
She’s callin’ for me woman
I cain’t hear dat and stay still
She is callin’ fer me woman
Gotta go do God’s will
Old Woman
Give me your hands baby
They shake and drip with sweat
I believe you ‘bout this letter
But ain’t no way to get there yet
Give me your hands baby
Put ‘em right on me
Ain’t no way to get there yet
But you here right now wit me
Old Man
Take my hands baby
I cain’t see good wit tears
Take my hands baby
Before the wind take me from here
Take my hands baby
I cain’t see good wit tears
Take my hands baby
Before the wind take me from here
The woman takes the man by the hand into the shack. The Choir sings as a man and woman dance a night of lovemaking.
Choir
Things get quiet
When the sun goes down
Things get quiet
When the sun goes down
They love rock and moan
Dats the only sound
They love rock and moan
That’s the only sound
Things get clear
When the stars come out
Things get clear
When the stars come out
Hold me baby
And don’t let me down
Hold me tight baby
And don’t let me down
Things get simple
When it’s time to dream
Things get simple
When it’s time to dream
Close your eyes baby
So you can see
Close your eyes baby
So you can see
Close your eyes baby
So you can see
Close your eyes baby
So you can see
The sound of a train whistle is heard in the distance. The dancers look into the starry night and disappear. The man runs out almost naked into the night.
Old Man
When I was a young man
I ran off from the workhouse
Made it to the woods
And when I looked up at the sky
It looked jus’ like this
Johnny law could neva catch me
‘Cept for the day I seen my angel
Standin’ out front the church
Eyes deep black like coal
Shinin’ like coal feathers
Johnny law could neva catch me
‘Cept for I had to stop and see the sun
They beat me dragged me
Hauled me in a cage to keep me from the light
That devil call hisself massa
Cause he believe he God
But he ain’t nothin’ but a beast
A rotten filthy rat
That wanna buck up in children
And his own kin
I was jus’ a young man
Way younga den the other niggras
Locked in the workhouse like cows
Johnny law try sneakin’ in on me
Deep in the night
Whilst de other men slept
Rammed a log into his piggy sized thing
Ran thru the yard
Ducked and dodged the dogs
Dug under the fence
Missed ev’ry one of the bullets
Zangin’ pass my head
Got up to de tree line
And disappeared into the woods
So safe among dese trees
Ain’t neva woulda lef’
If I ain’t had to come back to town
And find the angel I seen on the church steps
And bring her wit me
Now lawd where you sendin’ me
Lawd where you sendin’ me
Lawd can I bring that woman wit me?
Lawd can I bring that woman wit me?
Now Lawd is you finna soak mah hands in blood
Oh lawd is you finna soak mah hands in blood
Choir
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Don’t give a damn
Old Man
I seen so much war Lawd
I thought mah killin’ days was done
I seen so much war Lawd
I thought mah killin’ days was done
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
Oh Lawd I love dat woman
Nobody know betta than you
Oh Lawd I love dat woman
Where you sendin’ me to?
The faint whistle of a train is heard in the distance. Old Woman comes out of the house and sees Old Man staring into the sky.
Old Woman
Man what you lookin’ at?
Is that the ahead time you see?
Is that my gran baby dyin’?
Can you show me what you see?
Old Man
Woman can you hear dat whistle?
I think mah train is coming through
Woman can you hear dat whistle?
I think mah train is comin’ through
Old Woman
What you hearin’ man?
Sound like the whistlin’ of the wind
What you hearin’ man?
Sound like the whistlin’ of the wind
Man what you lookin’ at?
Is that the ahead time you see?
I wanna hold mah gran baby?
Man show me what you see?
Old Man
Woman I want nothin’ betta
Den to take you off wit me
Lawd know I want nothin’ betta
Den to take you off wit me
Cain’t you hear that train a comin’
I know it’s comin’ for me
Cain’t you hear that whistle blowin’
Callin’ in de wind for me
Old Woman
That cloud up there yonder
The one so heavy on your eyes
That cloud up there yonder
There one so heavy on your eyes
Is that where you see ahead?
The place where my gran baby dies
That cloud up there yonder
The one you starin’ at so hard
Can you show me what you see?
Old Man takes the bottle of whiskey and pours it on to the ground. He puts his fingers into the mud it creates then rubs the mud on to her eyes.
Old Man
Let dat rest for a spell
Den wipe yo eyes and see
Let dat rest for a spell
Den wipe yo eyes and see
I cain’t take this picture
Only haunting me
The video of the murder of Philando Castile appears in the clouds. Young Woman wails in the police car as Little Girl consoles her.
Choir and Little Girl
You never lied to me
Pop Pop
All you had said was true
Told me of our history
When I was in the womb
The devil has killed my daddy
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Come tell us what to do
You told me about de lash
And being chased through the trees
The devil has killed my daddy
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
Come tell us what to do
You never lied to me
Everything you said true
The devil has killed my daddy
Come tell us what to do
The vision disappears. Old Woman, Old Man, and then Choir. They sing in the haunting tempo of a ballad.
Choir
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Man
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
Old Woman
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
All
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
The video fades away back into the clouds.
Old Woman
Get on it man
Catch dat train and get mah kin
Get on it man
Catch dat train and get our kin
I can finally see the ahead time
And I ain’t watchin’ dat again
Get on it man
Leave dat whiskey here behind
Get on it man
Leave dat whiskey here behind
You cain’t ride dat train
Wit that kind of trouble in your mind
Get on it man
Catch dat train and get mah kin
I can finally see de ahead time
And I won’t watch dat again
Old Man and Old Woman kiss. Old Man puts down the whiskey, grabs guitar and his gun, and walks off into the woods. Old Woman sits on the porch and watches him as he walks away.
Old Woman
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
GWINE dig a hole
Put the devil in
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Image By: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Corvus_corone_-near_Canford_Cliffs%2C_Poole%2C_England-8.jpg