To Be Young, Gifted & Black
Jazz
Jan 1, 1998
164
To Be Young, Gifted & Black Music Video

To Be Young, Gifted & Black Lyrics

Young, gifted and black
Oh, what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black
Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know (in the whole world you know)
There's a million boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black
And that's a fact

You are young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
There's a world waiting for you
Yours is the quest that's just begun

When you feel really low
Yeah, there's a great truth that you should know
When you're young, gifted and black
Your soul's intact

How to be young, gifted and black
Oh, how I've longed to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth

Oh, but my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted and black
Is where it's at
Is where it's at
Is where it's at

Writer(s): Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who wrote the lyrics for 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black'?

    The lyrics for 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' were written by Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine.

  2. When and where did Nina Simone first introduce 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black'?

    Nina Simone first introduced 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' on August 17, 1969, at the Harlem Cultural Festival in front of a crowd of 50,000 people.

  3. What is the connection between the song and Lorraine Hansberry?

    'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' was written in memory of Simone's late friend Lorraine Hansberry, author of 'A Raisin in the Sun'. The title comes from Hansberry's autobiographical play 'To Be Young, Gifted and Black'.

  4. How successful was 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' as a single?

    Released as a single, 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' peaked at number 8 on the R&B chart and number 76 on the Hot 100 in January 1970.

  5. Did anyone else record a notable version of the song?

    Jamaican duo Bob and Marcia recorded a cover version of 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' which reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970.

  6. Was the song part of a larger project by Nina Simone?

    Yes, Nina Simone recorded the song as part of her concert at Philharmonic Hall, which resulted in the live album 'Black Gold' released in 1970.

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