To Be Young Gifted And Black
Bob & Marcia Lyrics
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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
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
To be young, gifted and black
Your soul's intact
(Oh young) young, gifted and black
Oh 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
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 are young, gifted and black
Your soul's intact
(Oh young) young, gifted and black
Oh 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
Is where it's at
Is where it's at
Is where it's at
Is where it's at
Is where it's at
Is where it's at
The song "Young, Gifted, and Black" is an ode to the potential, resilience, and beauty of young people of African descent. The lyrics celebrate the innate talents and abilities of black youth and urge them to embrace their strength and creativity in the face of adversity. The first verse paints a hopeful picture of a world where being "young, gifted, and black" is a prized possession. Bob & Marcia encourage listeners to open their hearts to this vision of possibility and to recognize that they are not alone in their experience. The second verse calls on adults to impart this knowledge to the next generation and to guide them towards realizing their full potential. The final verse reflects on the bittersweet memories of youth and the struggle to overcome obstacles, but ultimately celebrates the power of being "young, gifted, and black" in the present moment.
The lyrics of this song are particularly resonant in the context of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements of the 1960s and 70s, when African Americans were fighting for their rights and recognition in the United States. The song was originally written by Nina Simone, who was herself a prominent figure in these movements and a vocal advocate for black empowerment. Simone's version of the song, released in 1969, became a rallying cry for many black activists and artists. Bob & Marcia's cover of the song, released in 1970, was a commercial success in the UK, where it reached number five on the charts.
Line by Line Meaning
Young, gifted and black
Being young, talented, and of African descent
Oh what a lovely precious dream
Being young, talented, and of African descent is a beautiful aspiration
To be young, gifted and black
To be an inspired and skilled youth of African descent
Open your heart to what I mean
Consider and embrace the essence of what I'm saying
In the whole world you know
Across the entire globe
There are billion boys and girls
There exist billions of young people
Who are young, gifted and black
Many of whom are inspired and talented individuals of African descent
And that's a fact!
This is indeed the truth!
We must begin to tell our young
We need to impart this knowledge to the younger generation
There's a world waiting for you
There's a vast, open world that awaits you
This is a quest that's just begun
This is just the beginning of your journey
When you feel really low
During moments of deep sadness or despair
Yeah, there's a great truth you should know
There's a profound realization you need to understand
To be young, gifted and black
Being young, talented, and of African descent is an unchangeable and integral part of who you are
Your soul's intact
Your core self remains unharmed
Oh how I long to know the truth
The desire to discover the truth deeply resides in me
There are times when I look back
Occasionally when I reflect on my past experiences
And I am haunted by my youth
I'm inwardly troubled by the memories of my younger days
Oh but my joy of today
However, I find happiness in the present moment
Is that we can all be proud to say
We can take pride in stating
Is where it's at
Being young, talented, and of African descent is the place to be!
Is where it's at
Being young, talented, and of African descent is the place to be!
Is where it's at
Being young, talented, and of African descent is the place to be!
Is where it's at
Being young, talented, and of African descent is the place to be!
Is where it's at
Being young, talented, and of African descent is the place to be!
Is where it's at
Being young, talented, and of African descent is the place to be!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind