Her first album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair, A Story of a Girl in Love was released in 1956. Also that year Lincoln starred in the film The Girl Can't Help It, for which she famously wore a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe.
Lincoln sang on the 1960s landmark jazz civil rights recording, We Insist! - Freedom Now Suite in 1960 by jazz musician and Lincolns husband from 1962-1970, Max Roach. Especially since this album, Abbey Lincoln was connected to the political fight against racism in the United States.
She co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in 1968's For Love of Ivy and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film. She also starred in the 1990 Spike Lee movie Mo' Better Blues.
In 2003, she received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Award.
Lincoln died on August 14, 2010 in Manhattan at the age of 80. Although no official cause of death was given, Lincoln had suffered deteriorating health following open heart surgery in 2007. She passed away in a Manhattan nursing home.
Being Me
Abbey Lincoln Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always some other someone I could be
Other things to know, other ways to go
To fly a spirit for the play to show
It wasn't always easy learning to be me
Sometimes my hitting hard would disagree
Times I walked away other times I stay
To see the glamour of my life the play
Sometimes I love the things they said
Some things were cold as stone it was lonely
Sometimes, sometimes it was mood-felt lights were brilliant
Sometimes, sometimes there was you being me, I laugh
So many things have changed and yet somehow
There were always be a stage, a song for me
Hold the curtain open, It's time to take a bow
Being me I laugh seeing now and then
So many things have changed and get some out
There will always be a stage, a song for me
Hold the curtain open, It's time to take a bow
In Abbey Lincoln's song "Being Me," the lyrics express the journey of discovering and accepting one's true self. The first verse talks about the constant distractions of other people and things that can steer us away from being ourselves. The singer of the song acknowledges that it wasn't always easy learning to be themselves and they had to overcome moments of hitting hard and walking away. But despite the struggles, they were able to find joy and laughter in being true to themselves.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the message of accepting oneself and taking pride in who you are. The singer acknowledges that while some things people say may be hurtful, there will always be moments of brilliance and love that make it all worth it. The final verse talks about how things may change and evolve over time but there will always be a stage and a song for them to perform, to share their true selves with the world.
Throughout the song, the message is clear: being oneself is a journey with ups and downs, but ultimately it is worth it. The singer encourages the audience to hold the curtain open and take a bow, to be proud of who they are and the journey they've been on.
Line by Line Meaning
All along the way there were things to do
Throughout my journey, there were always tasks to accomplish.
Always some other someone I could be
I had many opportunities to become someone else.
Other things to know, other ways to go
There were other paths to take and more knowledge to gain.
To fly a spirit for the play to show
I had to embrace my inner self to display it to the world.
It wasn't always easy learning to be me
Discovering my true identity wasn't always a smooth process.
Sometimes my hitting hard would disagree
There were times when my assertiveness and aggression clashed with others' expectations.
Times I walked away other times I stay
At times, I had to leave a situation, while at other times, I chose to persist.
To see the glamour of my life the play
I had to view my life as a performance and appreciate its grandeur.
Being me I dared to be myself alone
I took the risk of being true to myself, even if it meant standing alone.
Sometimes I love the things they said
At times, I enjoyed hearing words of admiration and praise from others.
Some things were cold as stone it was lonely
However, some words and actions were insensitive and left me feeling isolated.
Sometimes, sometimes it was mood-felt lights were brilliant
At times, the mood and atmosphere of my surroundings were enchanting and impressive.
Sometimes, sometimes there was you being me, I laugh
Occasionally, when I was being myself, others' reactions would make me laugh.
So many things have changed and yet somehow
Even though much has evolved, there is still a familiarity to my life.
There were always be a stage, a song for me
My life will always be like a stage production, with a unique soundtrack.
Hold the curtain open, It's time to take a bow
It is time to celebrate my accomplishments and end this performance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ABBEY LINCOLN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind