Alicia Keys Releases Soulful ‘Queen Of The Field (Patsey’s Song)’

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Alicia Keys, but she returns with a heartfelt song from the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed film, ’12 Years a Slave.’ 'Queen of the Field' combines the R&B songbird’s powerful vocals and her piano to create a soulful tune.

Keys sings of the struggle and pain endured by black women during the pre-Civil War in the U.S. In particular, a woman named Patsey, who was born into slavery and goes through a series of tragedies on a plantation.

"Queen of the field, born among cotton / Life wasted pickin’ / Back broke from whippin’," she sings. "Just a little girl, little girl forgotten."

'12 Years a Slave' is a stunning film that holds up a mirror to a horrifying period in American history. Props to Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays the main character Solomon Northup. We’ll see you next year at the Oscars.

Listen to Alicia Keys' 'Queen of the Field (Patsey's Song)'