Nina Simone

[fox69]

"The Assignment Song"

"The Assignment Song"


Bouncing off your wall
Pathways of my mind
Are on their way
Another way
For today

Ohho

You want me to see you
I can not see you
You want me to come for you
I can not come for you
You want an assignment
I see no concession

Shall I hang my head with yours and be blue
Send away laughter
And spend all my time, com'on darling
Thinking about you
Don't you know there are things I can't do

My mind is on its way
Another way
For today

Ohho

My spirit is so foreign
You want silence
My spirit Is taking flight
But baby you wanna cry tonight

Shall I hang my head with yours
Send away laughter and fun
And spend all my time
Thinking about you
Only about you
Don't you know there are things
That I can't do
My mind is on its way
Another way
For today
Heyheyy....

 

[fox69]

"The Backlash Blues"

"The Backlash Blues"


Mr. Backlash, Mr. Backlash
Just who do think I am
You raise my taxes, freeze my wages
And send my son to Vietnam

You give me second class houses
And second class schools
Do you think that alla colored folks
Are just second class fools
Mr. Backlash, I'm gonna leave you
With the backlash blues

When I try to find a job
To earn a little cash
All you got to offer
Is your mean old white backlash
But the world is big
Big and bright and round
And it's full of folks like me
Who are black, yellow, beige and brown
Mr. Backlash, I'm gonna leave you
With the backlash blues

Mr. Backlash, Mr. Backlash
Just what do you think I got to lose
I'm gonna leave you
With the backlash blues
You're the one will have the blues
Not me, just wait and see

 

[fox69]

"The Ballad Of Hollis Brown"

"The Ballad Of Hollis Brown"


Hollis brown
He lived on the outside of town
Hollis brown
He lived on the outside of town
With his wife and five children
And his cabin fallin' down

You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
Your children are so hungry
That they don't know how to smile

Your baby's eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
Your baby's eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
You walk the floor and wonder why
With every breath you breathe

The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
If there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares?

You prayed to the lord above
Oh please send you a friend
You prayed to the lord above
Oh please send you a friend
Your empty pockets tell yuh
That you ain't a-got no friend

Your babies are crying louder
It's pounding on your brain

Your babies are crying louder now
It's pounding on your brain
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
Like the dirty drivin' rain

Your grass it is turning black
There's no water in your well
Your grass is turning black
There's no water in your well
You spent your last lone dollar
On seven shotgun shells

Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That's hangin' on the wall

Your brain is a-bleedin'
And your legs can't seem to stand
Your brain is a-bleedin'
And your legs can't seem to stand
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That you're holdin' in your hand

There's seven breezes a-blowin'
All around the cabin door
There's seven breezes a-blowin'
All around the cabin door
Seven shots ring out
Like the ocean's pounding roar

There's seven people dead
On a south dakota farm
There's seven people dead
On a south dakota farm
Somewhere in the distance
There's seven new people born

 

[fox69]

"The Desperate Ones"

"The Desperate Ones"


They hold each others hands
They walk without a sound
Down forgotten streets
Their shadows kiss the ground
Their footsteps sing a song
That's ended before it's begun
They walk without a sound
The desperate ones

Just like the tiptoe moth
That dance before the flame
They burn their hearts so much
That death is just a name
And if love calls again
So foolishly they run, they run, they run
They run, they run, they run, they run
They run without a sound
The desperate ones

I know the road they're on
I've walked their crooked mile
A hundred times or more
I drank their cup of bile
They watch their dreams go down
Be hind the settin sun
Yeh, yeh, yeh, they walk without a sound
The desperate ones

Le he who threw the stone at them
Stand up and take a bow
He knows the verb "to love"
But he'll never, never, never know how
On the bridge of nevermore
They disappear one by one
Disappear without a sound
The desperate ones

And underneath the bridge
The water's sweet and deep
This is their journey's end
The land of endless sleep
They cry to us for help
We think it's all in fun,
They cry, they cry, they cry, they cry
Without a sound
They disappear without a sound
They walk without a sound without a sound
Disappear without a sound
Cry without a sound
Yai, yaj, yaj, yaj, yaj, yaj, yaj
The desperate ones

 

[fox69]

"The Family"

"The Family"


The weevils all took to cotton and cows all took to dry
But the varmints left behind, some took up to die
Trouble took to Daddy like dew drops take to night
Mama took to cryin' a lot and Daddy took to wine

And I took a train outta there
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help, maybe
Heaven help the tie that binds a family
Heaven help the tie that binds a family
Heaven help the tie that binds a family

Flowers took to Daddy and Daddy, he took to calm
Sister took to black wheel nights and Mama cried alone
Brother, he took up preaching and the bank man took the farm
They came and took my mom away, she can't do herself no harm

And I took a train outta there
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help, maybe
Heaven help the tie that binds a family
Heaven help the tie that binds a family
Heaven help the tie that binds a family

The weevils all took to cotton and cows all took to dry
But the varmints left behind, some took up to die
Trouble took to Daddy like dew drops take to night
Mama took to cryin' a lot and Daddy took to wine

And I took a train outta there
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help handy
Looks like even God can't save the family
Looks like only God can save the family

And I took a train outta there
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help handy
Looks like only God can save the family
Looks like only God can save the family

And I took a train outta there
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help handy
Looks like only God can save the family
Looks like only God can save the family

And I took a train outta there
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help handy
Looks like even God can't save the family
Looks like only God can save the family

And I took a train outta there, you hear me
I told the engineer I don't believe there's no help handy
Looks like even God can't save the family
Looks like even God can't save the family

Looks like only God can save the family
Looks like only God can save the family
Looks like only God can save the family
Looks like only God can save the family

 

[fox69]

"The Gal From Joe's"

"The Gal From Joe's"


Way down at Mister Joe's Cafe
They're takin' someone far away
And if you hear a song today
It's a sad tune that you'll be playin':
She's leavin' and folks are feelin' so low
They're grievin' and they're consolin' poor Joe

Gonna miss her song
Gonna miss her smile
She'll be travlin' alone down
That last long mile
They're sighin'
With all thei trouble and woes
They're Cryin' 'cause they all loved
The gal from Joe's.

 

[fox69]

"The House Of The Rising Sun"

"The House Of The Rising Sun"


There is a house in New Orleans
They call it the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl
And me, oh God, I'm one

If I had only listened of what my mama said
I'd be at home today
But bein' so young and foolish, my Lord
Let a gambler lead me astray

Now, my mother is a tailor
She sews those new blue jeans
And my sweetheart is a drunkard, Lord
Drinks down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a drunken man needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Lord, is when he's on the drunk

Somebody go get my baby sister
Tell her to do, not to do what I have done
But shun that house in New Orleans
They call it the Rising Sun

Well, I'm goin' back to New Orleans
My race is almost run
Yes, I'm goin' back to spend my life
Beneath, beneath, the rising sun

There is a house in New Orleans
They call it the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor girl
And me, oh God, I'm one

If I had only listened of what my mama said
I'd be at home today
But bein' so young and foolish, my Lord
Let a gambler lead me astray

 

[fox69]

"The Human Touch"

"The Human Touch"


No one seems to care as much
No time to smile, laugh or cry as much
Have we lost the touch that means so much
Have we lost the human touch

No one wants to be alone
To walk or talk and sleep and weep alone
Have we lost the touch that does so much
Have we lost the human touch

Touch me now and let me know
Hold me tight so I can go
Through this misery unafraid
And really knowin' what lift is all about

No one wants to live alone
Who wants to smile, laugh or cry alone
Have we lost the touch that means so much
Have we lost the human touch
Yes, yes, yes

 

[fox69]

"The Last Rose Of Summer"

"The Last Rose Of Summer"


'Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming all alone
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone

No flower of her kindred
No rose bud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes
Or give sigh for sigh

So soon may I follow
When friendships decay
And from love's shining circle
The gems drop away

When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone

 

[fox69]

"The Laziest Gal In Town"

"The Laziest Gal In Town"


It's not 'cause I wouldn't,
It's not 'cause I shouldn't,
And, you know though well, it's not 'cause I couldn't,
It's simply because I'm the laziest gal in town.

My poor heart is achin'
To bring home the bacon,
And if I find myself alone and forsaken,
It's simply because I'm the laziest gal in town.

Though I'm more than willing to learn
How these gals get so much extra money to burn,
Every little proposition I just turn it down,
'Way down,

It's not 'cause I wouldn't,
It's not 'cause I shouldn't, honey,
And, you know, that it's not 'cause I couldn't,
It's simply because I'm the laziest, laziest gal in town.