BROWN: (Singing) How does the wall keep us free? That's why we build the wall, we build the wall to keep us free. MITCHELL: (Singing) Why do we build the wall, we build the wall to keep us free. BROWN: (Singing) Why do we build the wall, my children, my children, why do we build the wall? (Soundbite of song, 'Why We Build the Wall') SIMON: Let's listen to another of his songs, 'Why We Build the Wall.' So certainly for the king of the underworld, it's totally right. You know, it's got these weird subterranean tones. But every time I listen to that, when his voice comes in on that song, I want to laugh, like, for joy, because you almost feel his voice in your body before you even hear it. You know, it's funny because I'd envisioned him singing this part for a long time. So Greg Brown's voice is a voice that would make you do just about anything the devil wanted. You sing a duet with Hades, played by Greg Brown. SIMON: We mentioned some of the very gifted artists working with you - Justin Vernon, who sings the part of Orpheus, and you are the voice of Eurydice. I got riots to (unintelligible) and they're giving me hell back in Hades. GREG BROWN (Singer): (as Hades) (Singing) Hey, little songbird, give me a song. (Soundbite of song, 'Hey, Little Songbird') And the next lines were in my garters and pearls with what melody did you barter me from the wicked underworld, and sort of followed it into the labyrinth and it seems to want to tell this story. (Singing) wait for me, I'm (unintelligible). A few lines kind of came out of nowhere, which sort of happens, you know, in songwriting. SIMON: Is it true that you didn't actually set out to portray the story of Orpheus but the songs just led you there? But the first time we put the show up as a stage production in Vermont was 2006. The very first songs that I wrote for the show actually came from a couple years before that. SIMON: Now, this project dates to 2006, right? ANAIS MITCHELL (Singer-Songwriter, 'Hadestown'): Thank you so much for having me. She joins us now from the studios of Cliff House Audio in Montpelier, Vermont. SIMON: Justin Vernon, also known as Bon Iver, Ani DiFranco and Greg Brown are just a few in the musical cast of 'Hadestown' by the Vermont singer and songwriter Anais Mitchell. Keep on walking and don't look back 'til you get to the (unintelligible). Just a telephone wire and a railroad track. JUSTIN VERNON (Singer): (as Orpheus)(Singing). SIMON: Now a CD coming out this Tuesday presents the desolate journey of Orpheus as a polka. SIMON: In the 1800s, Jacques Offenbach told the story in his famous opera where gods and goddesses danced the cancan. The Greek hero with musical superpowers was portrayed by the composer Monteverdi in the early 17th century.

The ancient tale of Orpheus searching for his beloved in the underworld has been told many times in many ways.

Hey little songbird lyrics hadestown