Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on 21st February 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina, USA, one of eight children. Like a number of other black singers in the U.S., she was inspired as a child by Marian Anderson, and began singing at her local church, also showing great talent as a pianist. Her public debut, a piano recital, was made at the age of ten. Her parents, who had taken seats in the front row, were forced to move to the back of the hall to make way for white audience members. This incident contributed to her later involvement in the civil rights movement.
Simone's mother, Mary Kate Waymon (who lived into her late nineties) was a strict Methodist minister; her father, John Divine Waymon, was a handyman and sometime barber who suffered bouts of ill-health. Mrs Waymon worked as a maid, and her employer, hearing of Nina's talent, provided funds for piano lessons for the little girl. Subsequently, a local fund was set up to assist in Eunice's continued education.
At seventeen, Simone moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she taught piano and accompanied singers. She was able to begin studying piano at New York City's prestigious Juilliard School of Music but lack of funds meant that she was unable to fulfill her dream of becoming America's first Black classical pianist. She later had an interview to study piano at the Curtis Institute, but was rejected. Simone believed this rejection, which fueled her hatred of racism, was because she was black.
Simone turned to blues and jazz after getting her start at the Midtown Bar & Grill on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City, taking the name Nina Simone in 1954; "Nina" was her boyfriend's nickname for her, and "Simone" was after the French actress Simone Signoret. She first came to public notice in 1959 with her wrenching rendition of George Gershwin's "I Loves You Porgy" (from Porgy and Bess), her only Top-Forty hit in the United States. This was soon followed by the single "My Baby Just Cares for Me" (this was also a hit in the 1980s in the United Kingdom when used for television advertisements for Chanel No 5 perfume).
Throughout the 1960s, Simone was involved in the civil rights movement and recorded a number of political songs, including "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" (later covered by Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway), "Backlash Blues", "Mississippi Goddam" (a response to the murder of Medgar Evers and the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama killing four black children), "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free", and Kurt Weill's "Pirate Jenny", from The Threepenny Opera, re-cast in a southern town.
In 1961, Simone recorded a version of the traditional song "House of the Rising Sun", which was then covered by folk-blues artist, Dave Van Ronk, and later recorded by Bob Dylan, where it was picked up by The Animals and became their signature hit. Other songs she is famous for include "I Put a Spell on You" (originally by Screamin' Jay Hawkins), The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun", "Four Women", Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody", and "Ain't Got No (I Got Life)". The latter, from the musical Hair, was her debut in the UK charts, reaching number two in 1968, and a remixed version of the recording by Groovefinder was a UK Top Thirty hit in 2006.
Broadway musicals also supplied several hits for Simone: "My Baby Just Cares for Me", "Love Me or Leave Me", "Feeling Good", and "Ne Me Quitte Pas". Also "You Can Have Him" on the LP Live at Town Hall recorded when she was twenty-six years old; at the end of this operatic performance, which displays her great skill as an actress as well as a musician, she whoops with joy. This single recording encapsulates her extraordinary power, wit, flexibility, sensuality and occasional menace.
In 1987 Nina experienced a resurgence in popularity when "My Baby Just Cares for Me", a track from her first Bethlehem Records album (1958) became a huge hit in the UK and elsewhere. Nina's versatility as an artist was evident in all her music, which often had a folk-music simplicity.
In a single concert, she moved easily from gospel-inspired tunes to blues and jazz and, in numbers like "For All We Know", to numbers infused with European classical stylings, and counterpoint fugues.
Throughout most of her career she was accompanied by percussionist Leopoldo Flemming and guitarist and musical director Al Shackman.
In 1971, Simone left the United States following disagreements with her agents, record labels, and the tax authorities, citing racism as the reason. She returned in 1978 and was arrested for tax evasion (she had withheld several years of income tax as a protest against the Vietnam War). She lived in various countries in the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe, continuing to perform into her 60s. In the 1980s, she performed regularly at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London. In 1995, Simone reportedly shot and wounded her neighbour's son with an air pistol after his laughing disturbed her concentration.
She had a reputation in the music industry for being volatile and sometimes difficult to deal with, a characterization with which Simone strenuously took issue.
Though her onstage style could be somewhat haughty and aloof, in later years, Simone particularly seemed to enjoy engaging her adoring audiences by recounting sometimes humorous anecdotes related to her career and music and soliciting requests. Simone's regal bearing and commanding stage presence earned her the title the "High Priestess of Soul."
In 1993, she settled near Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. She had been ill with cancer for several years before she died on 21st April 2003 in her sleep at her home in Carry-le-Rouet.
Simone was the recipient of a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2000 for her song "I Loves You Porgy." She has also received fifteen Grammy Award nominations. On Human Kindness Day 1974 in Washington, D.C., more than 10,000 people paid tribute to Simone. Simone received two honorary degrees in music and humanities, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Malcolm X College. She preferred to be called "Dr. Nina Simone" after these honors were bestowed upon her. Only two days before her death, Simone was awarded an honorary degree by the Curtis Institute, the music school that had refused to admit her as a student at the beginning of her career.
In 2002, the city of Nijmegen (The Netherlands) named a street after her, the Nina Simonestraat. Simone lived in Nijmegen between 1988 and 1990.
Simone was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 2010 a statue in her honor was erected in Trade Street, Tryon, North Carolina, her place of birth.
*Official site
Jazz
Nina Simone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When my mother had finished working
We used to sit around the fire place
Till the cornbread it was done
And then we all would eat our supper
After that we'd clean the kitchen
It's the only time they ever gave us to spare
To have a little fun
That hung upon the wall
While the silvery moon was shining clear and bright
How the folks would enjoy it
They would sit all night and listen
As we used to sing in the evening by the moonlight
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear banjos ringing
You could hear them by the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
She would sit all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moolight oh yeah
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear folks all singing
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
She would sit all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moolight oh yeah
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear banjos ringing
In the evening by the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
She would sit all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moolight oh yeah
The lyrics to Nina Simone's "Jazz in 2-3" paint a vivid picture of a simpler time, of family and community coming together at the end of the day to enjoy each other's company over a simple meal and music. The song describes evenings spent by the moonlight, where the family would gather around the fire once the work was finished, eat supper, and clean up. Then, the father would take down his fiddle and play while the family sang together. The banjo could be heard ringing in the background, and everyone sat all night and listened, enjoying each other's company.
The song is a nostalgic ode to a bygone era of communal music-making and family togetherness, and the lyrics are carefully crafted to evoke a sense of warmth, simplicity and joy. The repeated refrain of "in the evening by the moonlight" brings to mind a particular kind of magic, where the mundane becomes special and memorable simply because of the people you're with and the surroundings you're in.
Overall, "Jazz in 2-3" is a beautiful, heartfelt song that celebrates the transformative power of music and community. It is a reminder that even in the midst of daily struggles and hard work, there can be moments of joy and togetherness that make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
In the evening by the moonlight
During the night, under the light of the moon
When my mother had finished working
After my mother had finished working
We used to sit around the fire place
We would gather around the fireplace
Till the cornbread it was done
Until the cornbread was cooked
And then we all would eat our supper
We would have our meal
After that we'd clean the kitchen
We cleaned up the kitchen
It's the only time they ever gave us to spare
It was the only time we had to ourselves
To have a little fun
To enjoy ourselves a bit
Then my daddy used to take his fiddle down
My father would take his fiddle off the wall
That hung upon the wall
It was hanging on the wall
While the silvery moon was shining clear and bright
As the bright and shiny moon illuminated the night
How the folks would enjoy it
How everyone enjoyed the music
They would sit all night and listen
People would sit for hours and listen
As we used to sing in the evening by the moonlight
As we used to sing in the moonlit night
You could hear banjos ringing
You could hear the sound of banjos
You could hear them by the moonlight
You could hear them under the moonlight
You could hear my folks all singing
You could hear my family singing
How my mother she would enjoy it
How much my mother loved it
She would sit all night and listen
She would sit there all night and listen
As we sang in the evening by the moonlight oh yeah
As we sang at night under the moonlight
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NINA SIMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sunita Fisher
🌸 So very thoughtful that you play Nina for her, I bet she remembers it
same for me this is one of my mom’s favourite singers ☺️
You made me recall beautiful memories, thank you so much 🎉
I played music like this for people at domiciliary care home where I worked. Once a lady told me she can remember every word of the songs but she can’t recall what she had for breakfast that day, all of other ladies giggled & said same thing.
I still visit & bring them roses and mainly chitchat. Worked there for over 7yrs, while I did gardening for lots of my elderly clients, most of them I did for free via age concern charity because they had no family & I wouldn’t take their money. Plus I loved spoiling them with flowers & surprises for their garden 🪴 I’m returning there soon, I missed it too much since I left working full time.
I loved mostly their life stories, I should put it into a book, after asking permission of families. I’m still friends with their daughters.
Occasionally ask me to help restore their gardens after their husbands had a go 🤣😂
FunTimes21
0:00 Feeling Good
2:58 Ain't Got No, I Got Life
7:04 I put a spell on you
9:42 Sinnerman
20:02 Don't let me be misunderstood
22:48 My baby just cares for me (cover)
26:25 Here comes the sun (cover)
30:24 Sinnerman (cover)
39:07 You'll never walk alone
42:34 Wild in the Wind(cover)
46:44 Feeling Good (cover)
51:00 Ain't Got No, I Got Life (cover)
55:16 I put a spell on you (cover)
59:29 Sinnerman (cover guitar)
1:04:10 Don't let me be (cover)
Mateo T
My mom used to play Nina in the house when I was a kid. I remember adoring that voice power and sadness in that woman! Thanks for opening my mind to this incredible artist. My mom has Alzheimer’s now, so I play Nina for her❤️
Rózsa Noémi
It's so good that you are such a nice son to your mother. I see you love each other very much. I hope this is how my sons will remember me when I'm gone...🥰
María
❤❤🤗🤗mamá 🌹🌹🌹
ObsoletSix36
bouse you mom is a queen send good thoughts!
Raymond Killick
Does your dear mum enjoy Simone’s music still?
Sunita Fisher
🌸 So very thoughtful that you play Nina for her, I bet she remembers it
same for me this is one of my mom’s favourite singers ☺️
You made me recall beautiful memories, thank you so much 🎉
I played music like this for people at domiciliary care home where I worked. Once a lady told me she can remember every word of the songs but she can’t recall what she had for breakfast that day, all of other ladies giggled & said same thing.
I still visit & bring them roses and mainly chitchat. Worked there for over 7yrs, while I did gardening for lots of my elderly clients, most of them I did for free via age concern charity because they had no family & I wouldn’t take their money. Plus I loved spoiling them with flowers & surprises for their garden 🪴 I’m returning there soon, I missed it too much since I left working full time.
I loved mostly their life stories, I should put it into a book, after asking permission of families. I’m still friends with their daughters.
Occasionally ask me to help restore their gardens after their husbands had a go 🤣😂
FunTimes21
0:00 Feeling Good
2:58 Ain't Got No, I Got Life
7:04 I put a spell on you
9:42 Sinnerman
20:02 Don't let me be misunderstood
22:48 My baby just cares for me (cover)
26:25 Here comes the sun (cover)
30:24 Sinnerman (cover)
39:07 You'll never walk alone
42:34 Wild in the Wind(cover)
46:44 Feeling Good (cover)
51:00 Ain't Got No, I Got Life (cover)
55:16 I put a spell on you (cover)
59:29 Sinnerman (cover guitar)
1:04:10 Don't let me be (cover)
Sunita Fisher
🌸 thank you for taking the time to do this for all of us, you are so thoughtful & sweet 🌟✨
Giullia Caroline
😅
Chuck Hallowell
I saw Ms. Nina at Newport, RI -- 1960 -- and have been completely mezmerized with her music ever since that day.
I bought every album, memorized every note, and her music plays in my head continuously.
Nina's finest music appeared during her stint with COLPIX -- "Nina at Newport" and "Forbidden Fruit" are true masterpieces of unworldly talent.
Nina Simone was THE QUEEN -- and the GREATEST female jazz performer of ALL TIME.