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©2006-2010 ~Yamenja
:iconyamenja:

Artist's Comments

n aint that black...
n see EricBoler's cmment for the end of the line. Big up Eric.

This weeks competition with nefarious prizes, was to complete the lyric, name the black queen or both. Eric came up with both and got in first, but a very worthy runner up was 17dreams, who not only recognised the wonderful and dearly missed Ms Simone, but also gently alluded to the fact that I shouldn't keep blaming my materials when I'm not happpy with my results

("It might have been better finished if I hadn't buggered up the mechanical pencil.)

Ah well.
Here are some more of Nina's lyrics, written in 1963.

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Mississippi Goddam


The name of this tune is mississippi goddam
And I mean every word of it

Alabamas gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about mississippi goddam

Alabamas gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about mississippi goddam

Cant you see it
Cant you feel it
Its all in the air
I cant stand the pressure much longer
Somebody say a prayer

Alabamas gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about mississippi goddam

This is a show tune
But the show hasnt been written for it, yet

Hound dogs on my trail
School children sitting in jail
Black cat cross my path
I think every days gonna be my last

Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We all gonna get it in due time
I dont belong here
I dont belong there
Ive even stopped believing in prayer

Dont tell me
I tell you
Me and my people just about due
Ive been there so I know
They keep on saying go slow!

But thats just the trouble
Do it slow
Washing the windows
Do it slow
Picking the cotton
Do it slow
Youre just plain rotten
Do it slow
Youre too damn lazy
Do it slow
The thinkings crazy
Do it slow
Where am I going
What am I doing
I dont know
I dont know

Just try to do your very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
For everybody knows about mississippi goddam

I made you thought I was kiddin didnt we

Picket lines
School boy cots
They try to say its a communist plot
All I want is equality
For my sister my brother my people and me

Yes you lied to me all these years
You told me to wash and clean my ears
And talk real fine just like a lady
And youd stop calling me sister sadie

Oh but this whole country is full of lies
Youre all gonna die and die like flies
I dont trust you any more
You keep on saying go slow!
Go slow!

But thats just the trouble
Do it slow
Desegregation
Do it slow
Mass participation
Do it slow
Reunification
Do it slow
Do things gradually
Do it slow
But bring more tragedy
Do it slow
Why dont you see it
Why dont you feel it
I dont know
I dont know

You dont have to live next to me
Just give me my equality
Everybody knows about mississippi
Everybody knows about alabama
Everybody knows about mississippi goddam

Thats it!

**************************************************************************

[EDIT} I managed to fix the mechaniçal pencil so have finished it a little more! Old version is in scraps for comparison.

Comments


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:iconbaindegael:
that's beautiful, there's so much feeling!

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Feel the wrath! :boogie:
Ninja Toots! :boogie:

Lynn
:iconyamenja:
Thank you so much - I'm really glad you like it.

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:icondenis-peterson:
Not unlike the rest of your work, this has lots of style and panache - you manage to bring out the elegance and strength of purpose in all your subjects. This drawing carries the same spontaneity of your paintings, very cool this one.
:iconericboler:
...and ain't that fine

Nina Simone
:icon17dreams:
Nina Simone;
The lyrics ...escape me.

...and who could finish a piece with a mechanical pencil? That's a feat I'd actually pay good credits to see.
:iconyamenja:
Put your credits where your keyboard is!

I had just changed the lead to 4b and started to enrich the darkest areas, and - more imortantly, to go over the patchy, uneven areas. The super-fine point was nice for getting into the grain of what was already there and filling it it/smoothing it out.

You have a point though - bad workman always blames his tools eh.

I've replaced the pic with a daylight photo now.

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:iconyamenja:
Yesssssss Eric!!!!!

Double whammy - and you got in there before MrDreams.

Now - simply imagine whatever you feel is your just reward, and hopefully the universe will make subtle changes in the fabric of time and space to facilitate it's materialisation.

Meanwhile I have replaced the pic with a daylight version, which I hope is better.

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:iconyamenja:
Hey Denis, thank you very much for your very kind and thoughtful comment.

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:iconbaindegael:
I love all of your stuff... if I could fave all of your gallery I would!

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Feel the wrath! :boogie:
Ninja Toots! :boogie:

Lynn
:iconyamenja:
Aw Lynn! What an amazing compliment, thank you so much for that thought. :hug:

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October 13, 2006
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