Tag Archive for 'Donny Hathaway'

Four very different versions of “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black.”
(for a real ear full, play all four at once!)

The first by the song’s author, High Priestess of Soul, Miss Nina Simone:

Then, Mister Donny Hathaway’s version, also on piano in front of a live audience:

Now the first version of “Y,G,&B” I ever heard, listen as Reggae duo Bob & Marcia lively up theyselves:

Finally, Sir Elton John’s version…

“To be 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
There are billion 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
This is a quest that’s just begun

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

Young, gifted and black
How I long 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”

All completely different, yet all yearning for the same beautiful reality. It gives me such a thrill when pop music collides with positive social messaging! This song puts chills up my spine no matter who performs it.

Have a wonderful day,

-SFJ