Rhiannon Giddens Faces Down Death in ‘They’re Calling Me Home’

Rhiannon Giddens has long been a strong champion of some of the most vital verses in the classic American songbook—the odes that have gone on to construct the very foundation of roots music today. On her latest project set for release on April 9th via Nonesuch Records called They’re Calling Me Home, she once again shoulders this charge, and this time focuses her efforts on many of the songs about passing into the afterlife.
Once again partnering with Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi who she’s been quarantining with in Ireland, Rhiannon Giddens looks to take compositions such as “O Death” and “Amazing Grace” and give them new life, and to do the same to the classic Alice Gerrard song this new album is titled for (listen below). In the song, Giddens positively stuns with her generational voice and interpretation.
“Some people just know how to tap into a tradition and an emotion so deep that it sounds like a song that has always been around. Alice Gerrard is one of those rarities. ‘They’re Calling Me Home’ struck me forcefully and deeply the first time I heard it, and every time since. This song just wanted to be sung and so I listened.”
Other old-time classics on the album include “I Shall Not Be Moved,” “Black As Crow (Dearest Dear)” and “Waterbound.” There’s also a new original song written by Gidden’s called “Avalon,” and a traditional Italian lullaby tune titled “Nenna Nenna” that Turrisi sings to his infant daughter.

The album was recorded over five days at the Hellfire studio in Dublin. Along with minstrel banjo and guitar, the album features accordion, viola, cello, guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, and Irish traditional musician Emer Mayock on flute, whistle, and pipes. It was produced by Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi.
They’re Calling Me Home is now available for pre-order.
Track List:
- Calling Me Home
- Avalon
- Si Dolce È’l Tormento
- I Shall Not Be Moved
- Black as Crow
- O Death
- Niwel Goes to Town
- When I Was In My Prime
- Waterbound
- Bully For You
- Nenna Nenna
- Amazing Grace
February 10, 2021 @ 8:59 pm
STUNNING.
HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.
February 10, 2021 @ 9:51 pm
Top shelf stuff.
February 10, 2021 @ 10:09 pm
Sounds great to me.
February 10, 2021 @ 10:21 pm
Still like when she does chocolate drops style stuff the best, but she seems incapable of doing wrong.
February 11, 2021 @ 2:23 am
Poewerful
February 11, 2021 @ 6:32 am
That’s goddam good stuff.
February 11, 2021 @ 8:27 am
Loved ‘there is no Other,’ so psyched for this. 🙂
February 11, 2021 @ 9:12 am
Wow….I can’t think of the last time it happened but I literally got chill bumps listening to that. Powerful and stunning and a rare instance these days of music as art.
February 11, 2021 @ 9:27 am
This is the type of song that will be used in a movie or series. And shoudl be. Maybe Yellowstone?
February 11, 2021 @ 11:28 am
YES
February 12, 2021 @ 4:52 am
I wish I could convince more of my narrow minded jazz loving friends to take off their musical blinders and give her a listen. She’s a gifted song writer with an amazing voice. It is unfair to pigeonhole her as a “country singer” or another Roots music troubadour singing about subjects they can’t relate to. Her solo efforts are universal in appeal and should be heard by everyone who appreciates Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday.
February 12, 2021 @ 8:39 am
Goosebumps.