Listen: The Soulful Cover of 'Ohio' by Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr. and Jon Batiste

By Laura Morrison on Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 3:41 pm

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Listen: The Soulful Cover of 'Ohio' by Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr. and Jon Batiste

Photo via Leon Bridges/Facebook

Leave it to Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr. and Jon Batiste to make a new cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Ohio" that feels as much rooted in American history as it does inspired from current events.

“It’s powerful. Three young black men coming together and making good music and making a statement,” Clark Jr. said in a Spotify video interview.

Released on Spotify two weeks ago, in celebration of the new Ken Burns Vietnam documentary on PBS, this version sounds almost nothing like the original guitar-driven protest song. It begins with jazzy piano and moves into haunting harmonies of vocals and sliding guitars. Young's original lyrics are unchanged here, and in the end, the musicians just keep repeating the line "Four dead in Ohio."

It's a somber musical take apt to make you wallow in the pain of the 1970 Kent State University tragedy all over again.

Check out the whole Echos of Vietnam playlist below: