Young Gifted & Black
Bob & Marcia Lyrics


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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!

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

Overall Meaning

The song "Young, Gifted and Black" by Bob & Marcia celebrates the beauty of being young, talented, and African-American. It encourages young people to embrace their gifts and encourages adults to guide the younger generation towards their full potential. The song acknowledges that the journey to success may not always be easy, but it reminds listeners that their souls are intact and that they are part of a larger community of young, gifted, and black individuals.


The song's first stanza introduces the fantasy of being young, gifted, and black, which is described as a precious dream. The second stanza emphasizes that millions of young black boys and girls around the world possess these qualities. The chorus then goes on to encourage adults to share this message with young people, telling them that there is a world waiting for them to explore and conquer.


The bridge of the song addresses the feelings of doubt, insecurity, and nostalgia that may arise on the path to success, but the final chorus reaffirms the importance of being young, gifted, and black despite these obstacles. Overall, "Young, Gifted and Black" is an uplifting and empowering song that encourages young people to embrace their talents and strive towards their dreams.


Line by Line Meaning

Young, gifted and black
Being young, intelligent and of African descent is a precious and beautiful thing


Oh what a lovely precious dream
It's a wonderful aspiration


To be young, gifted and black
To be a young, intelligent person of African descent


Open your heart to what I mean
Listen and understand my message


In the whole world you know
Everywhere you go


There are billion boys and girls
There are billions of young people


Who are young, gifted and black
Who are young, intelligent people of African descent


And that's a fact!
It's a true statement


We must begin to tell our young
We must start teaching our young


There's a world waiting for you
There's a whole world out there for you to explore


This is a quest that's just begun
This is just the beginning of your journey


When you feel really low
When you're feeling down


Yeah, there's a great truth you should know
There's an important truth you should be aware of


To be young, gifted and black
Being a young, intelligent person of African descent


Your soul's intact
Your inner spirit remains strong


(Oh young) young, gifted and black
Being young, intelligent and of African descent


Oh how I long to know the truth
I really want to understand the reality


There are times when I look back
There are moments when I reflect on the past


And I am haunted by my youth
I am troubled by the memories of my younger days


Oh but my joy of today
But I'm happy about my present circumstance


Is that we can all be proud to say
We can all be proud to affirm


To be young, gifted and black
Being young, intelligent and of African descent


Is where it's at
That's the place to be


Is where it's at
That's the place to be


Is where it's at
That's the place to be


Is where it's at
That's the place to be


Is where it's at
That's the place to be


Is where it's at
That's the place to be




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Amanda Share

I'm a 65 year old ungifted white woman, but I really love this song, it takes me back to a simpler time in my life.

Lynda Bourn

Same xx

Oscar Reidd

All people are gifted from different races gods gift to man wer women .

Coach Eyez

Everybody gifted and something. Keep your head up.

Mark Elliott

I am 55 , my mother uses sing this song ❤❤

Vynah Renaud

😂 but u sound good hearted.

2 More Replies...

Barry H.

These two were absolutely magic together ..... what a fabulous song this was.

Anita Franklin

A song with a powerful positive message. Need more of this today.

Max Max

RIP Bob Andy. Bob was a true legend who passed away yesterday, Friday 27th March. Thank you for the wonderful music xx

eligeorge

I love this version, though am reminded of how personal this song was for Nina Simone. She was brilliant, but the music industry didn't want a dark skinned, politically active woman to get any recognition. Her youth must have been very hard--but she wrote this song to give courage to the next generation.

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