Nina Simone — Backlash Blues Live At Montreux

Oh Mr. blacklash, Mr. Backlash Who'd you think I am? You raise my taxes Freeze my wages in my only son Son in Vietnam You see what happened there? You give me second class houses The second class schools You know all colored people In this country got to be second class fools And it’s true, now That's the truth, now That's the truth, now Hey, but I got something on you! I know how to leave you, with a little blues Ah! Hey, hey When I try to find a job Get a little cash Are you gonna hand me Give your two cent backlash? Put the words big Big, and bright, and round, and black and round Full of other folks like me who’re black, beige and brown Backlash, and Kissinger I'm gonna leave and you already gottem! Oh, the blues! [Spoken] (Ah ha) Give the drummer some Like O'Dellis said last night: "If you don't get loose now, you better forget it Because you ain't got much time- none of us do" I think the Rolling Stones say we got five years? When my daughter tries to find a little job to earn a little cash All you got to offer her is your stupid, same, stupid, old mean backlash But the world is big, it all it's a- Big and bright and round And it's full of other folks just like me who are Japanese, black and beige and brown Oh! Mr. Backlash, you are not the only one That's-a what you’ve been thinking I’m gonna leave ya I'm gonna leave ya I’m gonna leave you with the blues, oh. yeah Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it, get it, get it baby Mhm-hm, mhm-hm, mhm, mhm, uh-hm-mhm-hm, yeah, do another one Mhm (It's alright, it's alright) Mr. Backlash, Mr. Backlash, I'm gonna tell you now Langston Hughes died He told me many months ago He said, "Nina, I know it’s been hard for you, baby I know how hard it's been for ya. They never wanted to accept ya!" Black! (You see that brother down there looking at the cieling?) And white! (A bit easier...) But the blacks Never, never (Yeah I'm gonna tell you the truth tonight) He said, "Nina Keep on working 'Till they open up the door You know you are And you know you've either been here or you never been here before Don't make no difference And when they open up the door Make sure You tell 'em where it's at So they'll have no other place to hide behind all them strange hats" So I'm gonna leave you, Mr. Blues! *Applause*