ChickenBones: A Journal

for Literary & Artistic African-American Themes

    

Home  Visit Our Store (Books, DVDs, Music, and more)

Google
 

 The woman could make / A Steinway talk, and
She had Billy's tear in / Her voice, and Sarah's / Tonality.
 

 

Well Done, Miss Simone

        By Cliff Chandler 

The woman could sing
And the woman could
Play. She was a teacher,
And she was preacher.

They say beauty is skin
Deep. I say beauty is in
One's eyes.
Lord Nina had beautiful
Eyes, and she was skin-deep.

Her name is Peaches, but
She didn't forget Aunt Sarah.
Told the world what she
Thought of Mississippi
In empirical terms.

The woman could make
A Steinway talk, and
She had Billy's tear in
Her voice, and Sarah's
Tonality.

Sarah who, Sassy
Sarah Vaughn, that's'
Who. And, Billy
Billy Holiday, hello!

She taught men
What a woman is
And women too.
Lord she was an artist
Lord she was an artist.

Baby we're gonna
Miss you, Miss your
Clout.
Miss your love, and,
God knows we're going
To miss your gift.

Nina had style, went
To sleep in the shadows
Of the Eiffel Tower a
Long way

From them cotton fields
Back home.  Bon voyage
My love, bon voyage.
Well done, well done.

 

© 2002 Cliff Chandler -- "Well Done, Miss Simone" read on "The Jazz Spot" National Public Radio, Friday, April 25. 2003

 

*   *   *   *   *

 

 

 

 

 

 

update 6 July 2008

 

 

Home Music and Musicians   Chandler Bio 

Related files: Bio-Chronology   Nina Simone: The Emotional Depths of the Spirit World  Nina Remembers   Remembering Nina  Four Women  To be Young, Gifted and Black 

Well Done, Miss Simone